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 Versión
Tito Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Y tantos que dicen que el amor han logrado
Pero al definir el amor
Es difícil la ecuación
Todos tenemos que dar
Nuestra propia versión
Mil definiciones de lo que es amor
Pero yo que he amado tanto
En derecho tengo
A mi propia versión
Es vibración
Que en el alma comienza
Y se extiende de tanto
Que ya ni se piensa
No se piensa en el deber
Ni se piensa en el honor
Es el instinto creador
Pues sólo somos dos
Es vibración
Que en el alma comienza
Y se extiende de tanto
Que ya ni se piensa
No se piensa en el deber
Ni se piensa en el honor
Es el instinto creador
Pues sólo somos dos
The lyrics to Tito Rodriguez's song "Mi Versión" touch on the different definitions and interpretations of love. The song begins by acknowledging that many people claim to have a past and to have achieved love, but when it comes to defining love, it is difficult to do so. The singer acknowledges that each person has their own version of love, and it is important to share that version.
There are many opinions and definitions of love, but the singer claims that he has loved so much that he has the right to his own version of love. He describes love as a vibration that begins in the soul and extends so much that it cannot be thought about. It is not about duty or honor, but rather a creative instinct that is shared between two people.
The song emphasizes the importance of individual experiences and perspectives when it comes to love. Rather than trying to conform to society's definitions or standards of love, the singer encourages everyone to embrace their own unique version.
Line by Line Meaning
Tantos que dicen tener un pasado
There are many people who claim to have a past
Y tantos que dicen que el amor han logrado
And there are many who say they have achieved love
Pero al definir el amor
But when defining love
Es difícil la ecuación
The equation is difficult
Todos tenemos que dar
We all have to give
Nuestra propia versión
Our own version
Hay variedad de opiniones
There is a variety of opinions
Mil definiciones de lo que es amor
A thousand definitions of what love is
Pero yo que he amado tanto
But I, who have loved so much
En derecho tengo
Have the right
A mi propia versión
To my own version
Es vibración
It's a vibration
Que en el alma comienza
That begins in the soul
Y se extiende de tanto
And spreads so much
Que ya ni se piensa
That one no longer thinks
No se piensa en el deber
One doesn't think about duty
Ni se piensa en el honor
Nor does one think about honor
Es el instinto creador
It's the creative instinct
Pues sólo somos dos
Since there are only two of us
Contributed by Jason O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Javier Ramos
on No Lo Recuerdas
this songs name is Hipotesis track # 5 on this album