“The music was so great....people had a wonderful time. Tito is a pleasure to work with.”

Merle Dickert Paramount Center Bristol, TN

Tito Does Memphis (May 21st, 2011)

"Fantastic!  It was a fiesta!  Everyone loved it.  We were oversold.  Tito was charming and engaging.  The audience adored him.  The whole orchestra sounded top drawer, and he was so talented.  He spent tons of time autographing and meeting folks.  We could have used some more CDs to sell, but how can you predict that?  Overall, it was a fantastic experience from our end.  I truly hope Tito and the other musicians felt the same."

"Thank you for all of your hard work on this.  It's been a pleasure working with you.  We pulled it off!"

Cindi Younker

Editor's Pick:

Wow, this one is hot, folks. Tito Puente, Jr.'s new release "Got Mambo?" has sparks flying everywhere. And with guests like Ricky Melendez, Kevin Ceballo , Bobby Cruz (with a tip-of-the-hat to Puente, Sr. on "Ay Cariño"), José Arroro and Hansel & Raul, too. Some of this stuff is simply terrific salsa, and a good portion is pure capital "M" Mambo done old school and with a lot of muscle. Listen to "Jr.'s Mambo". This guy just gets it. Puente, Jr. has been active releasing singles that border on salsa-mambo-disco and house. This release, however, puts him on another level, and he is owed props, big time.

This one is a must-have and a big DJ alert.

Very Highly Recommended.

Tito Puente, Jr. on Facebook

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Tito Puente Jr. Brings Father's Music And Fest Crowd To Life

Nov. 22, 2008 -- "I'm loving every minute of it," Tito Puente Jr. said Friday about performing.

He proved the truth of that statement Friday night and on into the small hours of Saturday morning, playing enthusiastically, dancing through songs, and joking a mile a minute with the packed crowd at the Second Annual Blue Bay Jazz Festival in Frederiksted.

He is the son, of course, of the late, legendary Latin music percussionist, composer and arranger Tito Puente, whose career as "El Rey" – the King – spanned half a century, seven Grammy Awards, 158 albums and thousands of performances. "They called him the King of Latin music," Puente said of his father. "I tell people I'm not the prince. I'm more like the court jester." In fact, Puente said, he had never planned to follow in his famous father's footsteps. Born in 1971, he had his own interests as a youth. "Are you kidding? I wanted to play rock 'n' roll!" he said. The "family business" didn't appeal to Puente until his father passed away in 2000 at the age of 77. Suddenly the younger Tito began to feel the pull of the family legacy, and began to perform his father's music.

Now he and his band cross the country keeping alive the music, the memory and the man. "I'm not trying to replace him and never could," Puente said of his father. "What you'll see is -- my father in me." While preserving the integrity of the music and the memory of his father is important to Puente -- "The music is the show," he said -- he also has begun to expand his repertoire, and has a new album coming out next year. Friday night he performed one of the new songs for the Frederiksted crowd.

While clearly in the same Latin vein, it showed contemporary influences in its rhythms and structure. The music business has changed a lot since the days when Tito Puente Sr. was King of the Mambo. Then Puente would release two albums a year and tour constantly to support them -- 200 and more shows a year. In those days you couldn't just release an album and expect people to buy it. By barnstorming across the country, performing constantly, you built a following of people who had seen you, liked your music and wanted to buy it.

Today is very different. Puente Jr. has a new album coming out next year and will tour to support it. But the tour will be much more limited than his father's cross-country jaunts. In fact, the album won't even exist physically, not in the way his father's albums did. The album will be initially released online, Puente said, with people able to download the music from iTunes and other such internet venues.

The thousands who gathered in Frederiksted for the evening's performances had enjoyed and cheered enthusiastically for the VI Rhythm Section, the Louis Taylor Quartet and the Nathan Lucas Quartet. But throughout, the buzz of anticipation was for the headliner. "I'm here for Tito, man! I want to see Tito!" said one young audience member, who gave his name as Sam, while waiting out the lengthy delay as the stage was set for the night's final act.

As the musicians came on stage and began a lively, Conga-driven Latin rhythm, the balmy night air seemed to grow warmer. Then, as the audience began swaying to the insistent syncopation, Tito Puente Jr. burst onto the stage, his white shirt, coat and pants shining in the spotlight, and the crowd cheered. With each number, the tight knot of fans at the front of the stage danced more enthusiastically, and even to the back of the crowd, that spilled over into the closed-off street, people cha-cha-ed, mamboed or just improvised lively, suggestive steps.

For another night, the King of Latin Music lived again.

