Xavier Cugat
Xavier Cugat, actually: Francesc d' Asís Xavier Cugat de Bru i Deulofeu Mingall (Spanish Francisco de Asís Javier Cugat Mingall de Bru y Deulofeu ), ( born January 1, 1900 in Girona, Catalonia, † October 27, 1990 in Barcelona) was an important Spanish (Catalan ) composer, cartoonist, singer, arranger and orchestra leader.
Life and work
Cugat was only a few minutes after midnight on January 1, 1900 in the "20 Century " born. This was held in his home country of Spain for so remarkable that his father, who was a political prisoner at the time, was pardoned and his brothers were exempted from military service.
At the age of three years Cugat emigrated with his family to Havana, Cuba, where he soon came into contact with music. As a teenager he learned violin and played at the Teatro Nacional in Havana and later accompanied Enrico Caruso during a tour. Between 1915 and 1918, played Cugat in New York in a tango orchestra, "The Gigolos ". From there, he later moved to Los Angeles, where he first worked as a cartoonist during the day for the Los Angeles Times. His drawings were distributed by the company King Features. In the evening, however, he struggled to find members of his own band.
After a few years in smaller clubs in the area of Los Angeles Cugat succeeded in 1928, the breakthrough with a commitment in the famous Cocoanut Grove nightclub. His Latin American music style brought him into the U.S. in the 1930s and 1940s the nickname " The Rumba King" one.
After the clay is in the movies found its way in the late 1920s, Cugat met several times with his own orchestra in music films in Hollywood. He gave the actress Rita Hayworth one of her first appearances and joined himself with her in the film " You Were Never Lovelier " ( You Were Never Lovelier, 1942) on.
In New York Cugats was after the orchestra at the Waldorf -Astoria hotel opened practically the master of the house orchestra.
One of the greatest successes Cugats 1940 was the song Perfidia with the interpretation by Miguelito Valdés. This was followed by many congas, mambo, cha- cha-chas and later even also twist, as was fashionable. Among the best known interpretations Cugats include Brazil and Bahia (or " Baia " ) each of Ary Barroso, Siboney, Malagueña and Andalucía ( also known as " The Breeze and I" ) each of Ernesto Lecuona, tequila or El Cumbachero and many more Title.
Cugat was married five times, most recently from 1966 to 1978 with the singer Charo.
After a heart attack in 1971, Cugat withdrew from the music scene. In the address 1500 Vine Street Cugat got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Quote
- " I would rather play ' Chiquita Banana ' and have my swimming pool than play Bach and starve. " ( I'd rather play ' Chiquita Banana ' and have my own swimming pool play as Bach and starve. )