Richie Puente, second son of the late Latin jazz legend Tito Puente and percussionist with famed disco group Foxy, died in his sleep.
In the prime of a richly rewarding career that has included two Grammy nominations and two gold records, the accomplished 51-year-old multi-instrumentalist was hospitalized after suffering from viral encephoplopathy due to a prior brain injury that was the result of a mugging over 10 years ago. Since his release from the hospital, Richie had been nonverbal, confined to a bed and wheelchair and relegated to tube feeding. He resided at home with his 95-year-old grandmother and his mother, Ida Carlini, who became Richie's primary caretaker along with daytime nurses who helped with his daily needs. Puente's immobilized state was a sad turn of events for someone so young and vital and who thrived on the stage playing music over the past 25 years.
In 1974, Richie and fellow musician Ish Ledesma formed the band Foxy, playing rock and underground disco covers and originals. By 1975, they had a recording contract with Henry Stone's T.K. label out of Florida and recorded five albums, one of which went gold. In 1979, Richie toured with the Jacksons (featuring Michael Jackson) on the Destiny Tour, where Foxy was the opening act for Sister Sledge. Since his departure from Foxy, Richie became a session musician for Criteria Studios, recording with such renowned artists as Peter Frampton, Eddie Money, George and Gwen McRae, Blowfly (Clarence Reed) and ABBA. In 2000, Richie returned to the stage with renewed vigor, playing percussion for Edward Villela's Miami City Ballet production Mambo No. 2 a.m. and appearing as a guest artist at Roseland Ballroom in New York City for the Linda McCartney Breast Awareness Garland Foundation in the Latin Segment tribute to his father, Tito Puente. In February of 2001, in the midst of rehearsals for the 2001 Miami City Ballet season of Mambo No. 2 a.m., Richie suffered a viral infection, which caused uncontrollable seizures. Doctors ultimately had to induce a coma in order to save him. Unfortunately, two months later he came out of his coma with little hope of recovery. In fact, the prognosis was grim -- eventual death due to the trauma he had already suffered.
UNEDITED COPIED TEXT:
PUENTE RICHARD ANTHONY (Kiki) June 15 1953 uly 18 2004 Loving son of Ida Carlim and the late Latin idzz Legend Tito Puente Richard passed away July 18 2004 after a long illness He was an accomplished percussionist and had gold and platinum records with the famed disco group Foxy He is survived by brothers Charles and Ari Carlini sister Christina Carlini grandmother Maria Pereira: aunt Nancy Ostrofsky uncle Edward Pereira ana cousins: Jack Ostrofsky and Edward Pereira He is also survived by many nieces and nephews He will be dearly missed We love you Kiki Viewing will be held at the Eternal Light Funeral Parlor 17250 Dixie Hwy NMB FL 305-948-9900
In the prime of a richly rewarding career that has included two Grammy nominations and two gold records, the accomplished 51-year-old multi-instrumentalist was hospitalized after suffering from viral encephoplopathy due to a prior brain injury that was the result of a mugging over 10 years ago. Since his release from the hospital, Richie had been nonverbal, confined to a bed and wheelchair and relegated to tube feeding. He resided at home with his 95-year-old grandmother and his mother, Ida Carlini, who became Richie's primary caretaker along with daytime nurses who helped with his daily needs. Puente's immobilized state was a sad turn of events for someone so young and vital and who thrived on the stage playing music over the past 25 years.
In 1974, Richie and fellow musician Ish Ledesma formed the band Foxy, playing rock and underground disco covers and originals. By 1975, they had a recording contract with Henry Stone's T.K. label out of Florida and recorded five albums, one of which went gold. In 1979, Richie toured with the Jacksons (featuring Michael Jackson) on the Destiny Tour, where Foxy was the opening act for Sister Sledge. Since his departure from Foxy, Richie became a session musician for Criteria Studios, recording with such renowned artists as Peter Frampton, Eddie Money, George and Gwen McRae, Blowfly (Clarence Reed) and ABBA. In 2000, Richie returned to the stage with renewed vigor, playing percussion for Edward Villela's Miami City Ballet production Mambo No. 2 a.m. and appearing as a guest artist at Roseland Ballroom in New York City for the Linda McCartney Breast Awareness Garland Foundation in the Latin Segment tribute to his father, Tito Puente. In February of 2001, in the midst of rehearsals for the 2001 Miami City Ballet season of Mambo No. 2 a.m., Richie suffered a viral infection, which caused uncontrollable seizures. Doctors ultimately had to induce a coma in order to save him. Unfortunately, two months later he came out of his coma with little hope of recovery. In fact, the prognosis was grim -- eventual death due to the trauma he had already suffered.
UNEDITED COPIED TEXT:
PUENTE RICHARD ANTHONY (Kiki) June 15 1953 uly 18 2004 Loving son of Ida Carlim and the late Latin idzz Legend Tito Puente Richard passed away July 18 2004 after a long illness He was an accomplished percussionist and had gold and platinum records with the famed disco group Foxy He is survived by brothers Charles and Ari Carlini sister Christina Carlini grandmother Maria Pereira: aunt Nancy Ostrofsky uncle Edward Pereira ana cousins: Jack Ostrofsky and Edward Pereira He is also survived by many nieces and nephews He will be dearly missed We love you Kiki Viewing will be held at the Eternal Light Funeral Parlor 17250 Dixie Hwy NMB FL 305-948-9900
Richie Puente, second son of the late Latin jazz legend Tito Puente and percussionist with famed disco group Foxy, died in his sleep.
