Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

ALLEN, Tito

(b Roberto Romero, Santurce, Puerto Rico) Sonero (improvising salsa singer)/composer with an elegant, lucid voice and refined singing style. Began career '62; relocated to NYC '72, there worked in a quartet incl. Colombian pianist Eddie Martinez; back to PR for six months performing in hotels; back to NYC to replace Adalberto Santiago as lead vocalist of Ray Barretto's band on LP Indestructible '73 on Fania incl. Martinez. Went solo, made albums on Alegre (then part of Fania empire): Maldades '75, Feliz y Dichoso '76, Ahora y Siempre '77, Untouchable '79, Beyond '79, Unique '80, A Los Muchachos '81, most prod. by Louie Ramirez. Guested on Pupi Legarreta's charanga sets Pupi y su Charanga '75 and Los Dos Mosqueteros/The Two Musketeers '77, latter in collaboration with Johnny Pacheco, both on Vaya. Replaced Santiago again to provide lead vocals on Tipica 73's Rumba Caliente '76 on Inca; sang lead vocals on one track each of Los Profesionales '77 and Tribute To The Messiah '79 by the Puerto Rico All Stars, both reissued on Combo '92--3; provided lead vocals on one track of Tito Puente's Homenaje A Beny, Vol. 2 '79 on Tico; contributed lead vocals to Ramirez's Salsa Progresiva '79 on Cotique (four tracks), El Genio '89 on L&T Records (one track), Louie Ramirez y Sus Amigos '90 on Cache (two tracks). Made Cantar '81 with Conjunto Cl sico on their Lo Mejor label; was one of the lead vocalists (others incl. Ray de la Paz, Jos‚ Alberto, Me¤ique and Johnny Rivera) on the three popular Noche Caliente volumes '82--4 on K-Tel, the first (prod. by Ramirez) regarded as genesis of salsa rom ntica trend. Sang lead vocals on half of Aparecio el Rey! '86 on Echu by veteran composer/percussionist Justi Barreto (b '23, Cuba). Made solo return with two commendable albums: El Intocable '88 on Fais n, with prod., mus. dir., arrs, piano by Isidro Infante, and Llegare '89 on TTH in collaboration with bandleader/bongosero Ralphy Santi, with mus. dir. and arrs by Infante. Relocated to PR; signed with Tony Moreno's Musical Productions (MP), debuted on MP All Stars '92; solo debut on the label was Clase y Sabor '93 on NRT (a division of MP). Has sessioned as a coro (chorus) singer in NYC and PR.