Tito Rodríguez, The Other Mambo King
When I was in High School in Bayamón, PR we had dances, but the main ingredient in the record player was not Tito Puente, as one might have thought... it was Tito Rodriguez... the other Mambo King.

Tito Rodriguez's romantic inflections into his singing, made him a favorite with the "conservas" trying to score... The girls liked him! Even fast songs sounded "sexy" due to the breathing technique that Rodriguez employed while crooning. It worked, and the high schools were his to rule... and that he did, until... BAM! ...Dead at age fifty!

Pablo Rodríguez Lozada, better known as Tito Rodríguez (January 4, 1923-February 28, 1973) born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, was a popular 1950s and 1960s singer and bandleader. He is known by many fans as "El Inolvidable" (The Unforgettable), a moniker based on his most popular interpretation, a song written by Cuban composer Julio Gutierrez.

Rodríguez became interested in music as a child. He was always surrounded by musical toys, such as guitars, pianos and trumpets. His older brother, Johnny Rodríguez was a popular song composer and bandleader, who inspired Tito to become a musician. In 1936, 13 year old Tito joined the group of Ladislao (El Maestro Ladí) Martínez, "Industrias Nativas" as a singer and when he was 16 years old, he participated in a recording with the Mayari Cuartet. In 1940, Tito emigrated to New York City shortly after his parents, Jose and Severina died. He went to live with his brother Johnny, who had been living there since 1935.

In New York, Tito found a job as a singer and bongo player for the orchestra of Eric Madriguera. In 1941, he recorded "Amor Guajiro", "Acercate Mas" (Get Closer) and "Se Fue la Comparsa". In 1942, Tito joined the band of Xavier Cugat, and recorded "Bin, Bam, Bum" and "Ensalada de Congas" (Conga Salad).

Tito joined and served in the U.S. Army for one year. After he was discharged, he returned to New York where he joined the orchestra of José Curbelo. On one occasion, the band performed at the China Doll Cabaret. There he met a young Japanese chorus girl by the name of Tobi Kei (b. Takeku Kunimatsu, 23 January 1925, Bellingham, Washington, USA), who eventually became his wife.

In 1947, Tito made his "solo" debut and finally organized his own band, which he named "Los Diablos del Mambo". In 1950, he enrolled in The Juilliard School of the Performing Arts, where he studied the vibrophone, xylophone and percussion. He renamed his band "Los Lobos del Mambo" and later he dropped the name altogether. That's when he decided to go with the name "The Tito Rodriguez Orchestra". The first song that he recorded under the bands new name which became a "hit" was "Besame La Bemba" (Kiss Me Big Lips). In 1952, he was honored for having developed his own unique singing style by the "Century Conservatory of Music of New York". His orchestra won the "Gran Trofeo Award" for two consecutive years.

 He renamed his band "Los Lobos del Mambo" and later he dropped the name altogether. That's when he decided to go with the name "The Tito Rodriguez Orchestra".

In 1953, Tito heard a percussionist, by the name of Cheo Feliciano. Tito was so impressed with Feliciano that he offered him a job in his band. Tito discovered that Cheo also knew how to sing and gave him an opportunity to sing at the Palladium Ballroom. Eventually, Cheo went to work for another band but, the friendship between them lasted for the rest of their lives. Among the other orchestras that played at the Palladium, where the Charlie Palmieri and Tito Puente orchestras. A rivalry which was to last for years, quickly developed between the two Titos. The popular Latin music craze at the time was the cha-cha-cha and the Mambo.'

The feud between the two Tito's was reflected on some of Rodriguez's recordings. "Avisale a Mi Contrario Que Aqui Estoy Yo" (Tell My Counterpart That I Am Here) and "Que Pena Me Da" (I Pity You), are just two examples of the bad feelings between both of them.

Rodríguez also feuded with future bandleader Johnny Pacheco, who was Rodríguez's arranger once. When Pacheco went solo, he did three arrangements on hire for Puente. Since his financial situation at the time was not healthy, Pacheco later visited the band's rehearsal studio as to ask Rodriguez (who was not at the room at the time) for further work, then left. When Rodríguez returned, not only he forbid his musicians to make any further contact with Pacheco, he wrote "A mí no me importas tú" ("I don't care about you"), an indirect jab against Pacheco which eventually became a popular salsa single.

With the beginning of the 1960s, all that was going to change with the popularity gained by rock music. Latin bands began to switch their styles and started playing more salsa and boogaloo, which was more attractive to Latin youth of the day. Rodríguez then tried his luck with boleros and recorded various albums, which gave way to various hit songs, particularly "Inolvidable" (Unforgettable), composed by Julio Gutierrez, and "En La Soledad", (In Solitude), composed by Puchi Balseiro, which are considered by many to be his most successful songs. They sold over a million and a half copies world wide. He also produced records for other groups, such as Los Hispanos and Los Montemar.

The man was too "suave" to be ignored

Tito returned to Puerto Rico in 1970 and built a Japanese style house in the Santurce, where he lived with his family. Tito produced his own television show called "El Show de Tito Rodriguez" which was transmitted through San Juan's television Channel 7 (whose call letters were WRIK-TV at the time). Among the special guest stars that appeared in his show were Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett and Shirley Bassey. Tito also founded his own recording studio called TR Records.

Tito's last public appearance was with Machito and his Band on February 2, 1973 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Tito Rodríguez died of leukemia on February 28, 1973, in his Coral Gables, Florida home where he had recently moved with his wife.

Now isn't it a pity?