top of page
Search
Writer's pictureanfijpn

Tite Curet Alonso tribute on Encanto Tropical

[Pre-show post]

Episode 41 will be a tribute to the prolific songwriter Catalino 'Tite' Curet Alonso of Puerto Rico. He composed more than 2000 songs. A list of nearly 600 notable compositions is here.



Encanto Tropical 41

I spotlight two dozen of his salsa compositions with some context and translation. This includes a few 'cover versions', or interpretations by artists other than those who made original recordings, and also two songs sung by himself.


Tite Curet Alonso

​This is another episode where simple but rewarding research is part of my preparation. As a basic introduction to this important composer, listeners can discover the nature and genius of Tite Curet Alonso from a selection of songs played by a range of singers/musicians, such as Cheo Feliciano, Rafael Cortijo, Ismael Rivera, Willie Colon, and the Lebron Brothers --among others.


The song selection aims to deliver a balance between certain salsa 'anthems' and lesser-known material.



Background

I first thought about doing a show on Tite Curet Alonso while reading the book Salsa Consciente, where his significance as an influential songwriter in the world of salsa was poignantly explained. A related podcast featuring an interview with the book's author, Andrés Espinoza Agurto, highlighted this point while stressing the humanitarian or socially-aware nature of his song compositions.


From the start of my budding interest in salsa music as a collector, I regularly spotted the name "Tite Curet Alonso" in the credits on CDs or records. (Some examples of songs that I like are 'Primoroso Cantar', 'Sali Porque Sali', 'El Solitario', and 'Con los Pobres Estoy'). However, I was not aware of his truly prolific nature nor of his contribution to a Latino identity until I read Salsa Consciente. Also inspiring was watching a video in which Ruben Blades talks about Tite Curet Alonso (see below).




------


Further INFORMATION

ONLINE


MSU Press Podcast:


New York Latin Culture Magazine:


PR Sun Communications:


JazzDeLaPlena:


Wikipedia:



BOOKS


Andrés Espinoza Agurto (Michigan State University Press, 2021):


 


Encanto Tropical Episdoe 41 - Tite Curet Alonso Tribute

 



 

NEXT BROADCAST


 Then the Millennium

Episode 46

Read the episode description


Dec 12 Thu 2024

Japan 22:00~

5am PT | 8am ET | 1pm UK | 14.00 CE

ENCANTO TROPICAL

Top | About | Archive | Replay | Charts


Listen on

WorldSalsaRadio.com

How to listen to the live broadcast


Blog Lists
EVENTS  |  MISC  |  MIXES & CLIPS  |  MUSIC
RADIO: [ All ]  [ Only Episode Highlights ]

bottom of page