Tite Curet Alonso Tite Curet Alonso (February 26, 1926 – August 5, 2003) was a Puerto Rican composer of over 2,000 salsa songs. Early years Curet Alonso (birth name: Catalino Curet Alonso) was born in Guayama, a town located in the southern region of Puerto Rico. Curet Alonso’s mother was a seamtress and his father a Spanish language teacher and musician who played in the band of Simon Madera. He was two years old in 1928, when his parents divorced and together with his mother and sister moved to Barrio Obrero, located in the Santurce section of San Juan with his grandmother. His daily live experiences while living in Barrio Obrero greatly influenced his work as a composer. There he was raised by his grandmother and received his primary and secondary education. In 1941, when he was 15 years old, he wrote his first song. Among his childhood friends were Rafael Cortijo, Ismael Rivera and Daniel Santos. Career as a song composer After he graduated from high school, he enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico where he studied journalism and sociology. He worked for the United States Postal Service, a job which he held for more than twenty years. All the while he continued to compose songs. In 1960, he moved to New York City and worked for the newspaper “Diario/La Prensa” as a sports columnist. In 1965, Curet Alonso met salsa singer Joe Quijano who recorded Alonso’s Efectivamente which became a hit. Curet Alonso developed a unique style of his own which is known as “salsa with a conscience”. He wrote songs about social and romantic themes which told about the situation of the poor Afro-Puerto Ricans and the hardships that they faced. He also focused many of his songs on what he called the beauty of the black Caribbeans. Throughout his life, Curet Alonso composed over two thousand songs. Arguably, about 200 of these were hit songs, and about 50 of these were major salsa hits. Some of the people who have intrepeted his songs are: Joe Quijano, Iris Chacón, Wilkins, Cheo Feliciano, Celia Cruz, La Lupe, Willie Colón, Tito Rodríguez, Olga Guillot, Mon Rivera, Héctor Lavoe, Ray Barretto, Tony Croatto, Rubén Blades, Tito Puente, Ismael Miranda, Roberto Roena, Bobby Valentín, Marvin Santiago, Willie Rosario, Chucho Avellanet, Andy Montañez, Rafael Cortijo, Tommy Olivencia and Frankie Ruiz. His song Las Caras Lindas (De Mi Gente Negra) (The Beautiful Faces (Of My Black People) recorded by Ismael Rivera, is considered by many in Puerto Rico as a classic. Later years Curet Alonso married and had a daughter and son. The marriage didn’t last long and he and his wife separated. Despite the fact that the songs he wrote sold millions of records, his royalties were minimal. According to his family, Curet Alonso was tricked into signing contracts which favored the recording studios and the publishing company “ACEMLA”, and not him. Videos: Credits Year Album Artist 2013 12 Favoritas Andy Montañez Composer Antología: 2013 Composer Somos La Salsa 2013 Salsa Giants Composer Canciones de Gilberto 2012 Composer Amor Santa Rosa Desde Nueva Eddie 2012 York a Puerto Composer Montalvo Rico Year Album Artist Mi Generacion: Los Clasicos’ 2012 Solista Pero No Frankie Ruiz Composer Solo/Voy Pa? Encima 2012 Retro Marlow Rosado Composer Alma Adentro: 2011 