Tito Puente

Tito Puente
Puente in 1996
Background information
Birth name	Ernest Anthony Puente Jr.
Born	(1923-04-20)April 20, 1923 New York City, U.S.
Died	June 1, 2000(2000-06-01) (aged 77) New York City, U.S.
Genres	Latin jazz Afro-Cuban jazz mambo
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter record producer
Instrument(s)	Timbales vibraphone
Years active	1946–2000
Labels	Tico Fania Sony Discos RMM Concord Picante
Military Service[1]
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1942-1946
Rank	Bugler First Class
Unit	USS Santee (CVE-29)
Battles/wars	World War II,Operation Torch, Guadalcanal Campaign, New Guinea Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Theater, Battle of Philippine Sea, Battle of Guam, Luzon Campaign, Iwo Jima Operation, Okinawa Gunto Operation
Awards	World War II Victory Medal Presidential Unit Citation American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Army of Occupation Medal Army of occupation Medal Philipine Presidential Unit Citation

Ernest Anthony Puente Jr. (April 20, 1923 – June 1, 2000),^[2] commonly known as Tito Puente, was an American musician, songwriter, bandleader, and record producer of Puerto Rican descent. He is best known for dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz compositions from his 50-year career. His most famous song is "Oye Como Va".^[3]

Puente and his music have appeared in films including The Mambo Kings and Fernando Trueba's Calle 54. He guest-starred on television shows, including Sesame Street and The Simpsons two-part episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns?".