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.
El Dia Que Me Quieras
Tito Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
El suave murmullo
De tu suspirar
Como ríe la vida
Si tus ojos negros
Me quieren mirar
De tu risa leve
Que es como un cantar
Ella aquíeta mi herida
Todo, todo se olvida
El día que me quieras, la rosa que engalana
Se vestirá de fiesta con su mejor color
Y al viento las campanas dirán que ya eres mía
Y locas las fontanas se contarán su amor
La noche que me quieras desde el azul del cielo
Las estrellas celosas nos mirarán pasar
Y un rayo misterioso hará nido en tu pelo
Luciernaga curiosa que verá
Que eres mi... consuelo
Y un rayo misterioso hará nido en tu pelo
Luciernaga curiosa que verá
Que eres mi... consuelo
In Tito Rodriguez's song "El Dia Que Me Quieras," he sings about the transformative power of love. The song opens with the line "Acaricia mi sueño" which translates to "caress my dream." He describes the blissful feeling of being in love, adding that your sighs are like soft whispers. The happiness he feels is brought out by laughter and the depth of the look in the eyes of his lover.
He goes on to say that he is protected by the sound of her laugh, which he describes as a melody. This protects him from his hurts and mistakes, allowing him to forget his wounds. The chorus describes how magical love is, using imagery of roses donning their best colors and the bells announcing that you're now married, and even the stars in the sky will take notice. The last line of the song, "Luciernaga curiosa que verá que eres mi consuelo," which translates to "curious firefly that will see that you are my comfort," shows that he finds comfort in his lover's attention, and that she is his constant source of happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Acaricia mi sueño
Please comfort my dreams
El suave murmullo
Your soft murmur
De tu suspirar
From your sighs
Como ríe la vida
How life laughs
Si tus ojos negros
If your black eyes
Me quieren mirar
Want to look at me
Y si es mío el amparo
And if I have your protection
De tu risa leve
From your soft laughter
Que es como un cantar
Which is like a song
Ella aquíeta mi herida
It soothes my wound
Todo, todo se olvida
Everything, everything is forgotten
El día que me quieras, la rosa que engalana
The day you love me, the rose that adorns
Se vestirá de fiesta con su mejor color
Will dress up with its best color
Y al viento las campanas dirán que ya eres mía
And the bells will tell the wind that you are mine
Y locas las fontanas se contarán su amor
And crazy fountains will tell their love story
La noche que me quieras desde el azul del cielo
The night you love me from the blue sky
Las estrellas celosas nos mirarán pasar
The jealous stars will watch us pass
Y un rayo misterioso hará nido en tu pelo
And a mysterious ray will nest in your hair
Luciernaga curiosa que verá
Curious firefly that will see
Que eres mi... consuelo
That you are my...comfort
Y un rayo misterioso hará nido en tu pelo
And a mysterious ray will nest in your hair
Luciernaga curiosa que verá
Curious firefly that will see
Que eres mi... consuelo
That you are my...comfort
Writer(s): Carlos Gardel, Alfredo Lepera
Contributed by Isabella L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Juan Carlos Benvenutti
Para los tangueros, este tango de Gardel y Lepera es el Himno al Amor
123309ray
Tito y Cheo se juntaron en el cielo y ya estaran cantando a duo este tremendo tema..familia!!!
Raul Fuertes
Artista de respeto.
Wagner C P
¡¡Ay Mamá, que Bolero.
El Día que me quieras, dejaré de mendigar.
TITO RODRÍGUEZ... un estuche de Ñoñería.
enrique luis muñoz vélez
Invito a los admiradores de Tito Rodríguez a nivel mundial crear en honor a su memoria El Centro Internacional de Cultura Tito Rodríguez Lozada, tanto físico como virtual. Sería un tributo mundial a quien nos educó el oído, los sentimientos y las emociones a través de la música
Santiago B,
Tito rodriguez puro sentimiento
Lucas Domene
que poema escuchar a tito rodriguez, tengo 22 años, mg la actual, pero escuchar un bolero con cuerpo de estos… dios que orgasmo sensorial
Son del Corazon
Me encanta!!!!
Gracias Lucky L
Bellisimo Tema =)
Carlos M Canino
Lucky Louie this is my heroe since I was 3 years old my old man as well as me were born in Santurce Puerto Rico same place that he was born a Mega treasure thanks again for the memories and for keeping this Legend alive thru his music
Pablo Alvarez
El dia que tu me quera I be lucky man in world you know how much love you mi leona you bring so happiness to my life now mi corazon esta triste todo los dias me siento vacio todo es dirrente without you