List of awards and nominations received by Tito Puente
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tito Puente (1923-2000), was an American musician, bandleader and record producer. His music career spanned over five decades, in which he received numerous awards and recognitions, and posthumously as well. According to Billboard, Puente was recognised with various honorific nicknames, from "King of Latin Music" to "King of the Timbales".[1]
Award
Wins
Award
Wins
Wins82
Nominations100
Tito Puente at the Kennedy Center in 1996 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Totals[a] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wins | 82 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nominations | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note
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Puente's awards include six Grammy Awards from twelve nominations in competitive categories, two Latin Grammys, three Billboard Latin Music Awards (including a honorific recognition), various Latin ACE by the Association of Latin Entertainment Critics, as well he was a regular winner of the Critics and Readers Polls by major publications, including DownBeat.
His career and contributions to music industry was recognized with various lifetime achievement awards,[2] among them, from the Billboard Latin Music Awards in 1995, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. He also received honors outside of the music industry, including a National Medal of Arts from the United States Congress (1997), the Library of Congress Living Legend (2000), as well various honorary degrees from some colleges and keys to the city. Puente was admitted into multiple halls and walks of fames, including Hollywood Walk of Fame (1990), International Latin Music Hall of Fame (1999), Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame (2016), and the DownBeat Hall of Fame by Veterans Committee in 2025. He was crowned Grand Marshal in differents Puerto Rican Day Parade.
Awards and nominations
| Award/organization[a] | Year | Nominee/work | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Association of Independent Music (NAIRD Indie Awards) |
1989 | Salsa Meets Jazz | Latin Record of the Year | Nominated | [3] |
| 1991 | "Goza mi Timbal" | Won | [4] | ||
| 1992 | "Out of this World" | Won | [5] | ||
| 1993 | Mambo of the Times | Won | [6] | ||
| 1994 | "Royal, T" | Won | [7] | ||
| 1995 | "Master Timbalero" | Nominated | [8] | ||
| American World Music Awards (AWMA) | 2001 | Tito Puente | Lifetime Achiviement Award | Honoree | [9] |
| ASCAP Latin Awards | 1994 | Tito Puente | Founders Award | Honoree | [10] |
| Asociación de Hispanos (Nosotros) | 1991 | Tito Puente | Golden Eagle: Lifetime Achievement in Music | Honoree | [11] |
| Association of Latin Entertainment Critics (Latin ACE, New York) | 1970 | Tito Puente | Orchestra of the Year | Won | [12] |
| 1979 | Homenaje a Benny | Salsa Album of the Year | Nominated | [13] | |
| 1981 | Tito Puente | Orchestra of the Year | Won | [14] | |
| 1995 | In Session | Best Latin Jazz Album | Won | [15] | |
| 1998 | Tito Puente | Outstanding Professional Achievements | Honoree | [16] | |
| 2001 | Tito Puente with Eddie Palmieri | Most Outstanding International Orchestra | Nominated | [17] | |
| Billboard Latin Music Awards | 1995 | Tito Puente | Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award | Honoree | [18] |
| 1997 | "Oye Cómo Va" | Best Tropical/Salsa Video of the Year | Won | [19] | |
| Jazzin (La India and Count Basie Orchestra) | Contemporary Latin Jazz Album of the Year | Won | |||
| 2001 | Obra Maestra (with Eddie Palmieri) | Tropical/Salsa Album of the Year, Male | Nominated | [20] | |
| Billboard Number One Awards (Year-End Awards) |
1977 | Tito Puente (La Leyenda) | Latin National Salsa | Nominated | [21] |
| 1979 | Homenaje a Benny, Tico | Top Latin Salsa Album | Nominated | [22] | |
| 1986 | Tito Puente and Celia Cruz | Top Tropical/Salsa Artist | Nominated | [23] | |
| Homenaje a Benny More, Vol. 3 (with Celia Cruz) | Top Tropical/Salsa Album | Nominated | |||
| Billboard Video Music Awards | 2000 | "Mambo Birdland" | Best Clip of the Year | Nominated | [24] |
| Black Musicians' Conference | 1985 | Tito Puente | Distinguished Achievement Awards | Honoree | [25] |
| Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center | 1989 | Tito Puente | Distinguished Services Award | Honoree | [26] |
| Caribbean Music Awards | 1992 | Tito Puente | Lifetime Achievement Award | Honoree | [27] |
| Casandra Awards (a.k.a. Soberano Awards) | 1996 | Tito Puente | Soberano International | Honoree | [28][29] |
| Casita Maria[b] | 1992 | Tito Puente | Gold Medal Award | Honoree | [31] |
| DownBeat Critics' Poll Awards | 1987 | Tito Puente | Top Percussionist / Percussion Artist of the Year | Won | [32] |
| 1989 | Won | [33] | |||
| 1992 | Won | [34] | |||
| 1996 | Won | [35] | |||
| 1997 | Won | [35] | |||
| Front Page Music Awards (New York Daily News)[c] |
1978 | Tito Puente | Best Latin Group | Won | [39] |
| Best Instrumental Group | Won | [40] | |||
| 1980 | Best Orchestra | Won | [41] | ||
| Globo Awards (New York)[d] | 1999 | Tito Puente | Music Career Award | Honoree | [42] |