-- by John Baur



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Puente band, symphony make a potent pairing

Review: Puente band, symphony make a potent pairing
Web Posted: 04/21/2007 08:08 PM CDT

Jennifer Roolf Laster
Express-News

Tito Puente Jr.'s Friday night debut with the San Antonio Symphony happened to coincide with what would have been his legendary father's 84th birthday, he told the crowd.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños!, Tito. You would have been proud.

Puente Sr., who died in 2000, was known as The King of Latin Dance, and his compositions and renditions, including "Oye Como Va" and "Ran Kan Kan" made him a legend. Friday, son Puente Jr. channeled dear old dad in a rockin', cha-cha-cha-inspired evening that had more than a few music lovers shimmying in the aisles.

The show repeats at 2 p.m. today at the Majestic Theatre.

Puente and his five-piece band, as well as second-half conductor Frank Fiore, turned out an overwhelmingly high-energy, festive show.

It would be more appropriate, in fact, to call it an extravaganza, not a concert. And although the show was not an official Fiesta event, it certainly could have been. Puente's chest flashed with bright medals, and dancers and musicians filled the lobby of the Majestic before the show and during intermission.

There were a few unfortunate sound system problems, but it didn't seem to affect the performers, who kept pushing the limits of each piece to amp up the hall's energy. The Livingston/Evans piece "Babarabatiri" was a crowd fave, and the delicate, plaintive sounds of Martinoli's "Cuando Calienta el Sol," dedicated to Celia Cruz, caused more than a few in the audience to start snuggling.

The two bands - Puente's house band and the symphony -- blended perfectly, playing off one another and amplifying each other's strengths.

The evening's first half of Latin-flavored classical selections was smartly programmed - it flew by - and gave the symphony's brass section a chance to shine.

And although the star of the evening, judging by the hoots and hollers, was Puente, it bears noting that the program's first half seemed tailor-made for resident conductor David Cho, whose physical, playful conducting style transcended any language barriers and shaped a sparkling first half of big, brassy and breezy selections.

Special attention should be paid to cellist Kenneth Freudigman for his heartfelt, wrenching turn on Grofé's arrangement of Lecuona's "Malagueña." And the entire symphony turned out passionate and precise work on two arrangements by Carmen Dragon: Marqueiña's "España Cañí," which was forcefully executed, and Abreu's festive "Tico Tico," which set just the right note for Puente's turn in the second half.

jlaster@express-news.net

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Fan Letter

Tito,

I attended your concert, last Friday in San Antonio and just wanted to tell you how proud we are of you.

It was an amazing show and the music was spectacular.

But... most of all your warmth and caring personality stole our hearts. I was there (holding 2 small Puerto Rican flags) when you signed and shook hands with this very excited older lady that could not even get in line. What you missed was the twinkle in her eye and her emotion when she walked away with your autographed picture.

Maybe you didn't hear it, but when she walked away she said: "Viva Tito Puente, God bless you".

It doesn't get better than that. I was so touched by your gesture that by the time I reacted, I couldn't even get in line to say "hi" and get your autograph. But, you know what? It didn't matter. Just to witness that was enough.

Please keep taking your dad's legacy to the next level. Never, never, let it die.

We are very proud of you!

Migdalia Aponte
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Tito Puente Jr. breezes through his father's hits

By Dan Emerson
Special to the Pioneer Press

Sunday was anything but a day of rest for second-generation salsa star Tito Puente Jr.

Puente weathered loss of sleep due to a new baby, a missed flight from Miami and other travel hassles and rushed to Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis just in time to lead his 11-piece salsa band through a concert of hits made famous by his late father.

While Puente was making his way from the airport to the concert hall, his musical director and pianist, Edwin Sanchez, led the group through several Latin-jazz instrumentals. The warm-up set included two jazzy originals by one of the group's two trumpeters, Victor Garcia, and a salsified version of Herbie Hancock's 1960s jazz hit "Maiden Voyage."

Now in his mid-30s, the younger Puente spent the first part of his career achieving his own fame as a popularizer of modern Latin dance music, with a musical fusion containing elements of House and merengue music. Beginning in the '90s, he had several hits on the Billboard dance charts. Since his father's death in 2000, Tito Jr. has devoted more time to ensuring that the "Mambo King's" musical legacy remains prominent in the minds of Latin music followers.

The music covered by Tito Jr. and his band Sunday dated back to 1947, when the elder Puente was just beginning his career in New York City as the foremost creator and popularizer of the driving jazz-mambo fusion known as salsa.

