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 Lo Dijo Adela
Tito Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me lo dijo Adela
Me lo dijo Adela
Me lo dijo Adela
Doctor mañana no me saca usted una muela
Doctor mañana no me saca usted una muela
Aunque me muera de dolor
Aunque me muera de dolor
Con un tremendo vacilon
Porque dicen que anoche lo vieron
Con un tremendo vacilon
Quien te lo dijo neneé
Me lo dijo Adela
Me lo dijo Adela
Me lo dijo Adela
Me lo dijo Adela
Porque dicen que anoche lo vieron con un tremendo vacilon
Porque dicen que anoche lo vieron con un tremendo vacilon
Me lo dijo Adela
Me lo dijo Adela
Me lo dijo Adela
Me lo dijo Adela
Si yo agarro Adela por chismosa la voy a matar
The song Me Lo Dijo Adela by Tito Rodríguez tells the story of a man who is warned by a woman named Adela about rumors surrounding his behavior. The man is told that he was seen out having a good time and that people are talking about it. The lyrics reveal that the man is in pain and needs to see a dentist to have a tooth pulled; however, he refuses to go because he is afraid of the pain. This fear of pain is juxtaposed with the pain that he feels from the rumors that are circulating. The man becomes angry with Adela for telling him about the rumors and threatens to harm her for being "chismosa" or a gossip.
The song is an example of the popular Latin American music genre called bolero. Bolero is a slow-tempo, romantic music style with a powerful emotional impact. The lyrics of the song reflect the complexity of human emotions, particularly the feelings of jealousy and betrayal. The song's repetitive chorus and simple melody are meant to emphasize the emotional intensity of the words, underscoring a sense of urgency and emotional distress.
The song Me Lo Dijo Adela is one of Tito Rodríguez's most popular hits and has been covered by many other Latin American singers, including Celia Cruz and La Sonora Matancera. Its popularity has continued over the years, and it remains a classic of the bolero genre. The song was also featured in the soundtrack of the 1994 film, "De amor y de sombra."
Line by Line Meaning
Me lo dijo Adela
Adela told me
Doctor mañana no me saca usted una muela
Doctor, you won't pull my tooth tomorrow
Aunque me muera de dolor
Even if I die from the pain
Porque dicen que anoche lo vieron
Because they say last night they saw him
Con un tremendo vacilon
Having a great time
Quien te lo dijo neneé
Who told you, darling?
Si yo agarro Adela por chismosa la voy a matar
If I catch Adela gossiping, I'll kill her
Writer(s): Otilio Del Portal
Contributed by Anthony F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@GilPaulinoKing
Preciosa canción que escuchaba en mi infancia... Un cha cha chá vacilón
@anairis127
Me encanta esta cancion ,porque cada vez que nos pasaba algo ,una tia cuando era joven nos cantaba esa cancion , hoy ella tiene 94 años Lindos recuerdos Gracias
@saioagonzalezpercaz8518
P
@haydeemota3707
Bellísimos recuerdos...faltaban tres años para que yo naciera..., Pero mi papá siempre la cantaba...mmm me lo dijo Adela... bendición Pa...donde quiera que estés, siempre en los verdes pastos del salmo 23...
@francescotamborrino-md8om
Bellissima ❤
@magaliramos4337
Yo solo digo los abuelitos deberían ser eternos!!! 💗 Mi abuelito me enseñó todo este tipo de canciones y a mí me encanta escucharlas 🫀
@virgiliojesus2422
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2bIsfrunOM
@irmaleonilacruzatencia2025
Momentos maravillosos. Gracias desde Perú - Lima. - Sur America.
@jossjoey561
Vine aquí por que un amigo me la cantó hoy y me encantó🤗🤗🤗🥰🥰🥰
@giorgiopezella8571
Que chula estás Joss 😘