Tito Rodriguez "A Man And His Music" sounds amazing
Francisco Morillo-Otero | Miami | 11/03/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"
Tito Rodríguez: A Man and His Music El Inolvidable includes some of the legendary
singer/bandleader's greatest numbers, including his career-defining hit "Mama Güela," as well as
"Blen, Blen, Blen," "Cara de Payaso," and many others.
With the best musicians in New York City (including on some tracks the legendary bassist Cachao and
pianist / arranger René Hernández), the sheer quality of this timeless music will remind longtime fans
of his astonishing work and will also attract a new generation of listeners. This compilation, selected by
the well-known New York discographer Harry Sepúlveda, focuses on years when Rodríguez's dance
band starred at the legendary Palladium (where many of the tracks were recorded), as well as the high
points of his mega-successful international career as a chart-topping singer of romantic songs.
Born in Puerto Rico, Tito Rodríguez came to New York as a teenager in the 1930's. After stints singing
with a number of top groups he formed the Tito Rodriguez Orchestra, the most danceable band in the
dance-fever era. It was built around the voice of its leader, a versatile interpreter of every style of music
who went out singing. In 1973, suffering from cancer at the age of fifty, he was rushed to the hospital
after leaving the stage from a headline appearance at Madison Square Garden and died days later.
Although he passed away, his legacy continues to burn bright through his recorded music as
showcased on this new release.
These tracks have been digitally remastered from the original master tapes. The deluxe set includes a
32-page booklet with extensive liner notes in English and Spanish, never-seen photos, and the album
covers of Rodríguez's great recordings. The set joins The Man and His Music series that has featured
such artists as Celia Cruz, Hector Lavoe, Willie Colón and Rubén Blades, all on the Fania label,
whose catalog Código Music recently acquired. Tito Rodríguez: The Man and His Music is the first
release in this series from Código Music."