It’s the Centennial celebration of Tito Puente this year! Concerts and events are taking place all over the country, and we are thrilled to bring you a night to take part. There will be a beautiful dance floor and a bar at this event!

Leader of the Colorado Mambo Orchestra Raul Murciano is “a modern renaissance man.” Raul shares his talents with the globe as a composer, Latin Jazz pianist, artist, dean at the Frost School of Music, and engineer. He is a native of Miami and an award-winning writer and producer of music for television and film. Murciano’s earliest successes came as a founding member and performer with Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine. With the Colorado Mambo Orchestra, Raul focuses on “Contemporary Cuban Salsa, Latin Jazz, & American Pop/Standards, all with our unique Latin tinge.” Vocalist and percussionist Yanko Tortolo will be joining the CMO for this one-time Centennial Tribute to Tito Puente.

Come take part, dance, and celebrate with Gift of Jazz on June 12 – GET TICKETS!

The son of Puerto Rican immigrants and born in Harlem, Tito Puente went on to be known for his “irresistible swirl of energy” in his performances on timbales. Puente, or the “King of Mambo,” was a force to be reckoned with in Latin jazz. He went professional in the music scene at age 13. Puente served in the Navy in World War II and went to Juilliard afterward. His infectious energy at shows built his reputation quickly. His artistry changed the terminology of salsa and mambo in the 1950s and 60s, bringing “salsa” into household language to refer to a variety of dances and music. Puente received five Grammys in his lifetime. His legacy still lives on, and Centennial events for his memory are taking place all over the country.