Tito Puente is one of the most beloved musicians of the 20th century. Born in Spanish Harlem, Puente and his timbales (a type of drum popular in latin music) helped bring the flavorful sounds of mambo and cha-cha to mainstream audiences, and the people loved him for it: Puente’s career lasted more than 50 years (until his death in 2000).
Last summer, I found a copy of The Complete 78′s in the free pile at work and it opened my mind to the music legend that I’ve heard plenty about, but had never had a chance to really listen to. I don’t think I was alone in this — Puente’s name comes up often, but for many people, it’s simply not the kind of music that they get exposed to growing up. So, as winter dumps it’s slushy mess and the sun takes more and more time off, here’s a little something to keep you warm: a sampling from the man they called “El Rey”.
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