Photo: Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Tito Puente is one of those rare figures whose music outlived him entirely, and I mean that as the highest compliment. Born in New York in 1923, the King of the Timbales turned mambo and Latin jazz into something irresistible, racking up Grammys, a Lifetime Achievement award, and a National Medal of Arts along the way. What I love is that his virtuosity never felt cold; he played with a grin, and you can feel the joy in every roll. Music exists to move people, and Puente understood that to his core. You cannot tell the story of Latin music without him standing at the very center.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Tito Puente
- Name (Japanese)
- ティト・プエンテ
- Reading
- てぃと・ぷえんて
- Born
- April 20, 1923 – May 31, 2000
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Taurus / Boar
- Origin
- New York City, New York, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- actor / bandleader / conductor / composer / salsa musician
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Norman Thomas High School
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- National Medal of Arts
- 2003 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- Library of Congress Living Legend
- 1995 Billboard Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award
- 1979 Grammy Award for Best Latin Recording
- 1984 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album
- 1991 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album
- 2000 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Tito Puente born?
April 20, 1923 – May 31, 2000.
Where is Tito Puente from?
Tito Puente is from New York City, New York, United States.
What does Tito Puente do?
Tito Puente works as actor, bandleader, conductor, composer, salsa musician.
Actor — see all → · Bandleader — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-19
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.