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.
Si Te Contara
Tito Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mi sufrimiento,
Si te contara, la pena tan grande,
que llevo tan dentro,
La triste historia, que noche tras noche
de dolor y pena,
LLega a mi alma, surge en mi memoria
como una condena.
Si tu supieras,
Te importaria,
Si te dijera
que en mi ya no queda, ni luz ni alegria,
que tu recuerdo es el daño mas fuerte,
que me hago yo mismo,
por seguir soñando,
con que tu regreses,
Arrepentida.
Si tu supieras,
Te importaria,
Si te dijera
que en mi ya no queda, ni luz ni alegria,
que tu recuerdo es el daño mas fuerte,
que me hago yo mismo
por seguir soñando
con que tu regreses,
Arrepentida.
The lyrics to Tito Rodríguez's song "Si Te Contara" are about heartbreak and unrequited love. The singer is telling their former lover that if they only knew the extent of their suffering, the pain and sadness that they carry within them, they would be moved to care. The singer recounts their nights filled with sorrow and how memories of their lost love haunt them like a prison sentence. They admit that the memory of their former lover is the strongest source of pain and creates a longing within them to have them return, even if just to apologize for what they had done.
The repetition of the phrase "Si tu supieras" (If you only knew) highlights the singer's desperation to have their former lover understand the depth of their feelings. The imagery and tone in the song are melancholic, with somber violins and slow tempo, amplifying the heavy-hearted feeling of sorrow and nostalgia. It is a testament to the pain that two people in love can experience when the relationship falls apart, leaving one to wonder if love can ever be experienced again.
Line by Line Meaning
Si tu supieras,
If you only knew,
Mi sufrimiento,
my suffering,
Si te contara, la pena tan grande,
if I were to tell you about the overwhelming pain,
que llevo tan dentro,
that I carry deep within me,
La triste historia, que noche tras noche
the sad story that every night
de dolor y pena,
of pain and sorrow,
Llega a mi alma, surge en mi memoria
reaches my soul, arises in my memory
como una condena.
like a sentence.
Te importaría,
Would you care,
Si te dijera
If I were to tell you
que en mi ya no queda, ni luz ni alegría,
that there is no longer any light or joy in me,
que tu recuerdo es el daño más fuerte,
that your memory is the strongest pain,
que me hago yo mismo,
that I inflict upon myself,
por seguir soñando,
by continuing to dream
con que tu regreses,
that you may come back
Arrepentida.
repenting.
Contributed by Nicholas G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mauriciomoreno9200
Tarde o temprano Todos llegaran a esta música en alguna etapa de la vida!!!
@luispenailillogarrido4845
Un señor del bolero, no hay otro como él
@CristianAlvarez-ky6zx
Mi padre siempre me habló de este gran artista, una voz privilegiada.
@ArturoRodriguez-pp7in
El gran tito Rodríguez lo mejor de lo mejor , debe seguir deleitando con su voz a los angeles en el cielo , dios te tenga en la gloria
@normaalfaroduran7227
Un gran Señor con voz privilegiada y un temazo increíble con tremenda letra ❤❤❤❤
@rafaelcabrera1880
Uno de los boleros mas hermosos de la isla hermana de Cuba.Condenado a la distancia, Mil congojas y Dos gardenias son tambien joyas musicales de la isla hermana.
@odalysmartinez7479
Lo Mejor de La Musica del @yer y de Siempre... Me Las aprendia mientras mi Madre Cantaba hacienda los quehaceres del hogar 🤲😇🎼🌹
GraXias for este Preciado Regalo Musical 🖐
@luisalbertocarabajal1085
Gran intérprete de la música tropical. Sugiero vivo en cada tema que se puede disfrutar en su singular voz.
@57ssanchez
Si al escuchar esta melodia , cruza por tu mente ese amor a quien fue en tu juventud. añoraras estar con ella este momento, Gracias Tito Rodriguez por ese momento.
@andresgilespinosa7011
Añañañaayyyyyyy Qué sed produce el gran Tito!!!