Tribute to Tito Puente to fund Latin youth programs.

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), Bissi Entertainment and Platinum Music Group announced they are hosting a special event at the Latin Quarter nightclub on December 16, 2009 in New York City in honor of the legendary Tito Puente, who was known as “El Rey de los Timbales” and who was instrumental in promoting Latin Jazz and Caribbean music for more than 50 years. The event will also serve to launch a DVD of Puente’s last performance in 2000, the year in which he died. The DVD will be available as of today for sale in stores across North America and Puerto Rico.  Proceeds from the DVD sales will benefit HHF’s youth programs.  The event will feature performances from top Latin stars paying tribute to Tito Puente and raise funds for youth programs, which include educational scholarships.  HHF has honored Puente with its prestigious Hispanic Heritage Award for the Performing Arts in 1994.
 
Performers include: Tito Puente Jr. and Friends, Alex y Fido.  Other celebrities such as Marc Anthony, Luis Enrique, Omega, Grupo Mania, Jose Alberto “El Canario”, among others, have also been invited to participate.

“I’m thrilled my father’s fans will be able to watch him perform again on the DVD,” said Tito Puente Jr.  “And I’m even more excited younger fans will be able to witness his performances.  And it will start where my dad was born, lived and died – in New York City.  I’m grateful to the stars who will be part of the tribute and more importantly, that the evening will benefit the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, which honored my dad with the Hispanic Heritage Awards and works year-round to move Latino youth forward through leadership, community service and education.”

“It has been a privilege to have worked with Tito Puente and to know this great person. His performance in this concert — and, in fact, in every concert he ever did — speaks of Tito’s character. He always gave it 110 percent. Knowing Tito and the lives he touched, including mine,” ‘Johnny, how can we help our youth?’. The driving force has been the willingness to be there and to keep alive Tito’s musical legacy alive. But also, to be sure, to keep alive his big-heartedness and deep desire to make a positive impact on the lives of Latino youth.”

Skip to content