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.
Cuando Ya No Me Quieras
Tito Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No me finjas cariño
No me tengas piedad
Compasión ni temor
Si me diste tu olvido
No te culpo ni riño
Ni te doy el disgusto
De mirar a mi dolor
Mi poema más triste
Cantaré a todo el mundo
Lo que tú me quisiste
Y cuando nadie escuche
Mis canciones ya viejas
Detendré mi camino,
En un pueblo lejano, y allí moriré
Se que ya no me quieres
Me lo han dicho tus ojos
Partiré por las rutas
Que no tienen final
Vagaré, siempre, siempre
Partiré sin enojo
Y mis labios sin besos
Cantarán un madrigal
Partiré canturreando
Mi poema más triste
Cantaré a todo el mundo
Lo que tú me quisiste
Y cuando nadie escuche
Mis canciones ya viejas
Detendré mi camino
En un pueblo lejano, y allí moriré
In Tito Rodriguez's song, "Cuando Ya No Me Quieras," the singer acknowledges that his lover no longer loves him, and he does not wish for fake affection or compassion. He accepts and takes responsibility for his lover's forgetfulness, indicating that he will not blame or criticize her, nor does he want her to feel obligated to comfort his pain. Instead, he will leave this relationship, singing his most melancholic poem. He vows to tell the world what his lover meant to him and hopes that his love will continue to grow. Even when no one wants to listen to his old songs, Rodriguez concludes that he will find peace in some faraway village.
The lyrics evoke a sense of melancholy, acceptance, and isolation, all the while emphasizing the beauty of poetic expression. In the face of rejection, the singer preserves his dignity, refusing to resent or demand pity from his lover, which is somewhat unusual for love songs. He cherishes the memory of his lover and celebrates it, unburdened by regret or envy. Finally, he accepts his fate and finds redemption in his art.
Line by Line Meaning
Cuando ya o me quieras
When you no longer love me
No me finjas cariño
Don't fake affection
No me tengas piedad
Don't pity me
Compasión ni temor
No compassion or fear
Si me diste tu olvido
If you've forgotten about me
No te culpo ni riño
I won't blame or scold you
Ni te doy el disgusto
I won't give you the displeasure
De mirar a mi dolor
Of seeing my pain
Partiré canturreando
I'll leave singing
Mi poema más triste
My saddest poem
Cantaré a todo el mundo
I'll sing to everyone
Lo que tú me quisiste
What you once loved about me
Y cuando nadie escuche
And when no one is listening
Mis canciones ya viejas
My old songs
Detendré mi camino,
I'll stop my journey
En un pueblo lejano, y allí moriré
In a faraway town, and there I'll die
Se que ya no me quieres
I know you don't love me anymore
Me lo han dicho tus ojos
Your eyes have told me
Partiré por las rutas
I'll leave on the roads
Que no tienen final
That have no end
Vagaré, siempre, siempre
I'll wander, always, always
Partiré sin enojo
I'll leave without anger
Y mis labios sin besos
And my lips without kisses
Cantarán un madrigal
Will sing a sweet love song
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CUATES CASTILLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jhoneyker19
soy un chamo de 21 año y las canciones de tito rodriguez la lupe y pare de contar megustan este señor era elegante y la voz que se gasta es demaciado sus letras son depinga Tan elegante y magnifico
@enriqueluismunozvelez8925
Artista irrepetible. Presencia ausente con más de 50 años de su muerte, hoy, aún sigue siendo un ídolo, una verdadero ícono en el sentimiento popular de América. La muerte no ha tocado tu grandeza, vives y vivirás siempre en la conciencia de nuestra América. Tito es inmortal por su legado artístico, por eso, eres irrepetible.
@clarysl18
Cierto!!!!👍👍
@hadelva9581
Me recuerda a mis padres!
@karloshernancay.6295
Exactly:; my idol. I use to imitate his voice when I was a child. My brothers always requested his songs. For me to hear his voice imitatating Don Tito Never forgotten; at 67 I still sings his Super Romantic songs boleros RIP DON TITO RODRIGUEZ ; ETERNAL LOVE AND PEACE.
@silviataylor936
Como disfruto estas canciónes , aprendí desde casa con mis padres
@epifaniocaicedo1689
Grandes palabras para un gran cantante que nos dejó un gran legado musical inolvidable ❤.
@scazziota
Gracias, HERMANOS DE ESA TIERRA DE CENTROAMERICA POR HABER PARIDO A ESTE GENIO, SOY UN ARGENTINO QUE DISFRUTO Y SE ENAMORO CON LOS TEMAS DE ESTE GRAN ARTISTA. AUNQUE SEGURAMENTE NO SE IMAGINAN LO QUE REPRESENTA TITO RODRIGUEZ PARA TODA ARGENTINA. Y PARA GRACIA DE DIOS YO TUVE LA SATISFACCION DE VERLO Y ESCUCHARLO PERSONALMENTE EN UNA VISITA QUE HIZO A NUESTRO PAIS HACE YA MUCHOS AñOS. SALVE !!! GENTE HERMOSA DE LAS ANTILLAS.
@dennisseramos
¡Gracias, gracias hermano latinoamericano! Seguramente usted no sabe lo que lo que significa para ustedes Tito Rodriguez, significa para nosotros Carlos Gardel. Aunque soy muy joven tengo la suerte de tener una madre que me enseño lo que es la buena música.
@ricardoagulilar7397
Que grato saber que hay juventud que aprecia esta maravilla de música.