Tito (born: Pablo Rodríguez Lozada) became interested in music as a child. He was always surrounded by musical toys, such as guitars, pianos and trumpets. His older brother, Johnny Rodríguez, was a song composer and bandleader, who inspired Tito to become a musician.
In 1936, 13 year old Tito joined the group of Ladislao (El Maestro Ladí) Martínez, "Industrias Nativas" as a singer and when he was 16 years old, he participated in a recording with the Mayari Cuartet. In 1940, Tito immigrated to New York City shortly after his parents, Jose and Severina died. He went to live with his brother Johnny, who had been living there since 1935.
In New York, Tito found a job as a singer and bongo player for the orchestra of Eric Madriguera. In 1941, he recorded "Amor Guajiro", "Acercate Mas" (Get Closer) and "Se Fue la Comparsa". In 1942, Tito joined the band of Xavier Cugat, and recorded "Bin, Bam, Bum" and "Ensalada de Congas" (Conga Salad).
Tito joined and served in the U.S. Army for one year. After he was discharged, he returned to New York where he joined the orchestra of Jose Carbelo. On one occasion, the band performed at the China Doll Cabaret. There he met a young Japanese chorus girl by the name of Tobi Kei (b. Takeku Kunimatsu, 23 January 1925, Bellingham, Washington, USA), who was to become his wife.
In 1947, Tito made his "solo" debut and finally organized his own band, which he named "Los Diablos del Mambo". In 1950, he enrolled in The Juilliard School of the Performing Arts, where he studied the vibrophone, xylophone and percussion.
He renamed his band "Los Lobos del Mambo" and later he dropped the name altogether. That's when he decided to go with the name "The Tito Rodriguez Orchestra". The first song that he recorded under the bands new name which became a "hit" was "Besame La Bemba" (Kiss My Big Lips). In 1952, he was honored for having developed his own unique singing style by the "Century Conservatory of Music of New York". His orchestra won the "Gran Trofeo Award" for two consecutive years.
In 1953, Tito heard a percussionist, by the name of Cheo Feliciano. So impressed was Tito that he offered Cheo a job in his band and hired him. Tito discovered that Cheo also knew how to sing and gave him an opportunity to sing at the Palladium Ballroom.
Eventually, Cheo went to work for another band but, the friendship between them lasted for the rest of their lives. Among the other orchestras that played at the Palladium, where the Charlie Palmieri and Tito Puente orchestras.
A rivalry which was to last for years, quickly developed between the two Tito's. The popular latin music craze at the time was the cha-cha and the merengue. With the beginning of the 1960s, all that was going to change with the popularity gained by rock music. Latino bands began to switch their styles and started playing more salsa and boogaloo, which was more attractive to the latin youth.
Tito decided to try his luck with boleros and recorded an album titled "Inolvidable" (Unforgettable), which is considered by many to be his greatest "hit". It sold over a million and a half copies world wide. He also produced records for other groups, such as Los Hispanos and Los Montemar.
The feud between the two Tito's was reflected on some of Rodriguez's recordings. "Avisale a Mi Contrario Que Aqui Estoy Yo" (Tell My Counterpart That I Am Here) and "Que Pena Me Da" (I Pity You), are just two examples of the bad feelings between both of them.
Tito returned to Puerto Rico in 1970 and built a Japanese style house in Santurce, where he lived with his family. Tito produced his own television show called "El Show de Tito Rodriguez" which was transmitted through channel 7. Among the special guest stars which appeared in his show were, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett and Shirley Basey. Tito also founded his own recording studio called TR Records.
Tito's last public appearance was with Machito and his Band on February 2, 1973 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Tito Rodríguez died of leukemia on February 28, 1973, in his Coral Gables, Florida home where he had recently moved with wife.
Buenas Noches Che Che
Tito Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A la la, su bonita canción
A la la, y así se entusiasmó
Y siguió tocando largo rato su tambor
A la la la la la, así el ritmo empezó
A la la la la, su bonita canción
A la la la la, así se entusiasmo
Buenas noches Che Che
¿Dónde andaba usted?
Que buenas noches Che che
¿Dónde andaba usted?
Que yo no vine ayer, yo no vine antier
Yo no vine ayer, yo no vine antier
¿Y qué le gusta a la negra prieta?
El ñame con manteca
Ay, ¿y qué le gusta a la negra prieta?
El ñame con manteca
¿Qué le gusta a mí mulatica?
El ñame con carne frita
Con carne frita la mulatica
El ñame con carne frita
¿Y qué le gusta a la ruguita mamá?
El coco nazee
E coco, e coco, e coco, e coco
El coco nazee
¿Y qué le gusta a la blanquita?
Yo no sé, yo no sé
¿A esa blanca qué le gusta?
Yo no sé, yo no sé
¿Y qué le gusta a José Luis?
El maní, el maní
¿Qué le gusta a Jhonny Blanco?
Arroz, chuleta y garbanzo
¿Qué le gusta a Jhonny Blanco?
Arroz, chuleta y garbanzo
¿Y qué le gustará René?
Que no lo dejen a pie
¿Y qué le gusta a rapidito?
Que no lo dejen a pie
¿Y qué le gusta a la blanquita?, mamá
Yo no sé, yo no sé
E coco, e coco, e coco, e coco
Yo no sé, yo no sé
¿Y qué le pasará a Che Che?
Yo no sé, yo no sé
A la blanca que le gusta
Yo no sé, yo no sé
¿Y qué le pasa a mi negrita?
Yo no sé, yo no sé
¿Y qué le gusta a la rubita?
Yo no sé, yo no sé
E coco, e coco, e coco, e coco
Yo no sé yo no sé
Ay yo no sé, yo no sé
Yo no sé, yo no sé
¿Y qué le pasa a José Luis?
The lyrics to Tito Rodriguez's song Buenas Noches Che Che begin with a description of how a rhythm started with the sound of "la la." The song's narrator sings of how the sound of the rhythm and the song inspired them, and how they continued playing their drum for a long time. The chorus is a series of questions asking where "Che Che" was the night before, to which they reply that they weren't there. The song then turns to a series of questions about what different people like to eat, such as "what does the black woman like?," to which the answer is "yam with butter."
The song is an upbeat dance tune with a lively rhythm and playful lyrics. It was a popular song in the Latin music genre in the 1950s and remains popular today. The song's lyrics are a playful celebration of life and its pleasures, such as food and music. The song's titular character, Che Che, is never fully explained, but is likely a representative of the fun-loving spirit of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
A la la, así el ritmo empezó
The rhythm started like this, with 'a la la'
A la la, su bonita canción
His beautiful song also started with 'a la la'
A la la, y así se entusiasmó
He got excited and continued with 'a la la'
Y siguió tocando largo rato su tambor
He kept playing his drum for a long time
Buenas noches Che Che
Good evening Che Che
¿Dónde andaba usted?
Where have you been?
Que buenas noches Che Che
What a good night, Che Che
Que yo no vine ayer, yo no vine antier
I didn't come yesterday, nor the day before
¿Y qué le gusta a la negra prieta?
What does the dark-skinned girl like?
El ñame con manteca
Yam with butter
Ay, ¿y qué le gusta a la negra prieta?
Oh, what does the dark-skinned girl like?
El ñame con manteca
Yam with butter
¿Qué le gusta a mí mulatica?
What does my mixed-race girl like?
El ñame con carne frita
Yam with fried meat
Con carne frita la mulatica
The mixed-race girl likes yam with fried meat
¿Y qué le gusta a la ruguita mamá?
What does the grandma with curly hair like?
El coco nazee
Coconut water
E coco, e coco, e coco, e coco
Coconut water, coconut water, coconut water, coconut water
¿Y qué le gusta a la blanquita?
What does the white girl like?
Yo no sé, yo no sé
I don't know, I don't know
¿A esa blanca qué le gusta?
What does that white girl like?
Yo no sé, yo no sé
I don't know, I don't know
¿Y qué le gusta a José Luis?
What does Jose Luis like?
El maní, el maní
Peanuts, peanuts
¿Qué le gusta a Jhonny Blanco?
What does Jhonny Blanco like?
Arroz, chuleta y garbanzo
Rice, chop and chickpeas
¿Qué le gusta a Jhonny Blanco?
What does Jhonny Blanco like?
Arroz, chuleta y garbanzo
Rice, chop and chickpeas
¿Y qué le gustará René?
What will René like?
Que no lo dejen a pie
Not being left on foot
¿Y qué le gusta a rapidito?
What does rapidito like?
Que no lo dejen a pie
Not being left on foot
¿Y qué le gusta a la blanquita?, mamá
What does the white girl like, mom?
Yo no sé, yo no sé
I don't know, I don't know
E coco, e coco, e coco, e coco
Coconut water, coconut water, coconut water, coconut water
Yo no sé, yo no sé
I don't know, I don't know
¿Y qué le pasará a Che Che?
What will happen to Che Che?
Yo no sé, yo no sé
I don't know, I don't know
A la blanca que le gusta
To the white girl who likes
Yo no sé, yo no sé
I don't know, I don't know
¿Y qué le pasa a mi negrita?
What's wrong with my dark-skinned girl?
Yo no sé, yo no sé
I don't know, I don't know
¿Y qué le gusta a la rubita?
What does the blonde girl like?
Yo no sé, yo no sé
I don't know, I don't know
E coco, e coco, e coco, e coco
Coconut water, coconut water, coconut water, coconut water
Yo no sé yo no sé
I don't know, I don't know
Ay yo no sé, yo no sé
Oh, I don't know, I don't know
Yo no sé, yo no sé
I don't know, I don't know
¿Y qué le pasa a José Luis?
What's wrong with Jose Luis?
Writer(s): Tito Rodriguez
Contributed by Stella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@luisfernandolemos4946
Sabroso carajo a gozar ..... 🍻🍻🎊🎉
Que viva la salsa
@juancamilosanchezbarreiro591
El Inolvidable, el mejor cantante que nos dio la tierra de Borinquen.
@23streets56
Añañayy Pa Los Que Le Gustan La Gozadera🎷🎶🎶
@enriquecollazos9781
Ehh este hombre todo lo que
Canto le pego duro !!!
🧏♂️🇨🇴🎵
@ghenistlesterangulohinestr327
Siempre será mi canción y Siempre sea de Cheo Feliciano con Joe Cuba
@jhonwilliamtovar.2763
Ufff me erizo tremendo temon.. que ganas de bailar....
@rodolforafaelarrazolaflore2958
El gran tito rodriguez maximo exponente boricua al movimiento salsero junto a machito y y tito puente grandes figuras del palladium
@AraizaSalsajazz
La musica nueva no compara con este guajeo limpio limpio
@rubensanabria1018
Tito Rodríguez 🇵🇷
@carlosenriquequinoneztorre6025
Que le gusta a Carlos yo no sé yo no sé pero me gusta es un tema buenísimo puro aleteo esto es salsa 🎉