Xavier Cugat
Remembered for his highly commercial approach to pop music, Xavier Cugat (born Francisco de Asis Javier Cugat Mingall de Cru y Deulofeo) made an even greater mark as one of the pioneers of Latin American dance music. During his eight-decade-long career, Cugat helped to popularize the tango, the cha-cha, the mambo, and the rhumba. His hits included "El Manicero" in the 1930s, "Perfidia" in 1940, and the original recording of "Babalu" in 1944. Members of Cugat's band included Desi Arnaz, Miguelito Valdés, Tito Rodriguez, Luis del Campo, Yma Sumac, and his third wife (of four), Abbe Lane. Cugat used the success of his musical career as a springboard for a movie career that included appearances in such films as Gay Madrid (1930), You Were Never Lovelier (1942), Bathing Beauty (1945), Weekend at the Waldorf (1945), Holiday in Mexico (1946), On an Island With You (1948), A Date With Judy (1948), Chicago Syndicate (1955), and Desire Diabolique (1959).
A native of Girona, Spain, Cugat emigrated with his family to Cuba in 1905. Trained as a classical violinist, he played with the Orchestra of the Teatro Nacional in Havana at the age of 12. Emigrating to the United States, sometime between 1915 and 1918, he quickly found work accompanying an opera singer. At the height of the tango craze, in 1918, Cugat joined a popular dance band, the Gigolos. His involvement with the group, however, was brief. As the popularity of the tango faded, he took a job as a cartoonist for The Los Angeles Times. Cugat returned to music in 1920, forming his own group, the Latin American Band. Although they played regularly at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles and supplied the soundtracks for several musical shorts, the group had its greatest success after moving to New York and became the house band for the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Despite being criticized for their middle-of-the-road approach, Cugat remained committed to his commercial-minded sound. He later explained, "I would rather play 'Chiquita Banana' and have my swimming pool than play Bach and starve." Cugat and his orchestra remained at the hotel for 16 years. Beautiful women were consistently featured in Cugat's band. After helping Rita Hayworth launch her career, he appeared in her film You Were Never Lovelier. Cugat's recordings of the 1950s featured the singing of his third wife, Abbe Lane. In the mid-'60s, he featured his fourth wife, Charo, who he billed as a "folksinger." Upon his retirement in 1970, Cugat returned to Spain. He died in Barcelona on October 27, 1990. His band, which was led by Tito Puente following his retirement, continued to perform under the direction of dancer, musician, and vocalist Ada Cavallo.
© Craig Harris /TiVo
Similar artists
-
The Romantic Sound Of Xavier Cugat
Pop - Released by Charly Records on Apr 14, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mambo At The Waldorf! (Remastered)
World - Released by RevOla on Aug 19, 2019
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Don't Forget Your Mother
Latin Jazz - Released by Your Mother on Apr 18, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
20 Canciones de Orquesta Vol. 2
Xavier Cugat, Orquesta Maravella
World - Released by Tres 14 Creativos on Jan 31, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
To All My Friends
Xavier Cugat, Xavier Cugat Orchestra
Dance - Released by Intersound on Oct 1, 2021
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra: "Mambo"
World - Released by Saar srl on Jul 17, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mama Inés (Remastered)
Latin America - Released by New World on Feb 27, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Xavier Cugat Today
Musical Theatre - Released by Bumerán Music on Feb 9, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cugat`S Favorites (Remasterizado)
World - Released by World Music Records on Sep 1, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Rumba Rumbero
Latin America - Released by Vintage Music on Feb 10, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
On the Dance Floor
Latin America - Released by On the Floor on Feb 14, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Duelo Musical
Latin America - Released by Discos Cada on Feb 14, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Corazón Latino (Remastered)
Latin America - Released by Universal Digital Enterprises on Oct 26, 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Society Girl
World - Released by society girl on Apr 22, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In the Early Morning
Latin America - Released by Early Morning on Aug 26, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Wonder If She's Waiting
Latin Jazz - Released by shes waiting on Apr 26, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Spain, In Latin Rhythm
Latin America - Released by Imex Media on Jan 27, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tico Tico
Blue Barron, Xavier Cugat, Ina Ray Hutton
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on Oct 1, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -