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Tito Puente (1923–2000)

Soundtrack | Actor | Composer

Ernest "Tito" Anthony Puente was the eldest son of Puerto Rican parents. His mother called him "Ernestito" which means "Little Ernest", which was later shortened to "Tito". His mother saw his musical potential and enrolled him in piano classes. Eventually he attended the Juilliard School of Music from 1945-47 on the GI bill... See full bio »

Born:

Ernest Anthony Puente Jr.
in New York City, New York, USA

Died:

(age 77) in New York City, New York, USA
Still of Armand Assante and Tito Puente in The Mambo Kings Tito Puente
3 photos | 3 videos | 28 news articles »

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Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideSoundtrack (58 titles)
2013 Star Trek Into Darkness (writer: "Body Movin' Fat Boy Slim Remix")
 
2008-2012 Dancing with the Stars (TV series)
– Week 4: The Results (2012) (writer: "Oye Como Va")
– Week 4 (2012) (writer: "Para Los Rumberos")
– Episode #11.2 (2010) (writer: "Oye Como Va")
– Round Ten: Final Results (2009) (writer: "Ran Kan Kan" - uncredited)
– Round Six (2009) (writer: "Ran Kan Kan" - uncredited)
See all 7 episodes »
 
2012 What to Expect When You're Expecting (writer: "Oye Como Va")
 
2012 Banda sonora (TV series)
– Episode #8.5 (2012) (writer: "Oye como va")
 
2008-2011 So You Think You Can Dance Canada (TV series)
– Top 6 Performance (2011) (performer: "Salsa y Sibor")
– Top 18 Performance (2011) (performer: "Mambo Gozon")
– Top 4 Perform (2009) (performer: "Ran Kan Kan")
– Top 10 (2008) (performer: "Salsa y Sibor")
– Top 18 (2008) (performer: "Mambo Gozon")
 
2006-2011 So You Think You Can Dance (TV series)
– Top 14 Perform (2011) (performer: "Mambo Beat")
– 1 of 11 Voted Off (2010) (performer: "La Guarachera")
– Two of 16 Voted Off (2009) (performer: "Celia y Tito")
– Top 14 (2007) (performer: "Flauta Y Timbal")
– Top 20 Results (2006) (performer: "Shing A-Tin Tin")
 
2010 Chico & Rita (writer: "Mambo Herd")
 
2010 Warehouse 13 (TV series)
– Around the Bend (2010) (performer: Oye Como Va" - uncredited)
 
2009 Burn Notice (TV series)
– Fearless Leader (2009) (performer: "Baqueteo" - uncredited)
 
2009 Memòries de la tele (TV series)
– Episode #3.30 (2009) (performer: "Oriza")
 
2009 Middle Men (writer: "Oye Como Va" / performer: "Oye Como Va")
 
2007 We Own the Night (writer: "Mambo Diablo" / performer: "Mambo Diablo")
 
2007 Delta Farce (writer: "Oye Como Va")
 
2006 My Super Ex-Girlfriend (writer: "Oye Como Va")
 
2006 Lady in the Water (writer: "El Cayuco")
 
2005 Twelve and Holding (writer: "Oye Mi Guaguanaco")
 
2005 Where the Truth Lies (writer: "Oye Como Va" 1963)
 
2004 Six Feet Under (TV series)
– Untitled (2004) ("Mambo Diablo")
 
2004 Eros (writer: "Tito On Timbales" / performer: "Tito On Timbales")
 
2004 Wicker Park (writer: "Ran Kan Kan" / performer: "Ran Kan Kan")
 
2004 Man on Fire (writer: "Oye Como Va")
 
2004 Along Came Polly (performer: "A GOZAR TIMBERO")
 
2003 Beyond Borders (writer: "Oye Como Va")
 
2002 Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (writer: "Oye Como Spy")
 
2002 Hollywood Ending (performer: "Descarga" 1955)
 
2002 Empire (performer: "Que Te Pedi")
 
2001 Blow (writer: "Mambo Gozon" / performer: "Mambo Gozon")
 
2001 Spy Kids (writer: "Oye Como Spy")
 
2000 Born Romantic (writer: "Oye Como Va", "Ran Kan Kan" / as Puente / performer: "Ran Kan Kan")
 
2000 Luminarias (performer: "Love Me")
 
1999 The Astronaut's Wife (writer: "Four Beat Cha Cha Cha" / performer: "Four Beat Cha Cha Cha")
 
1998 A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries (performer: "Amarra el porto en la dura")
 
1998 Woo (writer: "Oye Como Va")
 
1998 Wild Things (writer: "Salsa Caliente" / performer: "Salsa Caliente")
 
1998 The Big Lebowski (writer: "Oye Como Va")
 
1997 Out to Sea (writer: "Oye Como Va" 1963)
 
1996 Keys to Tulsa (writer: "Oye Como Va")
 
1996 Harriet the Spy (writer: "Ran Kan Kan" / performer: "Ran Kan Kan")
 
1996 Up Close & Personal (writer: "Hong Kong Mambo" / performer: "Hong Kong Mambo")
 
1995 The Simpsons (TV series)
– Who Shot Mr. Burns?: Part 2 (1995) (performer: "Señor Burns")
 
1994 A Low Down Dirty Shame (writer: "OYE COMO VA", "AZUKIKI" / performer: "AZUKIKI", "OLD ARRIVAL")
 
1994 Baseball (TV mini-series documentary)
– A Whole New Ball Game (1994) (performer: "El Bribon Del Aguarcero")
 
1994 I Like It Like That (performer: "I Like It")
 
1994 The Cowboy Way (writer: "Ran Kan Kan" / performer: "Ran Kan Kan")
 
1993 Carlito's Way (writer: "Oye Como Va")
 
1992 American Me (writer: "Oye Como Va")
 
1992 Gladiator (writer: "Latin Till I Die Oye como va")
 
1992 The Mambo Kings (writer: "Ran Kan Kan", "Para Los Rumberos", "Mambo Gallego" / performer: "Ran Kan Kan", "Cuban Pete", "Para Los Rumberos")
 