Performances by Tito Jr.'s band inevitably include two of the elder's biggest-selling hits, and Sunday's concert was no exception. One was the cha-cha "El Cayuco," embellished with an extended flute solo by Michael Salter, who is also one of the orchestra's three saxophonists.

While the sophisticated harmonies and melodies of jazz are a primary element in salsa music, the real focus is on the driving dance rhythm. Plenty of drive was provided by ace conguero Danny Feliciano, bongo player Luis Rosario and Puente, who - like his father - leads the band on timbales.

The energy peak came with a rendition of "Oye Como Va," the Puente theme which guitarist Carlos Santana turned into a million-selling cross-over hit in 1970, years after the original had become a salsa anthem. "What can I say about Carlos Santana?" Tito Jr. asked the audience Sunday. "He put me through college ... and my sister ... and my brother. And my mother is still a big fan."

Tito urged the matinee audience to give in to the infectious salsa rhythms and dance in the aisles, and a few dozen audience members did just that.

The most artful singing in Sunday's concert was done by the opening act, Peruvian vocalist Susana Baca, who led an acoustic quartet. Baca originally was brought to the attention of U.S. audiences by art-rocker David Byrne, who recorded her for his Luaka Bop record label back in the mid-'90s. Baca sings not only in Spanish and English but also in Portuguese, French, Neapolitan and Haitian Creole.

Displaying her delicate but expressive voice, she was sensitively backed Sunday by a group that included two percussionists, acoustic guitar and standup bass.

Dan Emerson is a freelance writer and musician in Minneapolis.
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Fan Letter

Tito,

I saw you this evening at Potawatomi Bingo Casino, and had the pleasure of coming back stage to meet you and you were kind enough to take a photo with me, which was very nice....

I want you to know that aside from anything else that I saw when you performed tonight, the thing that impressed me the most was your ability to share your grief with us and the friendship and support that you have from your band. I sing in a band here in Milwaukee, and I have been struggling with "Why do I sing? What is the purpose...what is the message"....your performance brought it to me tonight. You gotta share your soul and let it all hang out and give it everything so that people can see that it can be done:) It was the most amazing live performance I have seen since I met your father in Boston when I attended Berklee College of Music in 1989.

Thank you for signing the picture, for taking a photo with me and for sharing your "life" and your grief. I am praying for you and KNOW that you have done your father extremely proud:) If you ever come back to Milwaukee, and want a nice home cooked meal and some comradarie, park you bus at our house in Wauwatosa anytime:)

Please visit my website www.myspace.com/rhondabegosmusic and see a little bit of what I do musically, and the photo you took with me (you look great, I look ridiculously tired:), and the blog I wrote about your concert. Have a safe trip to the next gig and keep on doing what you're doing....I will see you when you come back to Milwaukee:)

With prayer,

Rhonda Begos
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YOU HAVE TO GET THIS!

June 27, 2004

Reviewer: A music fan

If you are a young or old fan of his dad, then you MUST have this recording by Tito Puente, Jr. I had the honor of meeting him a few months ago, and he was very passionate about this recording being able to pass on his father's music to future generations. He is a very energetic and articulate man, and to see Tito, Jr. play is an awesome sight and reminiscent of his father's own energy. Whether you are 12 or 102 you will enjoy his renditions of these songs. Viva la Raza!
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Back to the Roots!

June 24, 2004

Reviewer: "manchita26"

This is an amazing album. It is nice to see the music of the legendary Tito Puente carried on interpreded by his own son Tito Puente Jr. The astounding sound of the timbales, congas, trumpets, and of course, la clave núnca falta! It makes you want to get up and dance "hasta la tambora con mucho mambo!"
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Fan Letter

Dear Tito Puente Jr.,

I have never written to a celebrity in the past. But, I find myself, jotting this note to you to share with you a moment you touched my mother's life.

Several years ago, I believe during the summer of 2003 -- you played at the Stoneham Theater in Stoneham, Massachusetts. My husband and I took my mother, Tonie, then age 73, to see your show. She had been a fan of your father's for years.

That evening, since we were seated in the first row of the theater, you selected my mom to dance with you. At the end of the dance, you "dipped" her. It was the first time in her life that any man had done this to her. It had always been one of her fantasies. We unfortunately did not have a camera with us to capture the moment. I believe a photographer was in the audience, so we checked the Boston paper to see if any pictures of your performance at Stoneham Theater was captured in Sunday and Monday's entertainment newspaper. We found NADA!!

For weeks after that performance she asked us (as well as various family members) to check to see if her picture with you appeared in your website.