| Grammy Awards | 1978 | La Leyenda | Best Latin Recording | Nominated | [43] |
| 1979 | Homenaje a Beny More | Won | |||
| 1981 | Dancemania '80 | Nominated | |||
| 1984 | On Broadway | Best Tropical Latin Performance | Won | ||
| 1986 | Mambo Diablo | Won | |||
| 1987 | Homenaje A Beny More - Vol. III | Nominated | |||
| 1991 | Lambada Timbales | Won | |||
| Tito Puente Presents Millie P. | Nominated | ||||
| 1992 | The Mambo King 100th LP | Nominated | |||
| 1999 | Live At Birdland - Dancemania '99 | Nominated | |||
| 2000 | Mambo Birdland | Best Traditional Tropical Latin Performance | Won | ||
| 2001 | Masterpiece/Obra Maestra (with Eddie Palmieri) | Best Salsa Album | Won | ||
| 2003 | Tito Puente | Lifetime Achievement Award | Honoree | [44] | |
| Hispanic Heritage Foundation | 1994 | Tito Puente | Hispanic Heritage Awards: Art Category | Honoree | [45] |
| Latin Achievement Awards[e] | 1973 | Tito Puente | Best Orchestra | Won | [46][47] |
| Best Musician | Won | ||||
| Best Band Under Eight Pieces | Won | ||||
| Latin Grammy Awards | 2000 | Mambo Birdland | Best Traditional Tropical Album | Won | [48] |
| 2001 | Obra Maestra (with Eddie Palmieri) | Best Salsa Album | Won | ||
| Latin N.Y. Magazine Awards[f] | 1975 | Tito Puente | Best All-Star Band — Timbales | Won | [50][51] |
| Arranger of the Year | Won (Tie) | ||||
| 1979 | Best Musician of the Year | Won | [52] | ||
| Homenaje a Beny More | Best Timbales of the Year | Won | |||
| "Yiri-Yiri Bon" | Arranger of the Year | Won | |||
| "Que Bueno Baila Usted" | Nominated | ||||
| Latin Jazz USA | 1990 | Tito Puente | Special Condecoration |
Honoree |
[53] |
| NCLR Bravo Awards | 1996 | 26th Olympiad: Closing Ceremonies | Outstanding Male Performance in Variety or Musical Special | Nominated | [54] |
| Onda Nueva Festival | 1971 | Tito Puente | Arranger | 8th place | [55] |
| Record World (New York and Puerto Rico Awards) |
1972 | Tito Puente | Top Orchestra Director of the Year | Won | [56] |
| 1974 | Won | [57] | |||
| Record World (International Latin Awards) |
1971 | Tito Puente | Top Impact Latin Composers in the American and European Markets | 2nd place | [58] |
| The Recording Academy | 1989 | Tito Puente | Eubie Award | Honoree | [59] |
| 2001 | Heroes Award | Honoree | [60] | ||
| Yupi / Hispanic Federation | 2000 | Tito Puente | Pride Award | Honoree | [61][62] |
Other honors
| Country | Gov./Entity | Year | Description | Status | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Mayor John Lindsay | 1969 | Keys to the City, New York City | Honoree | [64] |
| Smithsonian Institution | 1990 | James Smithson Bicentennial Medal | Honoree | [65] | |
| 1993 | Medal of Honor | Honoree | [27] | ||
| Senate of Puerto Rico | 1996 | Special Condecoration | Honoree | [66] | |
| United States Congress (National Endowment for the Arts) |
1997 | National Medal of Arts | Honoree | [67] | |
| Governor of New York (George Pataki) | 1998 | Governor's Art Awards | Honoree | [68] | |
| Library of Congress | 2000 | Living Legend Award | Honoree | [69] | |
| Ald. Gilbert Villegas | 2024 | Heroes and Heritage Award | Honoree | [70] |
| Walk of Fame | Year | Description | Status | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood Walk of Fame | 1990 | Walk of Star | Inducted | [71] |
| International Jazz Hall of Fame | 1997 | Hall of Fame inductee | Inducted | [62][72] |
| Latin Jazz Hall of Fame[g] | 1999 | Hall of Fame inductee | Inducted | [73] |
| International Latin Music Hall of Fame | 1999 | Hall of Fame inductee | Inducted | [74] |
| Percussive Arts Society (PAS) Hall of Fame | 2001 | Hall of Fame inductee | Inducted | [75][76] |
| Grammy Hall of Fame | 2002 | "Oye Cómo Va" inductee | Inducted | [77] |
| Ritmo Latino | 2003 | Handprints Hall of Fame | Inducted | [63] |
| Union City Walk of Fame (New Jersey) | 2006 | Walk of Fame | Inducted | [78] |
| Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame | 2016 | Hall of Fame inductee | Inducted | [79] |
| "Oye Cómo Va" honored as Canción de todos los Tiempos | Honoree | |||
| The Nesuhi Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame | 2017 | Hall of Fame inductee | Inducted | [80] |
| East Coast Music Hall of Fame | 2019 | Latin Music Legend Award | Won | [81] |
| DownBeat (Veterans Committee) Hall of Fame | 2025 | Hall of Fame inductee | Inducted | [82] |
| Year | Description | Status | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Honorary Doctorate from SUNY at Old Westbury | Honoree | [35] |
| 1989 | Honorary Doctorate in Music from Berklee College of Music | Honoree | [83] |
| 1992 | Honorary Doctor of Music from Hunter College | Honoree | [84] |
| 1994 | Honorary Doctorate from Long Island University | Honoree | [35] |
| 1999 | Honorary Doctor of Music from Columbia University | Honoree | [85] |
| 2000 | Chubb Fellowship honor | Honoree | [86] |
| Year | Description | Status | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Grand Marshal at Puerto Rican Day Parade | Honoree | [27] |
| 1987 | Honoree | [87] | |
| 1999 | Honoree | [88] |
Notes
- A Puerto Rican settlement house[30]
- An award created by Richard Bonilla, either cited as Latin Achievement Awards or Latin Night Awards by publications such as Record World and Billboard.[46][47]