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.
Quien Lo Diría
Tito Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[ Quien lo diria,
Que aquella niña ahora es toda una mujer
Y que la quiero en otra forma de querer
Miren que cosa, quien lo diria]
Quien lo diría que aquel capullo en una rosa se torno
La tierna oruga en mariposa se volvió
Miren que cosa, quien lo diria
DC2
Lo mas raro es que en el otoño de mi vida esto suceda
Lo mas raro es que ella viendo la distancia Si me quiera
Y quitarle (Dictarle) al corazón, no puedo yo, ni puede ella
Solo se que nuestro Amor ella lo ha hecho Primavera.
(Y se repite al Dc1 y luego dc 2, cambia una palabra)
The lyrics of Tito Rodríguez's song Quien Lo Diría tell the story of a man who reflects upon the surprising turn of events in his life. He expresses his shock that the young girl he once knew has grown up into a woman, and that he now loves her in a different way. The lyrics are filled with vivid imagery that compares the transformation of the girl to that of a cocoon turning into a butterfly. The man acknowledges that it is strange to be experiencing these feelings in the autumn of his life, but he cannot control his love for her. He is also surprised that, despite the distance between them, she still loves him.
The song is a commentary on the unpredictable nature of life and love. It shows that we never know what the future holds and that things can change in unexpected ways. The lyrics are a testament to the enduring power of love and its ability to transform and grow over time. The imagery of the cocoon turning into a butterfly is a beautiful metaphor for this transformation and speaks to the power of change and growth in our own lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Quien lo diria, Que aquella niña ahora es toda una mujer
Who would have thought that the little girl has grown into a woman
Y que la quiero en otra forma de querer
And that I love her in a different way
Miren que cosa, quien lo diria
Look at that, who would have thought
Quien lo diría que aquel capullo en una rosa se torno
Who would have thought that the bud turned into a rose
La tierna oruga en mariposa se volvió
The tender caterpillar transformed into a butterfly
Lo mas raro es que en el otoño de mi vida esto suceda
The strangest thing is that this happens in the autumn of my life
Lo mas raro es que ella viendo la distancia Si me quiera
The strangest thing is that she loves me despite the distance
Y quitarle (Dictarle) al corazón, no puedo yo, ni puede ella
And neither she nor I can dictate what's in our hearts
Solo se que nuestro Amor ella lo ha hecho Primavera.
All I know is that she has turned our love into spring.
Writer(s): B. Capo
Contributed by Kaitlyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Javier Ramos
on No Lo Recuerdas
this songs name is Hipotesis track # 5 on this album