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.
Ya Son Las Doce
Tito Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me hará lo mismo que ayer
Espera, espera y no viene
Ya no lo quiero ni ver
Pero de pronto siento un ruido y me despierto
Se abre la puerta y llega mi querer
Me hará lo mismo que ayer
Espera, espera y no viene
Ya no lo quiero ni ver
Pero de pronto siento un ruido y me despierto
Se abre la puerta y llega mi querer
Cariño santo , vidita mía
No sufras tanto, ya estoy aquí
Si tu bien sabes que yo te quiero
Que solamente soy para tí
Anda mi amorcito dame un beso
Suavecito, despacito así
No me regañes cierra los ojos
Y duerme feliz
The lyrics to Tito Rodríguez's song Ya Son Las Doce tell the story of a woman who is waiting for her love to arrive. It is already midnight, and she is worried that he will do the same as yesterday and not show up at all. She is tired of waiting and does not want to see him anymore. However, just as she is about to give up, she hears a noise at the door, and her love walks in. The lyrics go on to say that he loves her and does not want her to suffer, and that he is only hers. He then asks for a gentle kiss and tells her to close her eyes and sleep happily.
Line by Line Meaning
Ya son las doce y no llega
It's already midnight and he hasn't arrived yet
Me hará lo mismo que ayer
He will do the same thing as yesterday
Espera, espera y no viene
I wait and wait, but he doesn't come
Ya no lo quiero ni ver
I don't even want to see him anymore
Pero de pronto siento un ruido y me despierto
Suddenly I hear a noise and wake up
Se abre la puerta y llega mi querer
The door opens and my love arrives
Cariño santo , vidita mía
My dear, my life
No sufras tanto, ya estoy aquí
Don't suffer so much, I'm already here
Si tu bien sabes que yo te quiero
If you know that I love you
Que solamente soy para tí
That I am only for you
Anda mi amorcito dame un beso
Come on, my little love, give me a kiss
Suavecito, despacito así
Softly, slowly like this
No me regañes cierra los ojos
Don't scold me, close your eyes
Y duerme feliz
And sleep peacefully
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jesica castellanos botello
Verdaderas canciones llenas de amor y sentimiento, me recuerda a mi infancia cuando me las cantaba mi abuelita
maribel cadiz
Demasiado hermosa estás canciones ❤
David Omar Castelli
Gran bolerista, muerto en la flor de la edad. ¡Inolvidable! QEPD.
Vilma Quadro
Hermoso tema!!!
carlos fernandez
Buena música lindo tema con el grande Tito!
Arturo Gutierrez Cardenas
¡Sublime!
Johana Rivero
De corazon Gracias TITO por tan bellas melodias Jamas te olvidaremos....
Adolfo Oscar Caraballo Merino
Esta canción es un poema. Llegó mi querer..
Daniel Radakovich
Just a beautiful exits that I first heard each Saturday night at the conclusion of the radio program Mambo Express hosted by Victor Para on WBEZ public radio in Chicago. I never tire of the song which so sweetly expresses love
Roberto Eduardo Giammattei Toriello
Lo mejor, gracias por todo.