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.
Pecador
Tito Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me dicen que abandones tu Cariño
Que debo de alejarme de tu lado
que olvides las promesas que jure
Si Amarte es un pecado, quiero ser Pecador
Si Amartes es sacrigio, Sacrilego soy
Guardas tu besos para mi solamente
Quiereme siempre como hasta hoy me has querido
y estar siempre a tu lado es toda mi anciedad
No olvido la pasion de tu boca amorosa
que dulce es el pecado que naces de tu Amor
No olvido la pasion de tu boca amorosa
Que dulce el pecado que naces de tu amor
End
Tito Rodriguez's "Pecador" is a romantic ballad about a man who is willing to go against societal norms and religious beliefs for the love of a woman. In the song, he addresses the criticism and advice he has received from others who instruct him to abandon his lover and forget the promises he has made to her. Despite this, he declares that he wants to be a sinner if loving her is a sin and sacrilegious if loving her is a sacrifice. The lyrics reveal the intensity of the singer's love for his partner, as he pleads for her to love him forever and expresses that her love is the only thing that makes him truly happy.
The song's lyrics highlight the complexities of love and its power to transcend societal conventions and religious beliefs. The singer's willingness to be a sinner and a sacrilegious person for love may be seen as a rebellion against the traditional moral and religious values that have governed society for centuries. Additionally, the reference to the passion of his lover's mouth as the "sweet sin" that comes from her love may be interpreted as a celebration of the physical and emotional pleasure that comes from love and intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Me dicen tantas cosas de tu Amor
People say a lot of things about your love for me
Me dicen que abandones tu Cariño
They tell me to give up on your love
Que debo de alejarme de tu lado
They say I should stay away from you
que olvides las promesas que jure
They tell me to forget the promises I made to you
Si Amarte es un pecado, quiero ser Pecador
If loving you is a sin, I want to be a sinner
Si Amarte es sacrigio, Sacrilego soy
If loving you is sacrilege, then I am a sacrilegious person
Guardas tu besos para mi solamente
You save your kisses for me alone
Quiereme siempre como hasta hoy me has querido
Love me always as you have loved me until now
Si solo tu cariño me hace sentir feliz
If only your love makes me feel happy
y estar siempre a tu lado es toda mi anciedad
And being always by your side is my greatest desire
No olvido la pasion de tu boca amorosa
I don't forget the passion of your loving mouth
que dulce es el pecado que naces de tu Amor
How sweet is the sin that arises from your love
Contributed by Sophie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Javier Ramos
on No Lo Recuerdas
this songs name is Hipotesis track # 5 on this album