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.
Cara De Payaso
Tito Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Boca de payaso
Pinta de payaso...
Fue mi final sin carnaval
Cara de fantoche
Boca de fantoche
Pinta de fantoche...
Te di mi vida, así rendida por buscar la paz,
Y en tu libreta de poqueta(?) fui un hombre mas,
Yo me he olvidado, de un pasado que por ti lloró,
Y hoy me he quedado humillado sin tu amor!.
Cara de payaso
Boca de payaso y
Pinta de payaso...
Es lo que me quedo de tiii!
Si un fracaso destrozo mi ser que voy a ser?
Cara de payaso
Boca de payaso
Hasta el fin!
Cara de payaso
Boca de payaso
Hasta el fin!
(Solo trompetas)
Cara de payaso
Boca de payaso y
Pinta de payaso...
Es lo que me quedo de tiii!
Si un fracaso destrozo mi ser que voy a ser?
Cara de payaso
Boca de payaso
Hasta el fin!
Cara de payaso
Boca de payaso
Hasta el fin!
The song "Cara De Payaso" by Tito Rodriguez is a heart-wrenching ballad about a man who gave his all to the woman he loved, only to be left with nothing but the facade of a clown. The first verse of the song speaks to the man's final moments before his life ended, without the joy and celebration of carnival. He is left with the face, mouth, and appearance of a clown, signifying the emptiness and pain he feels after his love has disappeared.
The second verse speaks to the sacrifices he made for her, giving his life in search of peace and being reduced to just another name in her little book. He has forgotten the pain and tears he shed in the past because of her, and now he is left humiliated and without love. The chorus repeats the lines about the clown face, mouth, and appearance being all that he has left of her, emphasizing the loss and destruction she caused in his life.
The song ends with a repetition of the phrase "cara de payaso, boca de payaso" along with the declaration that he will be that way until the end, emphasizing the permanence of his pain and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Cara de payaso
My face looks like a clown, wearing a permanent foolish smile.
Boca de payaso
My mouth mimics that of a clown, always grinning and never showing any real emotions.
Pinta de payaso...
My appearance is that of a clown, wearing bright colors and makeup in an effort to make people laugh and forget their problems.
Fue mi final sin carnaval
My life ended without any fanfare or celebration, just like a carnival that abruptly comes to a close.
Cara de fantoche
My face looks like that of a puppet, with exaggerated features that make me appear fake and insincere.
Boca de fantoche
My mouth mimics that of a puppet, speaking empty words that have no real meaning or depth.
Pinta de fantoche...
My appearance resembles that of a puppet, with stiff movements and a lack of freedom or individuality.
Es lo que me quedo de tiiiii!
This is what remains of you in my life, leaving me feeling like a mere shell of my former self.
Te di mi vida, así rendida por buscar la paz,
I gave you my life, surrendering to your need for peace and stability.
Y en tu libreta de poqueta(?) fui un hombre mas,
In your little book, I was just another man, one in a long line of meaningless conquests.
Yo me he olvidado, de un pasado que por ti lloró,
I have forgotten a past that wept for you, losing sight of my own identity in the process.
Y hoy me he quedado humillado sin tu amor!.
Today, I am left humiliated and alone, without your love to sustain me.
Si un fracaso destrozo mi ser que voy a ser?
If a single failure can shatter my being, what hope do I have for the future?
Hasta el fin!
Until the end, I will wear this clownish mask and continue to struggle with the pain of loss and heartbreak.
Contributed by Leo G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@genesisgomez328
este señor fue el que transformo el son cubano en salsa brava, viva tito rodriguez el mejor salsero
@ladislaoferminuzinolleros1134
Hoy cumpliría 101 años; la Voz del bolero ...
@ErnestoConcha-ut4cd
Un ICONO inolvidable e inmortal que nunca morira en los corazones de quienen aman la MUSICA. Desde Chile.
@douglashernestomonagas4023
El rey de la charanga y rey del bolero en la década de los sesenta.
No te conocí maestro ya que en tu época dorada yo apenas nacia; no obstante tengo como herencia ese enorme archivo musical que nos dejaste a los amantes de la buena musica.
@NelsonLuisAlicea
en Honor a mi viejo que tanto extraño Don William,,tanto que lo canto y bailo...Dios lo tengo en la Gloria por siempre...viejo te sigo AMANDO COMO SIEMPRE....
@capitalitv1939
Durisimo!! Que clase de composición. Este tipo estaba en la madre. Muy adelantado a sus tiempos.
@musicadouglas
musicadouglas: el gran tito, sera por siempre el mejor interprete de boleros, salsa y charanga de todos los tiempos!
@josemoran9361
tenía 10 años y la escuchaba en la casa de mis abuelos pues eran vecinos de un recreo colindante .
@jumgmann
Voz hermosa, presencia impecable y ser maravilloso. Don Tito Rodríguez.
@edgarvarv
Tito era un genio ..tocaba el timbal dirigia su orquesta iba de la guaracha al bolero con una calidad increible..famoso el tema que hace para dedicarselo a su contrario...el Tito Puente cuando eran rivales en los salones de baile en NY..como el palladium...."avisale a mi contrario..."..q aui estoy yo