The Puerto Miguel Zenón Composer Rican Songbook ¡Sonó, Tite Curet Primary 2011 Sonó…Tite Alonso Artist Curet! Homenaje a Los 2010 Edwin Bonilla Composer Rumberos Los 12 Clásicos 2010 Composer De La Salsa Oro Salsero, 2010 Frankie Ruiz Composer Vol. 1 The Rough Guide 2010 Composer To Salsa Divas The Rough Guide 2010 to World Music Composer for Children A Man and His Composer, Tite Curet 2009 Songs: Alma de Primary Alonso Poeta Artist 2009 Dance the World Composer Tributo a La Salsa Alberto 2009 Composer Colombiana, Barros Vol. 2 Year Album Artist 15 Grandes Nacho 2008 Exitos Composer Sanabria Originales Bobby 2008 35 Aniversario Composer Valentín Primary 2008 Absolute Salsa Mandingo Artist El Papa de la 2008 Frankie Ruiz Composer Salsa La Japonesa 2008 Yoko Composer Salsera 2008 La Mala Lena Composer Pure Salsa 2008 Composer [Universal] Saxo Salsero: 2008 Los Exitos de Saxo Salsero Composer Ruben Blades The Greatest Marvin 2008 Composer Salsa Ever Santiago The Greatest Willie 2008 Composer Salsa Ever Rosario The Greatest Tommy 2008 Composer Salsa Ever Olivencia The Greatest 2008 Andy Montañez Composer Salsa Ever The Greatest 2008 Frankie Ruiz Composer Salsa Ever The Greatest Ismael 2008 Composer Salsa Ever Miranda 2007 (R)evolucion Jose Conde Composer Year Album Artist 15 Salsas 2007 Pegaditas de Composer Los 70 20TH Century Masters: Best 2007 Composer of Salsa, Vol. 2 2007 En Lo Claro Voltio Composer Grandes Julio 2007 Composer Maestros Jaramillo Bobby 2007 La Herencia Composer Valentín Composer, 2007 MP All Stars MP All Stars Primary Artist Pure Salsa: 2007 Recuento Composer Musical Reventon 2007 Poderoso en 3 Composer CDs Rough Guide to 2007 Salsa: Second Composer Edition Salsas 2007 Poderosas en 3 Composer CDs The Greatest 2007 Salsa Ever, Composer Vol. 3 Viva Puerto Michael 2007 Composer Rico en Bachata Stevan Year Album Artist 40 Aniversario Tommy 2006 Composer [Machete] Olivencia Beginner’s 2006 Guide to Salsa, Composer Vol. 2 2006 Gold Frankie Ruiz Composer Grandes Exitos 2006 Andy Montañez Composer [Universal] Las Preciosas 2006 de Siempre, Composer Vol. 4 Lo Mejor de 2006 Composer Pura Salsa 2006 Pura Salsa Frankie Ruiz Composer 2006 Pura Salsa Andy Montañez Composer Willie 2006 Pura Salsa Composer Rosario Marvin 2006 Pura Salsa Composer Santiago Recordar Es 2006 Composer Vivir [Lideres] 2006 Rumba Callejera Luis Centeno Composer The Greatest 2006 Salsa Ever, Composer Vol. 1 The Greatest 2006 Salsa Ever, Composer Vol. 2 V.I.P. Los 2006 Clasicos de La Composer Salsa Year Album Artist A Flor de 2005 Jaramar Composer Tierra Domingo 2005 El Mas Buscado Composer Quiñones Old School Original Salsa 2005 Composer Classics Deluxe Box Old School Salsa Classics, 2005 Composer Vol. 5: 8th Street Edition 2005 Salsahits 2006 Composer Raul 2005 Soy la Mulata Composer Gutierrez Tributo a los Michael 2005 Grandes de Composer Stevan Puerto Rico 30 Salsas Pegaditas: Lo 2004 Composer Nuevo y Mejor 2010 Coleccion de 2004 Andy Montañez Composer Oro Fuerza Gigante: Live in Puerto 2004 Ray Barretto Composer Rico April 27, 2001 Las 32 Mas 2004 Frankie Ruiz Composer Grandes De… Year Album Artist Las 32 Mas 2004 Grandes de Andy Andy Montañez Composer Montanez Putumayo Presents: Women 2004 Composer of Latin America Reventon, Vol. 2004 Composer 2: 30 