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.
Mi último fracaso
Tito Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ya jamás volver a estar cerca de mí,
Que no te importa mi manera de vivir
Ni te interesas más por mí
Sé que aunque yo muera
Tu jamás podrás saber lo que sentí
En mi agonía de vivir lejos de ti
Sufriendo estoy
Tu serás mi ultimo fracaso
No podré querer a nadie mas,
Ya te perdone porque lograste hacer feliz mi corazón
Y aunque no vuelvas a brindarme tu calor
Tuyo es mi amor
Tu serás mi ultimo fracaso
No podré querer a nadie mas,
Ya te perdone porque lograste hacer feliz mi corazón
Y aunque no vuelvas a brindarme tu calor
Tuyo es mi amor
In Tito Rodriguez's song "Mi último fracaso", the singer laments a lost love and the pain of being unable to regain their affection. The lyrics express the realization that the former lover has moved on and has no interest in reconciling, even as the singer continues to suffer in their absence. The singer acknowledges that they will never be able to love anyone else, as this person was their "ultimo fracaso" or final failure.
Despite the heartbreak, there is a bittersweet acceptance of the situation. The singer has come to terms with the fact that their love will never be reciprocated, but also acknowledges that this love will always be theirs. The lyrics speak to the idea that love is not always rational, and that even when we know we should move on, our hearts can be difficult to convince.
Overall, "Mi último fracaso" is a poignant reflection on the pain of lost love, the difficulty of letting go, and the enduring power of love even when it goes unreturned.
Line by Line Meaning
Sé que tu no quieres
I know that you don't want
Ya jamás volver a estar cerca de mí,
To be near me again is something you will never do,
Que no te importa mi manera de vivir
You don't care about the way I live,
Ni te interesas más por mí
You're not interested in me anymore
Sé que aunque yo muera
Even if I were to die
Tu jamás podrás saber lo que sentí
You'll never know what I felt
En mi agonía de vivir lejos de ti
In my agony of living far away from you
Sufriendo estoy
I'm suffering
Tu serás mi ultimo fracaso
You'll be my last failure
No podré querer a nadie mas,
I won't be able to love anyone else
Ya te perdone porque lograste hacer feliz mi corazón
I already forgave you because you managed to make my heart happy
Y aunque no vuelvas a brindarme tu calor
And even if you don't give me your warmth again
Tuyo es mi amor
My love belongs to you
Writer(s): Alfredo Bojalil Gil
Contributed by Callie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ricardo David Jusino Rosario
A casi medio siglo de su partida (47 años), Tito Rodriguez sigue teniendo vigencia, no se pone viejo!..El mundo sigue gozando sus canciones con su voz que enamora a hombres y mujeres, con un sentimiento que va mas allá de las estrellas. Y que bueno!..nació en Puerto Rico!..la patria tuya y mía!
Diana Garcia
Siiii.tremenda vozarrón me gustaría bailar loo con alguien muy especial para mi
Jacob Mena Lozano
LA VERDAD QUE UN CANTANTE COMO TITO RODRIGUEZ NUNCA PASARA DE MODA.
WILMER LOPEZ CARDONA
Con esta interpretación me deleito con la voz de Tito y el acompañamiento de semejante orquesta.
Raul Fuertes
Gracias Tito Rodriguez!!!!!......ejemplar Artista de Respeto.....desde que te fuiste no existe ninguno como tú
Raul Fuertes
Verdadera enseñanza de canto........ninguno de ahora vale nada.
Raul Fuertes
DEFINITIVAMENTE, TITO RODRIGUEZ ES EL MÁS EMBLEMÁTICO ARTISTA LATINO DE CASI TODOS LOS GÉNEROS
Jose Surga
Tito, siempre Tito El Grande, me trae gratos recuerdos de un pasado de una juventud sana, por aquellos años de 1960, lo mejor de lo mejor.
Xiomara Moya
Tito Rodriguez con su voz tan romantica , la convertia en una caricia. Uno de mis mejores cantantes. Que en paz descanse.
Cruz Martinez
Su voz y canciones viviran para siempre en nuestros corazones ya que estoy segura que a muchos de nosotros nos trae muy bellos recuerdos. Gracias Tito.