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.
Embrujo Antillano
Tito Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Y calma en el mar,
Refleja la luna, su clara figura
Sobre el arenal,
Embrujo Antillano, con sabor de palma
Y de manigual,
Te llevo en mi alma, con gratos recuerdos
Yo quiero que sepas, lo que estoy sufriendo
Y no puedo más
Llevar en mi vida, este amor injusto
Lleno de maldad,
Que a cada momento, amarga mi vida
Con su falsedad,
Por eso a ti vuelvo, a vivir tus noches
Y así olvidar.
Que a cada momento, amarga mi vida
Con su falsedad,
Por eso a ti vuelvo, a vivir tus noches
Y así olvidaaar.
The lyrics of Tito Rodriguez's song "Embrujo Antillano" describe a serene and peaceful night with calm breezes and reflection of the moon on the sandy shore. The song mentions the "embrujo antillano," or the enchantment of the Antilles, which is imbued with the flavors of palm trees and manigual trees. The singer declares that this enchantment remains within his soul, with fond memories that he will never forget.
However, the song takes a turn as the singer reveals that he is suffering from an unjust love full of malice that constantly sours his life with falsehood, causing him to long for the peaceful nights of the Antilles to forget his troubles. The singer seems to be using the Antilles as a symbol of a simpler, more authentic life that he longs for and finds refuge in.
Overall, "Embrujo Antillano" is a nostalgic and melancholic song about seeking refuge from the hardships of life and finding solace in the memories and simplicity of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
En noches serenas, con brisas tranquilas
Y calma en el mar,
During calm and tranquil nights, with gentle breezes and serene waters,
Refleja la luna, su clara figura
Sobre el arenal,
The clear image of the moon reflects on the sandy shores,
Embrujo Antillano, con sabor de palma
Y de manigual,
The Antillean enchantment filled with the flavor of palm and manigua (a type of tropical vegetation),
Te llevo en mi alma, con gratos recuerdos
Que no he de olvidar,
I carry memories of you in my heart that I will never forget,
Yo quiero que sepas, lo que estoy sufriendo
Y no puedo más
I want you to know about my suffering, as I can no longer bear it,
Llevar en mi vida, este amor injusto
Lleno de maldad,
To carry on with this unjust and malicious love in my life,
Que a cada momento, amarga mi vida
Con su falsedad,
It constantly poisons my life with its falsehood,
Por eso a ti vuelvo, a vivir tus noches
Y así olvidar.
That's why I come back to you, to relive your nights and forget about it all.
Que a cada momento, amarga mi vida
Con su falsedad,
It constantly poisons my life with its falsehood,
Por eso a ti vuelvo, a vivir tus noches
Y así olvidaaar.
That's why I come back to you, to relive your nights and forget about it all.
Contributed by Ruby P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cesar Andrés Roldán
Que bonito vídeo y por supuesto esta bella melodía recordando al maestro Tito Rodriguez gracias por compartirla saludos
THE VAMPIRE HUNTER
QUE LINDO SUENAN LOS VIOLINES DE EL MAESTRO LEROY HOLMES,....QUE PERFECTA COMBINACIÓN,...ESA DE VOZ Y VIOLINES,...PABLO "TITO" RODRÍGUEZ & LEROY HOLMES.
Mayori Rodriguez
LA VOZ DE TITO RODRIGUEZ HACE QUE EL BOLERO SEA SUBLIME Y MAGICO.
Exquisito para los sentidos, que hermoso canta, adoro todas sus canciones.
Gracias por compartir el tesoro musical del extrordinario TITO RODRIGUEZ
Angela MerceOdes Domian
Tito SUBLIME!!!
Angela MerceOdes Domian
Sublime, sunlime Tito. Siempre estarás con nosotros. No hay otro boletista!!!!
Ricardo Zamorano
Tito Rodriguez, acabo de recordar algo asi como 25 boleros tuyos, no pude parar, ahora si, para decirte que grande cantante y musico fuiste en esa bella ciudad de San Juan, desde donde enviavas tus boleros para el mundo bailar y enamorar, gracias Tito !
Adalgiza Alvarez Sanchez
Bellisima canción , Gracias amigo EDUARDO ISAZA.
Olga Guzman
Adalgiza Alvarez Sanchez Agustín Lara