Tito Puente

Ernest "Tito" Anthony Puente, the eldest son of Puerto Rican parents, was affectionately nicknamed "Ernestito" by his mother, which was later shortened to "Tito". His mother, recognizing his innate musical talent, enrolled him in piano classes, where he began to hone his craft. Later, he attended the prestigious Juilliard School of Music from 1945 to 1947, courtesy of the GI bill. With a unique approach, Tito would compose pieces that started off as jazz and then seamlessly incorporated a Latin beat. Throughout his illustrious 60-year career, he recorded an impressive 100 albums, earning an impressive 10 Grammy awards. In a humorous remark, Tito often joked that he was profiting handsomely from Santana's hit recording of "Oye Como Va", which he had penned. He would say, "I get a nice royalty check." In addition to his musical endeavors, Tito made appearances in several films, often playing himself.