Tito Rodríguez a.k.a. "El Inolvidable" (The Unforgettable) (January 4, 1923… Read Full Bio ↴Tito Rodríguez a.k.a. "El Inolvidable" (The Unforgettable) (January 4, 1923-February 28, 1973) born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, was a popular 1950's singer and bandleader.

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.

Qué Te Importa
Tito Rodriguez Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Me dirán que de tanto quererte
Me voy a morir
Que no vale por ti el sacrificio
Lo podrán decir
Que no quieres saber de mi nombre
Eso ya lo sé
Pero yo que te quiero de veras
No se que diré...

Si no puedo lograr que tu me ames
¿Que le voy a hacer?

Overall Meaning

These verses from Tito Rodriguez's song, Qué Te Importa, depict a man who is deeply in love with someone who may not feel the same way about him. Despite the potential consequences of his love for her, he cannot help but continue to love her deeply. The lyrics suggest that even though others may warn him against loving her too much and say that he is sacrificing too much for her, he cannot imagine his life without her. He acknowledges that she may not want to have anything to do with him, but that his love for her is genuine.

The verses also suggest that the woman in question may have moved on from him and potentially found someone else. The man asks her what she cares if he tells others that he has lost her, or if he feels pain and cries over her. He asks why it matters to her that he suffers because of his love for her, especially if he cannot make her love him back. The lyrics in Qué Te Importa ultimately paint a picture of unrequited love and the pain that comes with it.

Line by Line Meaning

Me dirán que de tanto quererte Me voy a morir Que no vale por ti el sacrificio Lo podrán decir Que no quieres saber de mi nombre Eso ya lo sé Pero yo que te quiero de veras No se que diré...
People may warn me that loving you too much will lead to my death. They may say that all the sacrifices I make for you are not worth it. I know that you don't care about my name, but as someone who truly loves you, I don't know what to say or do.

¿Que te importa decir por doquier Que ya yo te perdí? ¿Que te importa este hombre de ley Que llora por ti? ¿Que te importa el hacerme sufrir Por otro querer? Si no puedo lograr que tu me ames ¿Que le voy a hacer?
Why do you care about spreading the news that you have lost me? Does it matter to you that a respectable man like me cries for you? Why do you continue to make me suffer for someone else's love? If I cannot make you love me, what else can I do?

Writer(s): Rafael Hernandez

Contributed by Lila N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS