Xavier Cugat
Wikimp3 information about the music of Xavier Cugat. On our website we have 70 albums and 2 collections of artist Xavier Cugat. You can find useful information and download songs of this artist. We also know that Xavier Cugat represents Latin genres.
Biography
[Edit]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.
Title: Miami Beach Rhumba (Remastered) - Single
Artist: Xavier Cugat
Genre: Jazz, Latin, Pop, Smooth Jazz
Title: Twenty Big Orchestras Songs Vol. 1
Artist: Xavier Cugat, Orquesta Maravella
Genre: World Music
Title: Tequila (Performed Live On The Ed Sullivan Show 7/17/60) - Single
Artist: Xavier Cugat
Genre: Pop
Title: The Legend Collection: Xavier Cugat
Artist: Xavier Cugat
Genre: Jazz, Latin, Instrumental, Lounge, Smooth Jazz
Title: Bésame Mucho (Remastered) - Single / Besame Mucho (Remastered) - Single
Artist: Xavier Cugat
Genre: Pop
Title: Bim Bam Bum (Remastered) - Single
Artist: Xavier Cugat, Tito Rodríguez / Tito Rodriguez
Genre: Jazz, Latin, Pop, Lounge, Smooth Jazz
Title: Cuban Love Song (Remastered) - Single
Artist: Xavier Cugat
Genre: Jazz, Latin, Pop, Lounge, Smooth Jazz
Collections
Title: Mejor Música Do Brasil / Mejor Musica Do Brasil
Genre: Bossanova
Featuring albums
Title: Bing: His Legendary Years 1931-1957 (Box Set)
Artist: Bing Crosby
Genre: Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Pop
Title: The Complete Recordings: The Columbia Years 1943-1952
Artist: Frank Sinatra
Genre: Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Pop, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: The Columbia Years (1943-1952): The Complete Recordings, Vol. 2
Artist: Frank Sinatra
Genre: Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Pop
Title: Woody Allen - Music from His Movies, Vol. 8
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Astérix: Le Domaine Des Dieux (Original Soundtrack)
Artist: Philippe Rombi
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: The Essential Merv Griffin - The Columbia Years
Artist: Merv Griffin
Genre: Jazz, Pop, Easy Listening