1991 Hangin' with the Homeboys (writer: "Four Beat Cha Cha", "Llego Mijan" / performer: "Four Beat Cha Cha", "Llego Mijan")
 
1990/I Havana (writer: "Cuban's Nightmare" / performer: "Cuban's Nightmare")
 
1988 Salsa (writer: "Oye Como Va", "Mambo Guzon" / performer: "Oye Como Va", "Mambo Guzon")
 
1987 The Secret of My Succe$s (writer: "EL CAYUCO")
 
1987 Radio Days (performer: "Tico Tico" 1942)
 
1986 The Boss' Wife (performer: "Carioca", "Equinox")
 
1986 Armed and Dangerous (writer: "OYE COMO VA" / performer: "OYE COMO VA" / producer: "OYE COMO VA")
 
1983 Knight Rider (TV series)
– Blind Spot (1983) (writer: "Oye Como Va")
 
1975 Summer Session (writer: "Oye Como Va")
 
1956 Historia de un marido infiel (writer: "Ran Can Can")
 
Show ShowActor (3 titles)
1987 Radio Days
Latin Bandleader
 
1986 Armed and Dangerous
Band Leader
 
1986 The Cosby Show (TV series)
Timbal Player
– Play It Again, Russell (1986) … Timbal Player
 
Show ShowComposer (1 title)
1983 Lolita's Dreams (short)
 
Show ShowSelf (34 titles)
2010 Sid Bernstein Presents... (documentary)
 
2006 From Mambo to Hip Hop: A South Bronx Tale (TV movie)
Himself
 
2002 The Palladium: Where Mambo Was King (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2000 Calle 54 (documentary)
Himself
 
2000 Americanos: Latino Life in the United States (documentary)
Himself
 
1999 ABC 2000: The Millennium (TV documentary)
 
1999 The Puerto Ricans: Our American Story (documentary)
Himself
 
1999 Celia Cruz & Friends: A Night of Salsa (TV special)
Himself
 
1998 Latino NY Live (TV series)
Himself (1998)
 
1998 Romance del cumbanchero (video documentary)
Himself
 
1997 Pa'lante con Cristina (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 1 September 1997 (1997) … Himself
 
1997 Lo + plus (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 10 July 1997 (1997) … Himself
 
1997 RMM 10th. Anniversary Collection VOL. 3 (video)
Himself
 
1997 The Best of Latin Jazz (video short)
Himself
 
1997 The 22nd New York Salsa Festival (video documentary)
Himself
 
1996 From Son to Salsa (documentary)
Himself
 
1996 New York Undercover (TV series)
Himself
– Smack Is Back (1996) … Himself (as Tito Puente and his Latin-Jazz Ensemble)
 
1996 Gala de la hispanidad (TV movie)
Himself
 
1995 Lauren Hutton and... (TV series)
Himself
– Tito Puente (1995) … Himself
 
1995 The Simpsons (TV series)
Himself
– Who Shot Mr. Burns?: Part 2 (1995) … Himself (voice)
– Who Shot Mr. Burns?: Part 1 (1995) … Himself (voice)
 
1994 Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 30 December 1994 (1994) … Himself
 
1994 Familia RMM Combinacion Perfecta (video documentary)
Himself
 
1993 Especial Nochevieja 1993: Este año cruz y raya... seguro (TV movie)
Himself - Performer
 
1993 Gloria Estefan: Mi Tierra (TV movie)
Himself
 
1992 The Mambo Kings
Himself
 
1990 Un dia és un dia (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #2.2 (1990) … Himself
 
1989 Late Night with David Letterman: 7th Anniversary Special (TV movie)
Himself
 
1988 Salsa
Himself
 
1988 The 30th Annual Grammy Awards (TV special)
Himself
 
1986 Late Night with David Letterman (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 26 September 1986 (1986) … Himself
 
1984 Àngel Casas show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.26 (1984) … Himself
 
1984 Roots of Rhythm (TV movie)
Himself
 
1982 Sound Festival (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.4 (1982) … Himself
 
1979 Beats of the Heart: Salsa (TV documentary)
Himself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (8 titles)
2010 Hispanic Youth Showcase 2010 (TV movie)
Himself
 
2009 Late Show with David Letterman (TV series)
 
2009 Hispanic Youth Showcase 2009 (TV movie)
Himself
 
2009 Memòries de la tele (TV series)
 
2008 Hispanic Youth Showcase 2008 (TV special)
Himself
 
2005 La tierra de las 1000 músicas (TV series documentary)
 
2003 Tom Dowd & the Language of Music (documentary)
Himself
 
1999 Crossroads (TV documentary)
(Part 1)
 

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Personal Details

Other Works:

CD (w/Woody Herman): "Puente's Heat/Herman's Heat" (ZZB) See more »

Publicity Listings:

1 Article  | 1 Magazine Cover Photo  | See more »

Alternate Names:

Tito Puente and his Latin-Jazz Ensemble
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Did You Know?

Trivia:

He was the timbalero (timbales player) who began playing the instrument while standing in front of an orchestra. Before Puente, timbales had always been played from a seated postion in the rear of the orchestra. See more »

Trademark:

White hair See more »

Nickname:

King of the Mambo See more »

Star Sign:

Aries