"Oye Como Va" is a classic Latin jazz and rock song written by the legendary Tito Puente. However, it's important to note that the most well-known version of the song is actually by Carlos Santana, who covered it with his band Santana in 1970.
Tito Puente, often referred to as the "King of Latin Music" or the "King of Mambo," was a highly influential and versatile musician. He was a virtuoso percussionist, bandleader, composer, and arranger. Puente played a crucial role in popularizing Latin music in the United States, particularly during the mambo and cha-cha-cha craze of the 1940s and 1950s.
"Oye Como Va" originally appeared on Tito Puente's 1963 album "El Rey Bravo," and it was a lively instrumental mambo. Santana's cover of the song introduced it to a broader audience and became one of Santana's signature tracks. The fusion of Puente's Afro-Cuban rhythms with Santana's rock style resulted in a groundbreaking and widely appreciated piece of music.
The title "Oye Como Va" translates to "Listen to How It Goes" in English, and the infectious rhythm and catchy melody have made it a timeless classic that continues to be celebrated in various musical genres.