The comparison is inevitable. How could it be otherwise? Tito Puente
Jr. carries his father with him – imprinted on his physical being
and locked in his soul. It’s in his looks, his joy, and his music.
Tito, Jr. is on a passionate mission. The younger Puente is determined
to nurture the musical legacy left by his father. He refuses to let
his father become a distant memory. “He was just too vibrant, too
exciting. There was magic in the music my father made. It made people
happy all over the world.” He has found captive audiences who echo
his passion. Crowds lured to a venue by the father are returning to
see the son -- and to once again participate in the high voltage
celebration that takes place on stage. Tito Puente, Jr. has become an
audience favorite in casinos, performing arts centers, symphony halls
and jazz festivals worldwide, performing more than 300 shows over the
past 5 years. His 2004 album, “In My Father’s Shoes” featured
the classic Puente titles and was spun into a BET Jazz television
special of the same name.
He was seen in a tribute to his
father’s music on NBC’s two hour special--“The Apollo at 70: A
Hot Night in Harlem.” He has also appeared on the ABC soap opera hit
“One Life to Live” in performance with his big band. Symphony
appearances include Dallas, San Antonio, Colorado, South Bend, and
upcoming performances with the Palm Desert Symphony and the National
Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marvin Hamlisch.
Tito, Jr.’s
new CD release, “Got Mambo?” is a mixture of the old and the new
as he takes a musical departure into some powerful new music he can
truly call his own. Guest artists Bobby Cruz and Hansel & Raul help
make this a coming of age project for Puente, Jr. and the album is
receiving heavy praise from Tropical and Latin Jazz critics alike.
Tito Jr. reveres the magnificent, lasting impact his father had on our
musical lives. “People who don’t know anything about Latin music
know my father and people always, always smile when they say my
father’s name,” he confides. “That is a very special gift I have
been given.”
Tito, Jr. lives in South Florida and has two
children, Miranda and Antonio.
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11/04/2020 Last update