1. TITO PUENTE:
THE KING OF LATIN MUSIC
Made by Heather Shinn

2. Life of Tito Puente Ernesto Antonio Puente Jr.
April 20, 1923 – May 31, 2000
Puerto Rican Native
Grew up in East Harlem (‘El Barrio’) NYC

3. First passion was dancing
Joined Machito Orchestra in 1942
Served in the Navy in WWII
Studied composing, orchestration, and piano at Julliard
1949 formed the Piccadilly Boys

4. Career Life of Tito Puente
1950’s brought Afro-Cuban and Caribbean into jazz ex. mambo, son, cha cha
later moved into pop music, bossa nova, and latin jass (salsa)
Carlos Santana repopularized ‘Oye Como Va’
1979 Won first of five Grammy Awards for
A Tribute to Benny Moore
other Grammy Awards: On Broadway (1983), Mambo Diablo(1985), Goza Mi Timbal(1990), Mambo Birdland(2000)

5. ‘Latinized’ Jazz
Led two groups: orchestra and jazz ensemble
Recorded Latin and Latin jazz music with different artists and his own band

6. Introduced the timbal and the vibraphone
Also played trap drums, conga drums, claves, piano.

7. 1990's awarded a ‘star’ on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Featured in 1992 film “The Mambo Kings’
National Medal of Arts by Pres. Clinton (1997)
Given keys to cities all around the world
Many many other awards

8. Along with medals and awards, he also performed on The David Letterman Show, The Cosby Show, and The Simpsons
Tito Puente in The Simpsons

9. Tito Puente died May 31, 2000 at 77
His son continues his legacy as a percussionist
recorded 120 albums, composed +450 songs, and had over 10,000 live performances
a.k.a: “El Rey” (The King) “Mambo King” “The King of Latin Music”

10. Works Cited http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tito_Puente