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WASHINGTON - Congressman Charles Rangel today hailed Congressional passage of his bill to name an East Harlem post office after the great Tito Puente.
The bill, designating the post office located at 167 East 124th Street in East Harlem as the Tito Puente Post Office Building, was sent to the White House for the President's signature on December 11th after being passed unanimously in the U.S. Senate last week. It was passed in the House of Representatives last September.
"Naming a post office after an artist who achieved the greatness of Tito Puente doesn't do enough to reflect the contributions he has made to our community and to our nation," Congressman Rangel said. "But it will be reminder to everyone who passes by, whether residents of the neighborhood or visitors from other countries, that Tito Puente lived here among us and nurtured his talents in this wonderful community which he called home."
One of the most influential Latin-jazz musicians of the 20th century, Tito Puente was a native of the Spanish Harlem (East Harlem) section of Congressman Rangel's district in Upper Manhattan. In a career of over 50 years, he won six Grammy Awards and popularized Latin music to generations of Americans of all backgrounds.
A combat veteran of WWII, Puente used the GI Bill to complete his formal studies at the Juiliard School of Music. He died in May 2,000 at the age of 77. Congressman Rangel introduced the bill honoring him in April 2005.
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