Tito Rodriguez, Jr.

Tito Rodriguez, Jr., (born on February 20, c. 1940), is an Arranger, Composer, Percussionist and Bandleader.

Early years

Rodriguez, Jr. was born in New York City. His father, Tito Rodriguez, was a legendary Latin music singer who actively participated in Rodriguez, Jr.’s early music education. When Rodriguez, Jr. was nine years old he received his first drum set and began to study the Drums. Throughout Rodriguez, Jr’s teens he studied the Guitar, Piano and Vibes. Rodriguez, Jr.’s father taught him the Timbales and insisted on a formal music education. This was the criterion to play with the Tito Rodriguez Orchestra, which toured worldwide in the 60's and 70’s. Thus, Rodriguez, Jr enrolled in Berklee College of Music in 1975. He graduated with a BA in Music Theory from the University of Miami’s Department of Music.

The First Band

In his early 20’s Rodriguez, Jr. organized his first band, the "Tito Rodriguez II Orchestra". After his father's death, Tito's mother urged him to cut a record. Cindy Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Jr.'s sister, and her husband were running Tito Rodriguez' label, TR Records. To pique people’s interest Rodriguez, Jr.'s mother suggested the name Curious? Tito with the participation of Ruben Blades and Jose Alberto, El Canario on the vocals under the TR Records label, with Tito playing Timbales. This CD has been re-issued by "Pimienta Records", distributed by Universal Music Group in 2006 and is considered a Latin "classic" recording. Rodriguez, Jr. has arranged, produced and performed with many of the top Latin artists of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s including co-writing the theme song for The Sally Jessy Raphael Show.

Second Album

In 1994 Rodriguez, Jr. signed with TTH Records, and produced Eclipse. The hit single Mujer Erotica was #1 on the charts for 6 weeks and remains on worldwide charts today. The Tito Rodriguez, Jr. Orchestra played over 70 live performances within a 14-month period of Eclipse’s release.

The Big 3: Live at the Blue Note

Mario Grillo, son of Machito, approached Rodriguez, Jr., and Tito Puente, Jr., in 2001 to perform the music of their fathers and formed "The Big 3 Palladium Orchestra". Combined, Rodriguez, Jr., Mario Grillo and Tito Puente, Jr owned 2,500 original charts from their fathers. The resulting album, The Big 3 Palladium Orchestra, Live At The Blue Note and has been met with critical success. IMG Artists and BPR Music represent the Big 3 Palladium Orchestra which tours throughout the United States and Europe. Some venues include Tanglewood, the Hollywood Bowl, the Pori Jazz Festival, the Istanbul Jazz Festival and Jazz at Vienne France Festival.

TRJR Records

In 2006, Rodriguez, Jr., rather than signing with a major label, decided to recreate, in the spirit of his father, his own independent Latin record label, TRJR Records. Tito Rodriguez had the second largest Latin record label in the 1970s prior to his untimely death in 1973. Noticing a void in the Latin music marketplace, Rodriguez, Jr. is choosing to start up a "good to work with," independent Latin label, with the purpose of recording himself as well as emerging Latin artists.

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans
• Tito Rodriguez