OLDIES SUNDAY: Tito Puente – Oye Cómo Va (1962)

We’re celebrating “Hispanic Heritage Month” on Oldies Sunday. Hispanic Americans made significant contributions from entertainment, to sports, to pop culture, and we have highlighted a number of them. Today’s feature comes from Puerto Rican-American Musician Tito Puente with the track, “Oye Cómo Va“.

Composed by Tito Puente and released through Tico Records in 1962, “Oye Cómo Va” is a celebration of rhythm, as it features very little vocals. Carried by horn, percussion, piano, flutes, and string arrangements, the Cha-Cha-Chá track encouraged dancing, and plenty was done when this was released. The track was inspired by Cuban Composer Cachao’s Mambo track “Chanchullo” from 1957, and listeners could hear the similarities in the arrangement. “Oye Cómo Va” was featured on Puente’s 1962 album, “El Rey: Bravo“, and success for the track came soon after as it was covered by American Rock Band Santana (lead by Mexican-American Musician Carlos Santana) in 1971 to high chart placements, and a place in the Latin Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2001, and the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2002. The track was also covered by Joe Cuba, Julio Iglesias, Celia Cruz, Kinky, Natalie Cole, and Chisato Moritaka.

Since the release of “Oye Cómo Va”, Tito Puente went on the enjoy a decades-long music career, dabbled in making TV appearances, collected awards and accolades, and shared his music with the world stage until his passing in 2000. “Oye Cómo Va” remains one of his most recognizable compositions, and a representation of the interconnectedness, transnationality, and hybridity of Latin Music in the US.

Check out the track below, and share with a friend. Show us some love/follow us on Twitter, TikTok, Threads, and Instagram at @13thStreetPromo.