Born Ernesto Antonio Puente, Jr., on April 20, 1923, in el barrio Spanish harlem, New York, Puente was a musical pioneer for mixing musical styles with Latin sounds and for his experiments in fusing Latin music with jazz. The son of Puerto Rican immigrants, Puente grew up in New York City's Spanish Harlem and took piano lessons as a child and then studied percussion. He became a professional musician at age 13. Tito Puente later learned to play a number of instruments, including the piano, saxophone, vibraphone, and timbales (paired high-pitched drums). After an apprenticeship in the historic Machito Orchestra, he was drafted and served in the navy during World War II.
Once he returned to New York in 1945, Puente used money from the G.I. Bill to study at the famed Juilliard School of Music. He formed a band that would later be known as the Tito Puente Orchestra in 1948. By the 1950s, crowds came to see his band play and Puente became a Latin music sensation. In 1958, his best-selling album, Dance Mania, was released. More hit records followed as the world enjoyed the way Puente put a big band spin on traditional Latin dances.
He added other Latin and Afro-Cuban rhythms to his repertoire, including cha cha, merengue, bossa nova, and salsa, and among his notable songs are Babarabatiri, Ran Kan Kan, and Oye Como Va. Puente also performed with leading jazz performers, including George Shearing and Woody Herman, as well as with many stars of Latin music and, in later years, with symphony orchestras.
During a career that spanned more than five decades, Puente became a musical legend in Latin music and jazz circles. He made more than 100 albums and created more than 200 compositions. Puente received numerous awards for his work, including five Grammy Awards. Sometimes called the "King of Latin Jazz" or simply "El Rey" - The King - he made an indelible mark on the popular culture. The writer Oscar Hijuelos made him a character in his 1989 novel, The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love, and Puente appeared as himself in the 1992 film adaptation. He also guest starred on numerous television shows, such as The Simpsons.
Tito Puente died on May 31, 2000, while in the hospital for heart surgery in New York, New York. Adored by his fans, many people waited in line for days to say good-bye to the popular bandleader.
Ran Kan Kan
Tito Puente Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pero suenan, suenan los timbales
Ran kan kan kan, kan kan
Tito, Tito suename los timbales
Ran kan kan kan, kan kan
Goza, goza, goza con los timbales
Ran kan kan kan, kan kan
Ran kan kan kan, kan kan
Ah co co, a co co co co como suenan,
como suenan suenan suenan suenan los timbales
Ran kan kan kan, kan kan
Tito ponme a gozar con los timbales
Ran kan kan kan, kan kan
suenan, suenan suenan los timbales
The lyrics to Tito Puente's "Ran Kan Kan" are a call to dance and enjoy the rhythm of the timbales. "Ran Kan Kan" is an onomatopoeic phrase used to imitate the sound of the percussion instruments. The repetition of the phrase creates a hypnotic effect that invites the listener to immerse themselves in the music. The lyrics also call for Tito Puente himself to play the timbales and make them sound even better. The phrase "goza con los timbales" translates to "enjoy with the timbales," emphasizing the joy and pleasure that can be found in dancing to the beat of the music.
The song itself is a classic of Latin jazz and is known for its blend of Afro-Caribbean rhythms, including mambo and cha-cha, with jazz harmonies. It was first recorded in 1949 and has remained popular ever since, with many artists covering it over the years. "Ran Kan Kan" is also notable for its use of call-and-response, a common feature of African and Afro-Caribbean music, in which a leader sings a phrase and the rest of the group responds.
Line by Line Meaning
Ran kan kan kan, kan kan
The sound of the timbales is so catchy and rhythmic that it makes people want to move to the music, hence the repetition of the phrase 'ran kan kan kan, kan kan'.
Pero suenan, suenan los timbales
The sound of the timbales is loud and clear and can be heard by everyone, which is why the phrase 'pero suenan, suenan los timbales' is repeated multiple times throughout the song.
Tito, Tito suename los timbales
Tito Puente, the famous bandleader and musician, is being asked to play the timbales and keep the rhythm going while the band performs the song.
Goza, goza, goza con los timbales
The phrase 'goza, goza, goza con los timbales' means to enjoy and have fun with the music, specifically with the timbales.
Ah co co, a co co co co como suenan
This phrase is an interjection and a way of expressing excitement and enthusiasm, specifically in response to the sound of the timbales.
Tito ponme a gozar con los timbales
This line asks Tito Puente to play the timbales in a way that makes the listener want to dance and enjoy themselves, as in 'Tito, make me dance with your timbales'.
suenan, suenan suenan los timbales
This is a repetition of the earlier phrase, emphasizing the importance of the timbales and their role in the song's rhythm and overall sound.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TITO PUENTE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Matt-ns9rj
Played this song in my high school jazz band. I loved the piano part for this. Totally opened my world up to mambo and Latin music.
@johnerlich697
🙂 I also played (guitar) in my HS jazz band. Where I grew up, there was a weak modern jazz scene, and no Latin jazz scene at all. We played one "Latin jazz" tune (sort of...Phil Woods' "Flatjacks Willie") in HS jazz band. I somehow managed to get hold of a couple of Latin jazz albums (Tito Puente & Jerry Gonzalez/Ft. Apache) and these were my "gateway drug" to Latin & Afro-Cuban music. I went to college in NYC, and was suddenly surrounded by Salsa, etc. Definitely a whole new world for me, too! I even got to meet Tito Puente and shake his hand in 1984.
@rodrimambo9058
No se como puede existir canción tan perfecta ❤
@loretomunozsalazar2292
El Maestro Tito Puente el mejor percusionista del mundo la hace una obra maestra han intentado tocarla muchos timbaleros y no suena igual
@abelsilvamontes9822
es verdadera musica, no las porquerias de ahora
@UmCara_Qualquer
Groot me trajo aquí. ¡Viva la Salsa! 😎
@btlmediospublicidad1336
la escencia de un ser humano de raza latina va dentro de esta melodia... Es lo mas completo sin hablar que nos describe como hermanos y amantes de esta obra de arte llamada RAN KAN KAN , saludos desde Guatemala
@elpapito29
ESTA VERSION ES LA MEJOR, Y A BAILAR Y A GOZAR COMO DICE LA LETRA, TITO ERAS DE OTRO MUNDO EN LOS TIMBALES, COMO TU NO HAY OTRO
@user-ps3fj7uv6j
❤❤
❤❤😂
@elaineromero5493
EL que la da dislike es porque no sabe nada de musica...a mi mis Padres me ponian a dormir con esta cancion...no me dormia si no la tocaban...esto es un master piece ..una obra maestra