This year we celebrated my mother's 75th birthday on May 16th. Since we were all asked to share some thoughts/stories about my mom, I decided to share with the rest of the family, the excitement, my mother felt after she had been "dipped" by Tito Puente Jr. I decided to demonstrate how my mom was dipped. Low and behold, she slipped under my hold (obviously, I don't have any training in this area), and down we both went. She was laughing hysterically as were others at the turn of events. I on the other hand was embarrassed and concerned that my mother had gotten hurt.

When she got to her feet, she quickly asked, "Did anyone take a picture?" It's now been nearly three months, and my mom is still laughing about the mishap.

Thankfully all is well.

Sincerely,
Rose Marie
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Fan Letter

Dear Tito Jr.

I wanted to say thank you for meeting with me, my husband and his parents. You are such a genuine, talented person with so much to give you will go far. Your show at the Mohegan Sun, on January 28, 2005 was awesome, full of energy, just beautiful! My husband, Mark and I danced so much that night it was just incredible! Thank you again for your hospitality and CD and God Bless you! Here are a few picks of the show, if you would like the originals please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Iris Diaz-Goodwin
Mrs. Puerto Rico United States
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Latin Nite at the 15th Annual Houston International Jazz Festival

As publicist of this year's happenings, I want to take this opportunity to personally thank you and your company for allowing Tito Puente, Jr. to showcase Latin Nite at the 15th Annual Houston International Jazz Festival. Because of Tito's participation, the Festival was a huge success and all those within earshot of his performance believe he was a great addition to this year's event.

Sheldon T. Nunn
Jus' Jazz Media
www.jusjazz.com
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Fan Letter

Hello Mr. Puente,

I and a friend attended your performance last night in Milwaukee. It was one of (if not the most) exhilarating concerts I have ever attended. But the best part was celebrating your Dad, and the obvious emotion you and other band members have for him. I too lost my Daddy just a few months ago. He was not a famous celebrity, but still a unique and special man. It's clear how you and others feel about your Dad. It really helped me connect to how I feel. Thank you so much for this special gift. I'm looking forward to the next time you're in the area.

Very best regards,
Bob H
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Fan Letter

Dear Tito:

My wife and I attended your concert in Albuquerque a week or so ago.

Man....you blew the doors off the place!!!

We appreciated your performances of your Dad's music. I wanted to say that I think he would be very, very proud of you! Thanks again. Sorry we couldn't meet you at the club after the concert. If you roll through here again, you have an open invitation for the best dang food in New Mexico.

Cordially,
Lorenzo Lacovara (and wife Marj)

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Fan Letter

Hi Tito,

Thank you so much again for making Vegas a totally new experience for us. Your show was spectacular, as always. You drew the crowd in with your excellent showmanship.

You reeled them in, hook-line-and-sinker. Thank you for sharing your fabulous suite...now we can say we have seen Vegas from the "rich and famous" top-of -the-world view. What a beautiful sight you had. Looking forward to seeing you in El Paso soon.

Love,
"Mana"
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The 2005 Houston International Jazz Festival

We at the Festival including Richard Dabon are pleased with the outcome of Tito's performance on Saturday night. We were overwhelmed by the awesome display of talent conveyed by Tito and his band of merry men. The audience was just as taken aback by the show as were we and to definitely do it again would be awesome.

Thanks for affording us the opportunity of booking Tito and we wish him continued success in his endeavor towards keeping the legacy of his father alive and for elevating the consciousness of Afro-Cuban jazz throughout the world.

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Press

Viva Broward!



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Puente Jr. all jazzed up for Laredo performance

By KIRSTEN CROW

LAREDO MORNING TIMES

Published: Friday, January 23, 2009 6:05 AM CST

New projects

It's a fortuitous start of the New Year for Puente, who is coming off a very good 2008.

A new father for the second time, his young son bears the name that made the family famous - Tito Puente Jr. III - or "Tito Puente Jr. Jr.," as Puente calls him.

He is also putting the finishing touches of his latest album, "Got Mambo?", which will include plenty of his original music, along with two or three covers of his father's.

It's a change of pace from his last CD, "En Los Pasos de mi Padre," or "In My Father's Shoes," which was essentially a tribute album in honor of his namesake, and included classic Puente with "Ran Kan Kan" and "El Cayuco."

"This album, I want to take to another level ...My last album was very salsa-oriented; this album is more musical," Puente Jr. said of the heavier Latin jazz influence.

It's slated to be released digitally in April.

Under the stars

Inexorably linked to his father and the legend his very name evokes, Puente fully embraces the comparison while maintaining his own identity, he said.

Fans not only find parallels through the music, but also in his visage.

And although Puente Jr. has never played in Laredo, he noted that his father did a number of times.

"The people of Laredo will hear the mambo music of the 1940s and 1950s that my father made famous in the Palladium," he said.

"We'll be under the stars, and I heard the weather is going to be great. They will definitely be entertained, because the music is almost like when you go into a time capsule, where I take you back."

Puente Jr. also noted that he enjoys meeting his fans and the fans of his father, and is known to hang around after performances in order to do so.

"People have stories about how they knew my father," Puente said. "He can't be replaced, but I hope to do a good job of keeping his music alive at Jamboozie."

Puente is scheduled to perform at the UETA Jamboozie at 10:15 p.m. Saturday at Stage 6 on the east end of Iturbide Street.

For more information about Puente Jr., visit www.myspace.com/titopuentejr or www.titopuentejr.net.

(Kirsten Crow may be reached at 728-2543 or by e-mail at kirsten@lmtonline.com)
Copyright © 2009 – Laredo Morning Times
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2008 'Celebrate The Season' Thanksgiving Parade

PITTSBURGH -- Santa Claus, a sleigh full of helpers and floats galore will be a part of the main attraction when the annual "Celebrate the Season" holiday parade, presented by Macy's and WPXI-TV, marches through downtown Pittsburgh!

The merriment will take place Saturday, Nov. 29 at 9 a.m.

Channel 11's David Johnson and Peggy Finnegan will host the parade, along with Julie Bologna and John Fedko handling celebrity interviews on Fifth Avenue.

The 28th annual edition of the parade will feature former Grand Funk Railroad vocalist Mark Farner, singing No. 1 hits such as Locomotion.

Other Celebrities Scheduled To Appear Include:

• Musical artist Tito Puente Jr.
• Pop band The Drive Home
• The ZOOperstars from NBC-TV's "America's Got Talent"
• Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
• Jimmy McGuire from Jeopardy's Clue Crew
• Vocalist Chris "Abby" Abbondanza
• Teen singing sensation Vanessa Campagna
• The Modernettes
• Entertainer Mark Milovats
• Mr. McFeely and Clifford the Big Red Dog, Curious George, the Queen of Hearts, the Pirate Parrot, Steely McBeam, Iceberg and the annual arrival of Old Saint Nick!

The parade route begins at Mellon Arena and continues down Fifth Avenue. This year, the new route will turn left onto Wood Street, right onto Boulevard of the Allies before ending at Stanwix Street.

The two-hour parade will be broadcast live on WPXI-TV Channel 11.

An encore presentation of the parade will air on WPXI at noon on Dec. 7, 2:05 a.m. on Dec. 24 and noon on Dec. 28.

PCNC will rebroadcast the parade from 8 p.m.to 10 p.m. on Nov. 29 and 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Dec. 25.

The parade will also air on RTN from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Dec. 8.

Tito would love to see you guys out there! Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!
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Tito Puente, Jr. at the top of his form

The year 2006 was a memorable one for the artist, with more than 50 appearances around the world.

His guest appearance in the ABC-TV series "One Life to Live," and most notably the birth of his daughter, made this a banner year for this distinguished entertainer.

This year he continues to reign over the casinos, and will perform as a guest soloist with the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra.
Miami, FL, January 22, 2007. - 2006 was a memorable year in Tito Puente, Jr.'s career. The heir apparent of the indisputable Mambo King, the master of the musical form, toured a large segment of the continental U.S.A. and the world, presenting 50 concerts to sold out audiences and acting in the U.S. television series, "One Life to Live," one of the hottest soap-operas on the ABC Network. However, the most memorable moment by far came with the birth of his first daughter, Miranda Cristina.

"The experience on TV is a memory that lasts a lifetime," Tito referred to his guest shot on "One Live to Live", having been a fan of that popular soap for years.

Among other activities, the performer joined the campaigns of the USO, the organization whose mission is providing aid and entertainment to members of the armed forces dispatched around the world. Last year, Tito Puente, Jr. took along his inimitable rhythms and musicianship to brighten the stay of the troupes assigned in Spain and Italy.

"I have been committed to USO since 2001," he stated proudly. It is a true honor and one of the greatest rewards of my career, to have had the privilege of bringing my music to those men and women in the armed forces, in whatever part of the world they may find themselves," he added.

"One of the true challenges of 2006 was to face the public at the concert in El Paso, Texas," the artist remembers, refering to his participation in the Music Under the Stars Festival. "More than 15,000 spectators were watching the show, but my nerves vanished once the crowd began to chant, in unison, the lyrics to each and every song, since most were also fans of my father," he said.