In the prime of a richly rewarding career that has included two Grammy nominations and two gold records, the accomplished 51-year-old multi-instrumentalist was hospitalized after suffering from viral encephoplopathy due to a prior brain injury that was the result of a mugging over 10 years ago. Since his release from the hospital, Richie had been nonverbal, confined to a bed and wheelchair and relegated to tube feeding. He resided at home with his 95-year-old grandmother and his mother, Ida Carlini, who became Richie's primary caretaker along with daytime nurses who helped with his daily needs. Puente's immobilized state was a sad turn of events for someone so young and vital and who thrived on the stage playing music over the past 25 years.
In 1974, Richie and fellow musician Ish Ledesma formed the band Foxy, playing rock and underground disco covers and originals. By 1975, they had a recording contract with Henry Stone's T.K. label out of Florida and recorded five albums, one of which went gold. In 1979, Richie toured with the Jacksons (featuring Michael Jackson) on the Destiny Tour, where Foxy was the opening act for Sister Sledge. Since his departure from Foxy, Richie became a session musician for Criteria Studios, recording with such renowned artists as Peter Frampton, Eddie Money, George and Gwen McRae, Blowfly (Clarence Reed) and ABBA. In 2000, Richie returned to the stage with renewed vigor, playing percussion for Edward Villela's Miami City Ballet production Mambo No. 2 a.m. and appearing as a guest artist at Roseland Ballroom in New York City for the Linda McCartney Breast Awareness Garland Foundation in the Latin Segment tribute to his father, Tito Puente. In February of 2001, in the midst of rehearsals for the 2001 Miami City Ballet season of Mambo No. 2 a.m., Richie suffered a viral infection, which caused uncontrollable seizures. Doctors ultimately had to induce a coma in order to save him. Unfortunately, two months later he came out of his coma with little hope of recovery. In fact, the prognosis was grim -- eventual death due to the trauma he had already suffered.
UNEDITED COPIED TEXT:
PUENTE RICHARD ANTHONY (Kiki) June 15 1953 uly 18 2004 Loving son of Ida Carlim and the late Latin idzz Legend Tito Puente Richard passed away July 18 2004 after a long illness He was an accomplished percussionist and had gold and platinum records with the famed disco group Foxy He is survived by brothers Charles and Ari Carlini sister Christina Carlini grandmother Maria Pereira: aunt Nancy Ostrofsky uncle Edward Pereira ana cousins: Jack Ostrofsky and Edward Pereira He is also survived by many nieces and nephews He will be dearly missed We love you Kiki Viewing will be held at the Eternal Light Funeral Parlor 17250 Dixie Hwy NMB FL 305-948-9900
In the prime of a richly rewarding career that has included two Grammy nominations and two gold records, the accomplished 51-year-old multi-instrumentalist was hospitalized after suffering from viral encephoplopathy due to a prior brain injury that was the result of a mugging over 10 years ago. Since his release from the hospital, Richie had been nonverbal, confined to a bed and wheelchair and relegated to tube feeding. He resided at home with his 95-year-old grandmother and his mother, Ida Carlini, who became Richie's primary caretaker along with daytime nurses who helped with his daily needs. Puente's immobilized state was a sad turn of events for someone so young and vital and who thrived on the stage playing music over the past 25 years.
In 1974, Richie and fellow musician Ish Ledesma formed the band Foxy, playing rock and underground disco covers and originals. By 1975, they had a recording contract with Henry Stone's T.K. label out of Florida and recorded five albums, one of which went gold. In 1979, Richie toured with the Jacksons (featuring Michael Jackson) on the Destiny Tour, where Foxy was the opening act for Sister Sledge. Since his departure from Foxy, Richie became a session musician for Criteria Studios, recording with such renowned artists as Peter Frampton, Eddie Money, George and Gwen McRae, Blowfly (Clarence Reed) and ABBA. In 2000, Richie returned to the stage with renewed vigor, playing percussion for Edward Villela's Miami City Ballet production Mambo No. 2 a.m. and appearing as a guest artist at Roseland Ballroom in New York City for the Linda McCartney Breast Awareness Garland Foundation in the Latin Segment tribute to his father, Tito Puente. In February of 2001, in the midst of rehearsals for the 2001 Miami City Ballet season of Mambo No. 2 a.m., Richie suffered a viral infection, which caused uncontrollable seizures. Doctors ultimately had to induce a coma in order to save him. Unfortunately, two months later he came out of his coma with little hope of recovery. In fact, the prognosis was grim -- eventual death due to the trauma he had already suffered.
UNEDITED COPIED TEXT:
PUENTE RICHARD ANTHONY (Kiki) June 15 1953 uly 18 2004 Loving son of Ida Carlim and the late Latin idzz Legend Tito Puente Richard passed away July 18 2004 after a long illness He was an accomplished percussionist and had gold and platinum records with the famed disco group Foxy He is survived by brothers Charles and Ari Carlini sister Christina Carlini grandmother Maria Pereira: aunt Nancy Ostrofsky uncle Edward Pereira ana cousins: Jack Ostrofsky and Edward Pereira He is also survived by many nieces and nephews He will be dearly missed We love you Kiki Viewing will be held at the Eternal Light Funeral Parlor 17250 Dixie Hwy NMB FL 305-948-9900
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