The King of Mambo - Tito Puente

Tito Puente was one of a kind. Since he wasn't a vocalist, he was stuck in the back of the orchestra, where all percussionists get trapped. But this was no problem for Tito, who simply moved his timbales to the front, danced around his drums, performed fancy handwork with the sticks and became the star of the show.

Of course, showmanship was not all that he had to offer. This Mambo King, son of an emigre family from Puerto Rico, put himself through Julliard, learned to play innumerable instruments and experimented with all the musical offerings - from rock to jazz - that his 60+ years of music making had to offer. He was, in every way, a musical dynamo.

In fact, ask your non-Latin music loving acquaintances (the poor things) who they know in the genre and dollars to donuts "Tito Puente" will be the name that pops up over and over again.