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From
left to right: Tito Puente, Jr., LP Founder
Martin Cohen and Ron Puente |
Tito Puente,
“The King of Latin Music,” was posthumously inducted into the
Percussive Arts Society (PAS) Hall of Fame. The awards banquet, held on Friday,
November 16, at the 2001 Percussive Arts Society International Convention in
Nashville, Tennessee, was attended by the PAS Board of Directors, members,
and representatives from the percussion industry. Ron Puente and Tito
Puente, Jr., accepted the award on behalf of the Puente family.
“Tito Puente’s groundbreaking
work in Latin music, as well as his longstanding career in which he led many
of the greatest orchestras during the golden age of big band Latin music, made
him an obvious choice for induction into the PAS Hall of Fame,” says Michael
Kenyon, PAS Executive Director. “Through his arranging, composing, bandleading,
and, of course, his timbale and vibe playing, Tito still continues to influence
musicians of all genres. His contribution to percussion and music will surely
live on forever.”
“Tito Puente was the ambassador of Latin music to the world,” adds LP
Founder Martin Cohen, who was a close friend of Puente’s for more
than thirty years. “Tito literally brought the timbales from the back
of the orchestra to the forefront of the band, where everyone could see them.
His showmanship and enthusiasm in every performance secured his reputation
as one of the most exciting musicians and entertainers. He was truly in a
class by himself.
Since its inception in 1972, the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame has
inducted 79 honorees to date.
To see photos taken by Martin Cohen, please CLICK
HERE.
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