Also, throughout this past year, Tito continued on his path to the title "Casino King" in the United Sates. To each evening of elegance and glamour, he added the Latin rhythm of the mambo, so prevalent in the Hollywood of the 40's and 50's, especially at the casinos of the Harrah's chain, where he'll continue performing throughout this coming year.

"Other memorable evenings were the ones spent at the Friar's Club, such a prestigious place that I've always wanted to visit, that reeks with an elegant nostalgia, where I found the memory of my father is still very much alive," he said.

The year 2007 promises to be no less star-studded in the life of this musician, who now readies for his upcoming appearances with the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, gathering more and more followers along the way, especially those who are aware of the Charm and charisma that this artist possesses, like his legendary father, the gift to captivate.

"Still, and in spite of so much, nothing compares to the birh of Miranda," his voice fills with emotion. "She is what's most important, she has changed my life completely, and I only hope to be so blessed as to watch her grow and develop. She is an angel that my father sent down from Heaven to look after me. I've been blessed by her arrival."

Management
Bridge Management, Inc.
Frank Fiore Enterprises, LLC
305-758-8681 office
305-754-9746 fax
frankfiore@bellsouth.net

Publicity
Adolfo Fernández
F & F Media Corp.
President
adolfofernandez@ffmediacorp.com
305.553.6500
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Tito Puente Jr. joins Poncho Sanchez For Explosive Evening of Latin Jazz at Kravis Center

Issued: Nov. 3, 2004
Contact: Brian Bixler, Publicist
Phone: (561) 651-4257

When Jazz at Lincoln Center's Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra performed at the Kravis Center last March, director Arturo O'Farrill announced from the stage that royalty was in the house.

In the audience to support his fellow Latin musicians was Tito Puente Jr., son and namesake of the legendary Latin bandleader.

Royalty returns to the Kravis Center this season when Puente Jr. himself performs with another legendary Latin percussionist, Poncho Sanchez. The Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band and Tito Puente Jr. Orchestra perform at 8 p.m. Tuesday, November 23 at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Tickets are $15-$50. Premium seating in the first six rows is $85.

Puente Jr., scion of the master percussionist who became known as "El Rey del Timbale," or King of the Timbales, is certainly following in his father's footsteps. An accomplished musician in his own right, this year he released an album titled En los pasos de mi padre/In My Father's Shoes, in which he channels his late father's music while giving it his own touch.

"It's four years since Tito Puente's passing and we miss him very, very dearly, me and my family," Puente Jr. said. "We wanted to show our respect in some sort of tribute way. I thought the nicest way to do it would be the son to the father, tributing my father with his music and doing it in my own signature style and try to keep the arrangements close to what he had done when he originally started back in 1950.

Puente, 33, is now playing his father's songs in concert and he is honored to be sharing the stage at the Kravis Center with Sanchez, who often performed and recorded with Puente Senior.

"Poncho's show has got to be, without a doubt, one of the best Latin jazz shows out on the road," Puente Jr. said. "They really get down with the real funk of the Latin jazz."

With his own band comprising some members of the original Tito Puente Orchestra, the son of "El Rey" says Kravis Center audiences can expect to be on their feet.

"I hope they have a dance floor at the Kravis Center," Puente Jr. said. "Tito Puente music is very infectious and it makes you want to dance."

A pre-performance dessert reception for Annual Friends Members and Young Friends of the Kravis Center will take place at 7 p.m. in the Kravis Center's Cohen Pavilion.

TICKET INFORMATION
WHAT: The Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band And Tito Puente Jr. Orchestra
WHEN: Perform 8 p.m. Tuesday, November 23
WHERE: The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.
TICKETS: $15-$50. Premium seating is $85.
CALL: (561) 832-7469 or (800) 572-8471, or choose your seat online.
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Acompañado de su orquesta, interpretará dos temas de su repertorio

También actuará el puertorriqueño Kamar de los Reyes

“One Life to Live” (“Una Vida Por Vivir”), creada por Agnes Nixon, hizo su primicia el 15 de julio del 1968.

Miami, FL, 27 de enero del 2006.- La realeza de la música latina, Tito Puente, Jr., actuará en el programa de ABC Daytime “One Life to Live” (“Una Vida Por Vivir”), acompañado por Kamar de los Reyes (“Antonio Vega”) del mismo programa, el lunes 30 de enero. Tito Puente, Jr. continúa con la leyenda de su padre. Ganador del premio Grammy, se presentará en el programa cantando dos de sus canciones: “Ran Kan Kan” y “Qué Será”.

