- This article is about Tito Puente the real-life jazz musician. For the character, please see Tito Puente (character).
Ernesto Antonio "Tito" Puente (April 20, 1923 – June 1, 2000) was a Latin-American musician and bandleader. His musical career spanned over five decades, and he was regarded by many to be the pioneer of Latin jazz. The height of Puente's popularity was in the 1950s, but he received recognitions and awards throughout his career, including a Latin Grammy in 2000.
On May 31, 2000, Puente suffered a heart attack following a show and had open heart surgery from which he never recovered. He died the following day. In 2003, he received a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Puente was also a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, having served in the Navy for three years during World War II.
On The Simpsons, Puente appeared as himself in the first part of "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" as a guest music instructor at Springfield Elementary School. In part two, he returned with his Latin Jazz Ensemble, and they performed the Emmy-nominated song "Señor Burns". They also performed their version of the Theme Song during the closing credits.
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Steve Allen • Anne Bancroft • Mel Brooks • Dick Cavett • Henry Corden • Ted Danson • Dr. Demento • Dennis Franz • Woody Harrelson • James Earl Jones • Larry King • Mandy Patinkin • Rhea Perlman • Tito Puente • John Ratzenberger • Winona Ryder • Susan Sarandon • Patrick Stewart • Meryl Streep • Ron Taylor • Johnny Unitas • George Wendt |
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Paul Anka • Glenn Close • Donald Sutherland • Kirk Douglas • R. Lee Ermey • Peter Frampton • Cypress Hill • Joan Kenley • Tom Kite • Linda McCartney • Paul McCartney • Harry Morgan • Bob Newhart • Tito Puente • Christina Ricci • Alex Rocco • Mickey Rooney • Jack Sheldon • The Smashing Pumpkins • Suzanne Somers • Sonic Youth • Donald Sutherland • Lawrence Tierney |