Tito Rojas
Encyclopedia
Julio César Rojas better known"El Gallo Salsero" Tito Rojas (The Rooster) (born June 14, 1955) is a salsa
singer and bandleader
.
, which is located on the eastern coast of Puerto Rico. There, he received his primary and secondary education. He enjoyed singing to his family and he would also sing the latest salsa tunes with his friends.
, as lead singer. With this band, he participated in the recording of Con Amor (With Love), which became a "hit" in 1978.
That same year Rojas joined the Fania All-Stars and had a "hit" song with El Campesino (The Farmer). After spending some time with the Fania All-Stars, Rojas decided to form his own band the "Conjunto Borincano", but the venture was short lived. In 1987 and 1989, he had hits with the salsa versions of the ballards Noche de Bodas (Wedding Night), and Quiereme Como Soy (Love me the way I am). These were accomplished after he joined the "Puerto Rican Power" band.
In 1990, Rojas went "solo" and recorded Condename (1990) and A Mi Estilo (My Style) (1994), however it was his 1995 recording Por Propio Derecho (On my own right), that placed Rojas on the Latin Billboards hit list. He gained the recognition he always wanted when he won a double Platinum Record Award, the Paoli Prize
for "Best Salsa Artist of the Year" and an "ACE" Award.
In 1996, Rojas had hits with Humildemente (Humbly) and Pal' Pueblo (For my town), he also released 20th Aniversario, Alegrias y Penas and Navidad con Tito in 1999.
. The album is titled Tito Rojas Live: Autenticamente En Vivo with Roberto Roena
as a special guest on the bongos
. His latest album Sin Commentarios was released in 2007.
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
singer and bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
.
Early years
Rojas was born and raised in the town of Humacao, Puerto RicoHumacao, Puerto Rico
Humacao is a city in Puerto Rico located in the eastern coast of the island, north of Yabucoa; south of Naguabo; east of Las Piedras; and west of Vieques Passage. Humacao is spread over 10 wards and Humacao Pueblo...
, which is located on the eastern coast of Puerto Rico. There, he received his primary and secondary education. He enjoyed singing to his family and he would also sing the latest salsa tunes with his friends.
Singing career
In 1975, he auditioned with Pedro Conga and his International Orchestra and was hired as a singer. After a short while, he left the band and joined the "Conjunto Borincuba", conducted by Justo BetancourtJusto Betancourt
Justo Betancourt is a Cuban singer famous for his interpretation of Pa' bravo yo. He was born in Matanzas, but has lived a significant amount of time in the United States and Puerto Rico. His music shows Cuban influence but developed in the direction of Puerto-Rican Salsa...
, as lead singer. With this band, he participated in the recording of Con Amor (With Love), which became a "hit" in 1978.
That same year Rojas joined the Fania All-Stars and had a "hit" song with El Campesino (The Farmer). After spending some time with the Fania All-Stars, Rojas decided to form his own band the "Conjunto Borincano", but the venture was short lived. In 1987 and 1989, he had hits with the salsa versions of the ballards Noche de Bodas (Wedding Night), and Quiereme Como Soy (Love me the way I am). These were accomplished after he joined the "Puerto Rican Power" band.
In 1990, Rojas went "solo" and recorded Condename (1990) and A Mi Estilo (My Style) (1994), however it was his 1995 recording Por Propio Derecho (On my own right), that placed Rojas on the Latin Billboards hit list. He gained the recognition he always wanted when he won a double Platinum Record Award, the Paoli Prize
Antonio Paolí
Antonio Paoli was a Puerto Rican tenor. He was known at the height of his fame as "The King of Tenors and The Tenor of Kings." He is considered to be the first Puerto Rican to reach international fame in the musical arts...
for "Best Salsa Artist of the Year" and an "ACE" Award.
In 1996, Rojas had hits with Humildemente (Humbly) and Pal' Pueblo (For my town), he also released 20th Aniversario, Alegrias y Penas and Navidad con Tito in 1999.
Recordings
The following are some of Rojas recordings:- Tito Rojas y el Conjunto Borincano (1980) (Tito Rojas and the Borincano)
- Sensual (1990)
- Condename (1992) (Condemn Me)
- Todo a Cambiado (1994) (Everything in Exchange)
- A Mi Estilo (1994) (My Style)
- Con Velo y Corona (1995)
- Tito Rojas (1995)
- Por Derecho Propio (1995) (On My Own Right)
- Humildemente (1996) (Humbly)
- Pal' Pueblo (1997) (For My People)
- Salsa Mixes y Mas Mixes (1997)
- Alegrias y Penas (1999) (Happiness and Sadness)
- Rompiendo Noches (2000) (Breaking Nights)
- Quiero Llegar a Casa (2001) (I want to go home)
- Canta El Gallo (2003) (The Rooster Sings)
- El De Siempre (2003) (Same as always)
- Perseverencia (2003) (Perseverance)
- Tradicional (2004) (Traditional)
- Borron y Cuenta Nueva (2005)
- Sin Comentarios (2007) (No Comments)
Currently
In 2002, Rojas and his band performed and recorded "live" from Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. The album is titled Tito Rojas Live: Autenticamente En Vivo with Roberto Roena
Roberto Roena
Roberto Roena is a salsa music percussionist, orchestra leader, and dancer. Roena was one of the original members of El Gran Combo Puerto Rican's first successful salsa music orchestra. He later became the leader of his own band, "Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound", arguably one of the best Latin...
as a special guest on the bongos
Bongo drum
Bongo or bongos are a Cuban percussion instrument consisting of a pair of single-headed, open-ended drums attached to each other. The drums are of different size: the larger drum is called in Spanish the hembra and the smaller the macho...
. His latest album Sin Commentarios was released in 2007.
External links
- www.musicofpuertorico.com Music of Puerto Rico
- www.mponline.com