Puente, Jr. ha continuado con la tradición musical de su legendario padre, paralelamente dejando su propia marca en el mundo musical. Su estilo es una fusión de Pop, Jazz Latino y música bailable. Ha lanzado dos discos en español, el más reciente, “En los Pasos de Mi Padre,” disfrutó de varios éxitos en Billboard Dance y recibió el galardón Latin Music Award por “mejor vídeo musical del año de salsa” por su versión de la canción emblemática de su padre, “Oye Como Va.”

Nativo de Nueva York, empezó a tocar la percusión desde niño y luego consumó su talento tocando en sitios nocturnos neoyorquinos junto a conocidos artistas como “La Reina de la Salsa”, Celia Cruz. En estos momentos reside en Miami y encabeza su propio conjunto como cantante principal y percusionista.

Por su parte, De los Reyes también creció rodeado de música. Nacido en San Juan, Puerto Rico, Kamar de los Reyes llegó a los Estados Unidos a los dos años de edad. Su infancia la pasó en Las Vegas junto a una familia de músicos profesionales. No ajeno al espectáculo, empezó a tocar la trompeta a los cuatro años de edad en el mismo escenario que Dizzy Gillespie y Harry James, y recientemente se unió a su familia tocando percusión y añadiendo su voz al disco debut de su hermano Daniel, “San Rafael 560.”

El programa televisivo “One Live to Live” (“Una Vida Por Vivir”) tiene una larga historia presentando músicos de la talla de Simply Red, Chris Botti, Erykah Badu y próximamente anuncian la actuación Lifehouse el 15 de febrero del 2006.

Ganadora de premios Emmy, “One Life to Live” (“Una Vida Por Vivir”), creada por Agnes Nixon, hizo su primicia el 15 de julio del 1968. Frank Valentini trabaja como productor ejecutivo y Dena Higley es la escritora principal. El popular drama, consistentemente, se encuentra entre los primeros cinco programas en la demográfica clave de mujeres entre 18 y 49 años de edad. “One Life to Live” se transmite de lunes a viernes (2:00 p.m., ET), en la cadena de television ABC.
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The New Haven Jazz Festival announces its 25th anniversary lineup

think creative group
5/4/2006 1:21:04 PM

(New Haven, Conn. – May 4, 2006) — How would you celebrate 25 years of live, free Jazz? If you said world-class performers, a special pyrotechnics display, celebrity guest appearances and even more live jazz--then you’d be talking about the 25th Anniversary of the New Haven Jazz Festival.

Each year the New Haven Jazz Festival brings a roundup of Grammy award-winning performers free to the City’s historic Green. And this year get ready for a Jazz Fest that you’ll be talking about for another quarter century.

So, what does our 25th anniversary sound like?

August 5, 2006 :: A Night of Classic Jazz

• TITO PUENTE JR.--Dance to enticing Latin tunes, charismatic performances and smooth styles.

• DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET--Find out why this grandfather of jazz has been playing to sold-out crowds for over five decades.

August 12, 2006 :: Dance Under the Stars

• BLUE ORCHID ORCHESTRA--This eleven-piece orchestra lights up the stage with its big band style music while teaching you to dance.

• KOOL & THE GANG--Jazz. Funk. R&B. Get ready as the Gang rocks genres and the 25th Jazz Fest.

August 19, 2006 :: 25th Anniversary Celebration

• T.S. MONK on Coltrane--Watch as Monk creates a legacy of his own with his newest album, Higher Ground--and his acclaimed tribute to jazz great John Coltrane.

• JONNY LANG--Fast becoming a music legend--Lang will make the 25th anniversary one to remember with the debut of his much-anticipated album, Long Time Coming.

“For the 25th anniversary we decided to dramatically increase our performer budget to sign-on six headliners to give concert-goers even more reasons--and music--to head to the Festival,” said Barbara Lamb, Director of New Haven Festivals, Inc.

And with the addition of Jazz in the Clubs, Jazz at the Movies, Jazz Cruise, Jazz Brunch and special Jazz travel packages--to expand the already enticing lineup for Jazz on the Green and Jazz in the Parks--fans from all around the country are sure to be tapping their feet every weekend this August.

“For the past 25 years our Jazz Festival has been a catalyst that’s helped transform New Haven into the cultural capital of Connecticut,” said Mayor John DeStefano Jr.

