Tito Puente (1923-2000) was a bandleader, percussionist, composer, and arra… Read Full Bio ↴Tito Puente (1923-2000) was a bandleader, percussionist, composer, and arranger from New York City.

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.

Soy feliz
Tito Puente Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Soy feliz, en la calle, en el barrio
Soy feliz
Soy feliz, en la tierra, en el barro
Soy feliz

Ya no me queda tiempo para sufrir
Ya no me queda tiempo para sufrir

Soy feliz, cuando lloro en la guerra
Soy feliz
Soy feliz, trabajando cuando sueño
Soy feliz

Ya no me queda tiempo para sufrir
Ya no me queda tiempo para sufrir

Llevo ya bastante tiempo
Mirado en tus ojos el agua correr
Seca esas lágrimas pronto
Que el tiempo se acaba y no hay que perder

Dicen en la calle, que estoy muerto y soy feliz
Soy feliz, bajo tierra, trabajando
Soy feliz

Ya no me queda tiempo para sufrir
Ya no me queda tiempo para sufrir

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tito Puente's "Soy Feliz" express a sense of contentment and happiness in various situations. The first two verses talk about being happy in the streets and the neighborhood, as well as on the ground and in the mud. The repeated refrain of "Soy feliz" emphasizes this happiness. The third verse refers to crying during the war and dreaming while working, but still finding happiness in those situations.

The next line, "Ya no me queda tiempo para sufrir," translates to "I don't have time to suffer anymore." This suggests that the singer has perhaps experienced difficult times in the past, but is now living a more positive and fulfilling life. The final verse talks about rumors that the singer is dead, but then declares that they are happy even underground working.

Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of resilience and gratitude, as the singer finds happiness even in potentially challenging circumstances.

Line by Line Meaning

Soy feliz, en la calle, en el barrio
I am happy, whether I am on the street or in the neighborhood

Soy feliz, en la tierra, en el barro
I am content, whether I am on the ground or in the mud

Soy feliz, cuando lloro en la guerra
I am joyful, even when I cry during battle

Soy feliz, trabajando cuando sueño
I am elated, even while I work and dream

Ya no me queda tiempo para sufrir
I don't have time to suffer anymore

Llevo ya bastante tiempo
I have already been around for quite a while

Mirado en tus ojos el agua correr
Watching the water flow through your eyes

Seca esas lágrimas pronto
Dry those tears soon

Que el tiempo se acaba y no hay que perder
Because time is running out and we cannot waste it

Dicen en la calle, que estoy muerto y soy feliz
Rumors on the street say I am dead, but I am actually content