Tito Puente

Tito Puente was born in 1923 to Puerto Rican immigrants in Harlem, where he grew up hearing Cuban and Puerto Rican music. He started playing timbales early on, an instrument that would become central to his sound. In 1948, he formed his own orchestra.

His 1954 recording of "Oye Cómo Va" became an international hit, blending mambo and cha-cha-chá rhythms. The song's infectious groove made it one of his most recognizable tracks. He also recorded songs like "¿Juego O Amor?" and "¿Por Qué Les Mientes?" that showed his range within Latin music.

Puente worked with musicians like Dizzy Gillespie and Mongo Santamaría, bringing jazz elements into his arrangements. He kept performing and recording for decades, maintaining a connection to both traditional Latin rhythms and contemporary sounds without settling into just one style.