Tap into newhavenjazz.com to find out more about the historic 25th anniversary celebration.
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Tito Puente, Jr., and Howie and Pollyanna Dorough to Entertain Troops in Spain and Italy on USO/AFE Tour

Wednesday April 12, 2:08 pm ET

ARLINGTON, Va., April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Latin musician, songwriter and producer Tito Puente, Jr., member of the Backstreet Boys Howie Dorough and singer Pollyanna Dorough are heading to military bases in Spain and Italy to entertain service members April 18-27, 2006, on a USO/Armed Forces Entertainment (AFE) tour. This is Puente's third USO/AFE tour and the first for the Doroughs.

Tito Puente, Jr., was born into a musical dynasty. His father was known throughout the world for his unique musical sound and showmanship. The younger Puente studied under his father's guidance, playing numerous clubs and concerts around the world. His debut album, "Guarachando," featured the hit single "Oye Como Va," a cover of his father's signature standard, which reached #7 on Billboard's Dance Chart and earned the Latin Music Award for "Best Salsa Video of the Year." His second album contained a tribute to his father, "Caliente." Puente's "En Los Zapatos De Mi Padre" (In My Father's Shoes) was released in 2004 to critical acclaim.

A member of the Backstreet Boys, Howie Dorough started out in local theater in Orlando, later landing roles in "Parenthood" and "Cop and a Half," as well as a number of Nickelodeon productions. After selling more than 17 million albums worldwide, he released his fourth studio album with the Backstreet Boys last year and currently is working on a solo project. Along with his sister Pollyanna, he is involved in the Dorough Lupus Foundation -- a charity his family started in memory of their oldest sister Caroline. Pollyanna Dorough writes, sings and dances to her own original songs. She has toured as an opening act for the Backstreet Boys, and she and Howie perform together in concerts, representing the Dorough Lupus Foundation. She started her own record label, Polygrooves Records, and has her own entertainment company.

About the USO

For more than 65 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been providing morale, welfare and recreational services to U.S. military personnel and their families. The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization, relying on the generosity of the American people to support its programs and services. The USO is supported by Worldwide Strategic Partners AT&T, BAE Systems North America, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Military Channel, S&K Sales Co. and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Other corporate donors, including the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-0600), have joined thousands of individual donors to support the USO.

For more information on the USO, please visit www.uso.org.

CONTACT: Donna St. John of the USO, +1-703-908-6458, dstjohn@uso.org.
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Tito Puente's Son Carries On His Father's Legacy

Published in the Asbury Park Press 03/5/05

By ED CONDRAN
CORRESPONDENT

While coming of age during the late 1980s, Tito Puente Jr. embraced hard pop-rockers such as Aerosmith and Motley Crue, like many of his Long Island peers.

"It's just what appealed to me at the time," Puente Jr. said. "I really liked rock, metal, pop and funk back then."

Puente Jr., 33, thumbed his nose at Latin music during his teen years. It didn't matter that his father and namesake, Tito Puente, was a Latin jazz/salsa icon.

"I didn't like his kind of music," said Puente Jr. "It's just the way I felt. I wasn't offensive about it. There was just other stuff that I liked."

The bloodline won out eventually. During his mid-20s, Puente Jr. developed a keen appreciation of his father's legendary musical output.

"I started spending more and more time with my father, and the more I did that, the more I appreciated his music," Puente Jr. said. "Not only did I finally understand that he made great music, he made such a great impact with his music. It's everywhere today. You can find it in soundtracks, clubs and even in elevators."

Fans can experience it Saturday at the Tropicana's Quarter. Puente Jr. is on the road rendering the work of his late father, who died in 2000 at age 77.

"His music is a wonderful thing," Puente Jr. said. "His music makes me feel good, and it makes everyone who comes out to experience it feel good. My father's music and Atlantic City are perfect together since his music is diverse and so is Atlantic City. So many people of different ethnic backgrounds and economic levels came out to the Trop to see this show. A lot of fans of my father are from all over Jersey. So many come down to see us and dance to his music."

Since his father was on the road for much of his childhood, Puente Jr. didn't spend an inordinate amount of time with him.

"He was a busy man trailblazing," Puente Jr. said. "But the quality of our time was important."

The wisdom the senior Puente passed on to his progeny had less to do with music and more to do with life.

"He wasn't about teaching me about notes and things like that," Puente Jr. said. "He would go on about respect, integrity and how to be a man."

Puente Jr. discovered he was a natural when it came to music, and he's more than happy to use his talent to keep his father's music alive.

"I've been handed a legacy that I have to tend to," Puente Jr. said. "It's something that I couldn't enjoy more. I play with different bands often, and they all know my father's songs. Everyone has heard some Tito Puente. He made enough music that it's impossible not to come across it."