Tito Rodríguez ¡The essential! is celebrated by Tito Rodríguez Jr, Gilberto Santa Rosa & Friends at the Hostos Center

Tito Rodríguez was an important Puerto Rican bandleader who is remembered for his Bolero ballads. Bolero is romantic music derived from the Cuban folk music Trova (troubadour) of the late 1800s. When you think of Bolero, you can't help but think of "El Inolvidable" Tito Rodríguez.

A child prodigy from Puerto Rico who began recording internationally at the age of 13, Tito followed his musician brother to New York in the 1940s, where Cubop Latin Jazz was growing alongside Bebop Modern Jazz.

In the 1950s, Tito was one of the best Latin conductors. He was one of the Palladium Big 3 who inspired the Mambo and Cha-Cha Latin dance crazes that swept the United States and the world.

One of the great romantic singers of all time, Rodríguez was a handsome, elegant, and streamlined man who led a life of his own. The 1950s was the time of the great migration from Puerto Rico that made us one of the defining communities of New York City.

In the 1960s, Tito returned to Puerto Rico to raise his family. He ran a television show that brought international stars of the day to Puerto Rico. In many ways, Tito Rodríguez represented the best of our American dream.

¡The essential! Tito Rodríguez is a three-day tribute to the legendary Puerto Rican bandleader with Tito Rodríguez Jr conducting the Tito Rodríguez Orchestra and special guest artist Gilberto Santa Rosa at the Hostos Center in Mott Haven, Bronx from Friday to Sunday November 11 to 13, 2022 Free and paid events. Saturday-Sunday, tribute concert starting at $45.