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.
Me Faltabas Tú
Tito Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me faltabas tú
Como iba a pensar que hoy pudiera amar
Más hondo que ayer
Llegaste a mi vida a borrar las noches
De amargos desvelos
A darme la luz, tu que eres mi sol
Que eres mi consuelo
Estar junto a ti
Se enlutó el dolor y la confusión
Ya, ya no existe aquí
Ahora soy feliz porque la razón
La he encontrado al fin
Me faltaba amor, me faltaba paz
Me faltabas tú
Ahora soy feliz porque la razón
La he encontrado al fin
Me faltaba amor, me faltaba paz
Me faltabas tú
Me faltaba amor, me faltaba paz
Me faltabas tú
In Tito Rodriguez's song Me Faltabas Tú, the singer confesses that they were lacking love and peace in their life, and that they were missing the person singing this song. They couldn't imagine ever being able to love as deep as they do now. However, the arrival of the person who was missing from their life transformed everything. They erased the sleepless nights filled with bitterness and became a source of light and comfort for the singer. The singer expresses that they feel complete and whole now that they are with the person they were missing. They are now happy and content, having found the missing piece in their life.
The lyrics of Me Faltabas Tú ("I Was Missing You") have become synonymous with romantic love in Latin American culture. The song has become an iconic example of a bolero, a style of Latin American love song that originated in Cuba. The bolero, which dates back to the late 1800s, is a slow, romantic ballad that typically features a solo vocalist.
Line by Line Meaning
Me faltaba amor, me faltaba paz
I was lacking love and peace in my life
Me faltabas tú
You were the one missing piece in my life
Como iba a pensar que hoy pudiera amar
I never thought I could love as deeply as I do now
Más hondo que ayer
Deeper than yesterday
Llegaste a mi vida a borrar las noches
You arrived in my life to erase the nights
De amargos desvelos
Of bitter wakefulness
A darme la luz, tu que eres mi sol
To bring me light, you who are my sun
Que eres mi consuelo
You who are my comfort
Hoy que siento así en el corazón
Now that I feel this way in my heart
Estar junto a ti
To be close to you
Se enlutó el dolor y la confusión
The pain and confusion have disappeared
Ya, ya no existe aquí
They no longer exist here
Ahora soy feliz porque la razón
Now I am happy because the reason
La he encontrado al fin
I have finally found it
Me faltaba amor, me faltaba paz
I was lacking love and peace in my life
Me faltabas tú
You were the one missing piece in my life
Ahora soy feliz porque la razón
Now I am happy because the reason
La he encontrado al fin
I have finally found it
Me faltaba amor, me faltaba paz
I was lacking love and peace in my life
Me faltabas tú
You were the one missing piece in my life
Writer(s): Jose Antonio Mendez
Contributed by Jack F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@yanuaryrodriguez3802
Me faltabas tú
Me faltaba amor, me faltaba paz
Me faltabas tú
Como iba a pensar que hoy pudiera amar
Más hondo que ayer
Llegaste a mi vida a borrar las noches
De amargos desvelos
A darme la luz, tu que eres mi sol
Que eres mi consuelo
Hoy que siento así en el corazón
Estar junto a ti
Se enlutó el dolor y la confusión
Ya, ya no existe aquí
Ahora soy feliz porque la razón
La he encontrado al fin
Me faltaba amor, me faltaba paz
Me faltabas tú
Ahora soy feliz porque la razón
La he encontrado al fin
Me faltaba amor, me faltaba paz
Me faltabas tú
Me faltaba amor, me faltaba paz
Me faltabas túuu
@josemartinperez6854
Entre las primeras personas que arribaron a la funeraria Ehret en Río piedras, a la llegada del cadáver de Tito Rodríguez figuraban Mariano Artau su amigo de infancia, Sarrail Archilla (tocó el cuatro con Don Felo y Ladi, el bajo con la orquesta deMachito, la orquesta de Tito Rodríguez, etc), Willie Rosario, Chivirico Dávila, Lucho Muñoz ― quien fuera su arreglista― ; la Alcaldesa Doña Felisa Rincón de Gautier y algunos músicos.
En la funeraria aconteció un hecho bastante singular el cual comentó la desaparecida Revista Farandulera “La Estrella”, a continuación transcribimos: Cuando llegó su viuda y su hija Cinty a la funeraria, él público ansioso comenzó a desfilar ante el féretro, como lo mantenían tapado; empezaron una serie de especulaciones:
-¡En el ataúd no hay nadie está vació!
-¡No lo quieren mostrar porque esta desfigurado!
-¡Yo soy puertorriqueño como Tito, tengo todo el derecho de verlo!
Mariano Artau le explica la situación que se está generando a la viuda de Tito Toby, esta accede.
“El féretro es abierto y cubierto con un sudario color rosa pálido. Ahora el publico está convencido, de que ahí esta Tito. No como creían desfigurado, sino con una expresión placida en su rostro, enjuto en un traje negro y una corbata roja y sus manos arropaban un rosario. La gente desfila lentamente hasta el domingo por la mañana, donde sus restos mortales los trasportaron a Miami para ser cremados, lo cual fue su última voluntad”.
@rodolfoguzman5432
El más grande de todos los tiempos Tito Rodríguez, no puede faltar un altar de este señor en un hogar salsero 😊
@raul6747
Gracias Bonitah38,.....que maravilla!!!!!!!!! soy seguidor de este famoso desde adolescente. Ya no existen en este planeta desde el 28 de Enero de 1973 Genios como TITO RODRIGUEZ con tanta riqueza musical en diferentes generos, caribenos, afro-cuban-jazz, latin-jazz. . Es una verdadera gloria eterna
@user-tj4fj3lf3d
Hermosa melodía don Tito Rodríguez ! Fanático al 100/
@joelmartinezjazz_
Una belleza de canción,un arreglo musical hermoso y por supuesto una voz única e increíble,solo queda dar gracias a la vida por una grabación como esta
@Gsmooth10455
joel martinez Es cierto.
@leeleguillow8560
Joel Martínez Jaz
@RaulFuertes
@Joel Martinez Jazz ...estamos muy de acuerdo.
@robinblanco67
Arreglos de Louie Ramírez , saludos
@DRAGUNSHELL
I SERVED CHAMPAGNE TO MR TITO RODRIGUEZ IN OLD SAN JUAN PUERTORICO
@miguelangelarcila2388
How was it?