TWO MUSIC LEGENDS DIE

Tito Puente, the Latin music bandleader and percussionist, died Wednesday night at New York University Hospital after undergoing heart surgery. He was 77.

"I can tell you that it's just a sad day, a sad day for the Latin music industry," said Eddie Rodriguez, Puente's manager. "Tito was known all over the world."

In February, Puente won his fifth Grammy for best traditional tropical Latin performance for "Mambo Birdland."

Puente recorded more than 100 albums in his 60-year career and was instrumental in defining Latin jazz. He continued to perform live in recent years, often fronting his band while playing the timbales, single-headed drums mounted on stands and played with sticks.

In addition, the world mourns the loss of R&B great Johnnie Taylor, who died as the result of a massive heart attack. Over the past 25 years, Taylor has been one of the most versatile and durable recording artists of the era. His career spanned such musical genres as gospel, pop, blues, R & B, doo-wop, Memphis soul, and disco. Taylor was born in Crawfordsville, Arkansas, May 5, 1938.