En Los Pasos De Mi Padre by Tito Puente, Jr.

Puente, Jr. has had two Spanish-language albums, several Billboard dance hits and a Latin Music Award for Best Salsa Video of the Year for his cover of his father's signature, "Oye Como Va." His second album contained the single “Caliente” with the arrangement by El Rey himself.

Now carrying his father’s torch, Puente, Jr. brings the music to a whole new generation with an album entitled "En Los Pasos De Mi Padre," (In My Father's Shoes); planned for a Spring 2004 release.

“I am now performing the music of Tito Puente. I think it's very important that the youth of today understand the music of my father, la música de ayer, la música del Palladium. It's timeless music – music that makes you dance.”

Puente, Jr. was born June 2, 1971 and raised in New York City, feeling the rhythms of the music before he could walk or talk. Naturally, his first instrument was percussion; “I had no choice; there were 50 sets of timbales in the garage.” Later he added piano, songwriting and producing.

He learned his craft and honed his talents playing the New York City club scene with other well-known Latin artists including the “Queen of Salsa,” Celia Cruz.

Recently, he joined forces with two other sons of legends in the Latin jazz world, Mario Grillo (“Machito”) and Tito Rodriguez. These three men are co-leaders of “The Big 3 Palladium Orchestra,” a lush and fiery rebirth of the music made famous by their fathers.

The global importance of Latin music adds other dimensions in the life of Puente, Jr. He continues his role as the Havanera Co. (TM) brand spokesperson for Perry Ellis through December 2004. “I enjoy the Havanera style,” Puente, Jr. said. “It defines one of the two worlds I live in—the casual style of Latinos all over the world.”

The other world is lived out on stage, where dressed in elegance, the soft-spoken Puente, Jr. turns on the supersonic smile and explodes with all the passion that is rightfully his—by birthright and by virtue of his own talent.

He remembers a special performance night – at the Skydome in Toronto, Canada, in front of 80,000 people with his father, Celia Cruz, and others. “So they announce me as the Prince and my father as the King! They called it ‘Latin Royalty Night’ – I’ll never forget it!”

Back in the 50s, the geographical seat of power, the mecca for Latin music, was New York. It was there that a handful of incendiary talents reigned as royalty—Puente, Jr’s. father among them. But this is a larger world—and the epicenter of power in Latin music now is the beat, and the heat is global.

Management:

Frank Fiore

Frank Fiore Enterprises, LLC

305 758 8681

frankfiore@bellsouth.net

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