Musician. Born Ernesto Antonio Puente, Jr. in Harlem, New York, he was a Latin jazz percussionist known as the "sultan of salsa" and "king of timbales." He started his career as a drummer in Noro Morales' orchestra in 1937 and after serving in the US Navy during World War II, worked in a variety of Latin bands before forming Tito Puente and his Orchestra. For the next five decades he became internationally recognized for his enormous and significant contributions to jazz and Latin music. He had over 10,000 live performances around the world introducing all to his unique blend of Latin jazz. In his lifetime, he recorded 120 albums, composed over 450 songs and has over 2,000 arrangements to his credit. He is the recipient of five Grammy Awards, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990 and was featured in film "The Mambo Kings"(1992). He was also given the National Medal of Arts by then President Clinton in 1997 and was honored by the Library of Congress as a Living Legend in 2000.

Musician. Born Ernesto Antonio Puente, Jr. in Harlem, New York, he was a Latin jazz percussionist known as the "sultan of salsa" and "king of timbales." He started his career as a drummer in Noro Morales' orchestra in 1937 and after serving in the US Navy during World War II, worked in a variety of Latin bands before forming Tito Puente and his Orchestra. For the next five decades he became internationally recognized for his enormous and significant contributions to jazz and Latin music. He had over 10,000 live performances around the world introducing all to his unique blend of Latin jazz. In his lifetime, he recorded 120 albums, composed over 450 songs and has over 2,000 arrangements to his credit. He is the recipient of five Grammy Awards, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990 and was featured in film "The Mambo Kings"(1992). He was also given the National Medal of Arts by then President Clinton in 1997 and was honored by the Library of Congress as a Living Legend in 2000.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith