Inspirational Post

My friend Tito Puente

Bobby Molina trying to perform like his Master

When I was a little boy, I use to spend hours listening to Tito Puente at home. I tried to mimic everything he played and I dreamed that one day I could come close to playing like him. My father would end up recording for him and I would meet him. He treated me like I was his own child. As an adult, and already gigging myself in L.A., I would go see him perform. No matter where I was, he would find me during intermissions and ask me if I needed anything. We would chat, then he would go back to work. I dedicated my Mastery Research Paper to he who has inspired me all my life. A picture of Tito is in my music book and travels with me to every gig I play. The latter video is a tribute I do to Tito on many of the gigs I play with my sextet “Proyecto TimbaWáh.” Hail to the Master, the Mambo King, and my friend and inspiration Tito Puente.