Who Was Tito Puente? Google Doodle Celebrates the ‘King of Latin Music’
Google Doodle is paying tribute to “The King of Latin Music,” Tito Puente, with an animated movie on Google’s homepage in honour of Hispanic Heritage Month.
The doodle, created by Puerto Rican cartoonist Carlos Aponte in New York, incorporates “Ran Kan Kan,” Puente’s first studio single.
“Tito was a big part of my musical upbringing in Puerto Rico,” Aponte stated. “My aunt introduced me to Tito Puente through La Lupe, a well-known Puerto Rican and New York singer.” Tito acted as a Svengali for celebrities such as Celia Cruz. He was a well-known figure. As a result, Tito was a part of my Puerto Rican soundtrack.
Puente was a world-famous singer, songwriter, bandleader, producer, and percussionist. His best renowned tune, “Oye Como Va,” became a hit in the 1970s after being covered by the rock band Santana.
Puente’s exceptional ability to be both Puerto Rican and American enabled him to smoothly merge Latin music and American Jazz, a talent that catapulted him to international prominence.
Puente began his career as a drummer in his early teens after being born and nurtured in New York City’s Spanish Harlem to Puerto Rican parents. He got his big break performing with Federico Pagani’s Happy Boys and Machito’s Orchestra.
Puente entered the Juilliard School of Music after serving in the Navy during WWII and eventually formed his own band. He rapidly became known for his timbales (shallow kettledrums) performances, which had spectators on their feet.
Puente explored with other Latin music styles besides the mambo movement, including the Boogaloo, Pachanga, and, eventually, Salsa. For his ingenuity and innovation, he was regarded as a musical pioneer, and he is often recognised with popularising Latin music in the United States. He was given the key to New York City in 1969.
The “Nuyorican,” a combination of his New York and Puerto Rican ancestors, recorded 118 albums and is credited on dozens more. During his long career, he received six Grammy Awards and was honoured posthumously at the first Latin Grammy Awards.
Puente had a great 50-year career, winning six Grammy Awards and being nominated for twelve more. He was even granted the key to New York City in 1969.
From 1963 until his death, he was married to Margaret Asencio, with whom he had two daughters, Audrey Puente and Tito Puente Jr.
The Puente Google Doodle is an animated movie of Puente’s childhood house on 110th Street and Third Avenue in Spanish Harlem. Tito Puente Way was renamed after him after his death.
The Doodle begins with a young, aspiring musician pounding on pots and pans in his bedroom before following Puente on his quest to becoming the “King of the Timbales.”
On October 10, 2021, the Google Doodle commemorates the one-year anniversary of the unveiling of the Tito Puente Monument in his hometown of East Harlem, New York.
Tito Puente died at New York University Hospital on June 1, 2000. He was 77 years old at the time.
According to a publicist for the musician, he had surgery in the early hours of June 1, fell into a coma, and died that night.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Puente was hospitalised for cardiac problems a month before his death while on tour in Puerto Rico.