Pegaditas 2004 Salsa Heat! Composer Salsa Night 2004 Composer Live Stars of Hard 2004 Composer Salsa: Chévere! Va Por Ti, 2004 Composer Frankie! Marvin 2004 Éxitos Eternos Composer Santiago Beginner’s 2003 Composer Guide to Salsa 2003 El Abayarde Tego Calderón Composer Lo Mejor de Oro 2003 Composer Salsero, Vol. 1 Lost Classics 2003 of Salsa, Vol. Composer 1 2003 Mucho Corazon Martirio Composer Reina Que No 2003 Murio Por Composer Siempre Celia Year Album Artist Tributo a 2003 Jerry Rivera Composer Frankie Ruiz Voces del 2003 Milenio: Salsa, Composer Vol. 2 2003 Éxitos Eternos Frankie Ruiz Composer 40 Aniversario Tommy 2002 [Sony Composer Olivencia International] 2002 Edicionlimitada Frankie Ruiz Composer Cheo 2002 En La Intimidad Composer Feliciano Homenaje a los 2002 3 Son Salsa Composer Grandes Lo Mejor De… 2002 Composer [Box Set] Mondo Latino 2002 Composer [Ark 21] Old School Original Salsa 2002 Composer Classics, Vol. 2 Pon a Bailar Tu 2002 Composer Lechon Los Soneros 2002 Remembranzas Composer del Barrio The Very Best 2002 of Latin Composer America Barreto 50th 2001 Ray Barretto Composer Anniversary Year Album Artist William Cepeda & 2001 Branching Out Composer Afrorican Jazz Bravos de la 2001 Composer Salsa Live! 15 2001 Yolanda Duke Composer Greatest Hits 2001 Quinceanera Giro Composer Gilberto 2001 Romántico Composer Santa Rosa 2001 Serie 32 Andy Montañez Composer 2001 Serie 32 Frankie Ruiz Composer Soneros de 2001 Composer Acero Sonora 2001 Marancera, Vol. Composer 1 Tarjeta de 2001 Composer Navidad [2001] Tributo a Tite 2001 Curet: Salsa de Composer Barrio Batucada Por 2000 Batucada Vocals Favor Brasil 500: 2000 From Carnival Composer to Copacabana 2000 Cubismo Cubismo Composer Year Album Artist Discover the 2000 Rhythms of Composer Salsa Dura Yolandita 2000 En Vivo Composer Monge Hard Salsa 2000 Dura: Fuentes Composer Salsa All Stars Millonarios de 2000 Andy Montañez Composer la Salsa Musical a 2000 Son Boricua Composer Cortijo- Rivera 2000 Pagina Leida Eddy Carr Composer 2000 Salsa Fiesta! Composer Salsa Live, 2000 Frankie Ruiz Composer Vol. 1 2000 Salsa Urbana Luis Alberto Composer Serie Sensacional: La Willie 2000 Composer Sensación de Rosario Willie Rosario 14 Canonazos 1999 Composer Bailables 2000 1999 Andy Montañez Andy Montañez Composer Assential: The 1999 Very Best of Airto Moreira Composer Airto Moreira Colon, Croatto 1999 Tres Grandes Composer y Zayas Year Album Artist José “El 1999 Herido Canario” Composer Alberto 1999 Leyenda Frankie Ruiz Composer Quien Mato a Domingo 1999 Composer Hector Lavoe? Quiñones Salsa en 1999 Composer Matinee, Vol. 2 Serie Tommy 1999 Composer Millennium 21 Olivencia Serie 1999 Andy Montañez Composer Millennium 21 Serie Lalo 1999 Composer Millennium 21 Rodríguez Su Estilo y Su 1999 Cortijo Composer Ritmo Tributo a 1999 Héctor Lavoe Los Titanes Composer “La Voz” Rafael de 1999 Twice as Good Composer Jesus Bachata a Media 1998 Fausto Rey Composer Voz Latin America: Conexion Primary 1998 Baila Mi Ritmo, Latina Artist Vol. 7 Lo Maximo de la 1998 Salsa: Descarga Composer Pa’ Bailar Lo Mejor de Oro 1998 Composer Salsero Year Album Artist Lo Mejor: The 1998 Best of Soledad Soledad Bravo Composer Bravo Nacimiento Y 1998 Frankie Ruiz Composer Recuerdos Oro Salsero 10 Tommy 1998 Composer Exitos, Vol.