Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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ROJAS, Tito

(b 14 June '55, Humacao, Puerto Rico) Salsa romántica singer, bandleader, composer, producer. Played guitar and sang in high school group; studied drama; made record debut singing lead vocals on Mima La Pululera '74 on Mavi by Humacao-born conguero/leader/producer Pedro Conga's Orquesta Internacional (founded '73); sang coro (chorus) vocals on LPs Distinto y Diferente '77 and Presencia! '78 on Fania by Justo Betancourt's Conjunto Borincuba; Justo handed lead vocals over to Rojas on Borincuba's final album Con Amor '78 on Libra, which Justo co-ordinated, conducted and sang coro on. Made solo debut with eponymous LP '80 on Rana accompanied by Conjunto Borincano, followed by another eponymous LP '82 on Rana featuring Tito Gómez (alumnus of Sonora Ponce¤a, La Terrifica, Ray Barretto, Tito Valentín, La Amistad, Rubby Haddock and Grupo Niche) singing coro and playing g]auu[iro and maracas; switched to TR for Todo Ha Cambiado '84 made in NYC incl. two tracks written by Axel Martínez (Pedro Conga's lead vocalist at the time); made swinging El Campesino '84 on Bernis with four trombone conjunto of tres guitar player/arr. Pablito Paredes, Martínez wrote title track and two other cuts. Became co-lead vocalist of established band Puerto Rican Power led by trumpeter/prod. Luisito Ayala (b Humacao; led Combo Tropicana at age 15, played with Lito Pe¤a's Orquesta Panamericana at 17, also performed with Willie Rosario; became mus. dir. of Puerto Rican Power '78); Rojas sang on their LPs Puerto Rican Power Orchestra -- Canta: Tito Rojas '87 (incl. two Martínez compositions) and Orquesta Puerto Rican Power '88 for Tony Moreno's Musical Productions (MP). Remaining with MP, Rojas resumed his solo career with a series of smash hit salsa romántica albums produced by the label's staff producer Julio 'Gunda' Merced: Sensual '90, Tito Rojas '92 (top five hit in Billboard tropical/salsa chart), A Mi Estilo '93 (Billboard tropical/salsa top ten), Por Derecho Propio '95, Humildemente '96 (dedicated to mus. dir., first trombonist and friend Sammy Torres, who had died). He won salsa awards as leader '94 and singer '95. Participated in album MP All Stars '92; sang in duo with Tito Gómez on hits 'Dejala' and 'Dejala (2nd parte)' (written by Mimi Ibarra) from Gómez's solo albums Un Nuevo Horizonte '91 and Recogiendo Frutos '95 respectively, both on MP; guested on Roberto Roena's hit album El Pueblo Pide Que Toque '94 on MP. Sang duet 'Duele' with prolific songwriter Ibarra (b Chocó, Colombia) on her second album Compositora, Cantante, Mujer '97 on MP; Mimi's hit songs also incl. 'Se¤ora' (from Tito Rojas '92)