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Francisco de Asis Javier Cugat Mingall de Bru y Denlofeo's career was long and influential, touching every generation in the twentieth century. And why not? He was born on the first of January, 1900 in Gerona, Spain. He brought Latin music into the North American household via records, radio, milestone films (the first to incorporate sound), and television programs. His sixteen-year reign over New York's prestigious Waldorf-Astoria hotel was unprecedented and unduplicated.
Cugat received a boost from Enrico Caruso in Cuba, where the Cugats had moved and Caruso was performing. When old enough, the young violin prodigy headed for New York but failed at Carnegie. Moving to California, he developed a life-long hobby as a caricaturist, while Hollywood gradually changed his musical milieu (and he, its). A tentative offer from the Waldorf brought Cugat back to New York and launched his rise to international fame as "King of the Rumbas."
The Cugat recording legacy was much more than introducing the conga and rumba. He became the chief exponent of every Spanish-influenced music, from the mambo and cha cha cha to Spanish classical and tango, not to mention calypso and Brasilian rhythms. Throughout his career he championed the music of Ernesto Lecuona. Under the Cugat baton, countless stars were made and discovered: Desi Arnaz, Miguelito Valdes, Tito Rodríguez, Luis del Campo, and Yma Sumac. Even his wives were singers and co-performers, most notably the great Abbe Lane.
"Cugi's" music has long been dismissed as too commercial, but the generalization is unfair. Some of his Columbia records are exotic, Afro-Cuban splendors of the first order. And his Mercury and Decca albums are beautifully recorded, masterful productions. But the greatest of his achievements was cultivating a massive North American audience for authentic Latin music. "All Latin-American musicians owe a great debt to Xavier Cugat," said Perez Prado in 1951. Cugat deserves appreciation from all fans of Latin music. |
| Rating | |
| 5 | Rhumba with Cugat; Columbia CL-6005 |
| 6 | Cugat's Favorite Rumbas; Columbia CL-6021 |
| 5 | Conga with Cugat; Columbia CL-6036 |
| 6 | Xavier Cugat Dance Parade; Columbia CL-6077 |
| 4 | Tropical Bouquets; Columbia CL-6086; (c)1949 |
| 4 | Dance Date with Xavier Cugat; Columbia CL-6121; (c)1950 |
| 7 | Mambo at the Waldorf; Columbia CL-6213 |
| 5 | Tango with Cugat; Columbia CL-6234 |
| 6 | Samba with Cugat; Columbia CL-6236 |
| 5 | