18 Facts About Tito Lara

Tito Lara was considered by many to be Puerto Rico's first television singing idol.

Tito Lara was raised by his maternal grandmother and received primary education in Santurce.

In 1946, Tito Lara enrolled at the Free School of Music in San Juan, where he continued his guitar studies and learned to play the trumpet.

In 1949, Tito Lara formed a trio called Trio Los Lirios which became a regular guest on the WKAQ radio station.

Tito Lara enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico to study Liberal Arts and joined the university's choir.

In 1950, the owner of Mardi Records heard and was impressed by Tito Lara's singing and asked him to form a quartet including a female voice.

Tito Lara did so, was signed by Mardi Records and dropped out of college in 1953 to travel with the quartet to New York City.

Tito Lara went solo in 1953 and scored a hit with a recording of the bolero Sollozo, which he followed up with Orquideas, a Spanish version of Orchids in the Moonlight by Vincent Youmans.

Tito Lara returned to New York and performed at the Paramount Theater where Myrta Silva introduced him as "El Pollo que Canta".

In 1955, Tito Lara joined one of Puerto Rico's renowned quartets Los Hispanos and made his television debut with them and singers, Ida Claudio, and Sonia Noemi on "El Show Ford", broadcast by Telemundo, the television station owned and operated by Angel Ramos.

Tito Lara enrolled in the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico and in 1970 earned his bachelor's degree, specializing in trumpet-playing.

Tito Lara formed a duo with Maria Esther Ortiz called Los Dos and founded the Allegro 72 group, which, among others, included Luis Antonio Cosme.

Tito Lara performed with Allegro 72 at Carnegie Hall, New York, and at various television stations.

Tito Lara began to have problems with his health in 1978, suffering a stroke which was complicated by his diabetes.

In 1985, Lara participated in the Concierto de Navidad held at the "Luis A Ferre Center for the Performing Arts" in San Juan.

Tito Lara was married to Nilda Maria Canino from 1953 to his death.

In March 1987, Tito Lara suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized at the West Houston Medical Center in Houston, Texas.

Tito Lara died on June 23,1987, aged 54, and was laid to rest in Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery in Old San Juan.