On December 9, 2004, Junior High School 117 on East 109th Street in New York City was
renamed The Tito Puente Education Complex. My sister, Judy Cohen, who has taught there
for some years, told me what an extraordinary a school it is and how fitting that they
chose to name it after The King,
Tito Puente.
Tito was born just a block away on 110th Street and, wherever he traveled, he was always
proud to say he came from El Barrio.
Governor George E. Pataki, Congressman Charles Rangel, School Chancellor Joel I.
Klein, Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields, and Robert Sancho joined the
Puente family for this wonderful occasion to honor the most significant name ever in
Latin music. Also present were Dave Valentin, Jimmy Owens, and Joe Conzo, who joined
Joyce L. Duncan, principal of the school, in celebrating this event.
Before closing the outdoor ceremony Sharon Heller conducted the student choir in the
song she wrote, "Beat of the Drum." After the outdoor ceremony, percussion
and dance workshops were provided in classrooms by Eddie Torres and his wife Maria, and
Bobby Sanabria,
accompanied by Ron Puente. During the Sanabria clinic, my wife Vivianne was invited to
join the dance portion of the workshop, which she did with grace.
Vivianne and I were greatly honored to join the Puente family for a special luncheon
with some students in the school library.
To see exclusive photos from this event, please
click here.
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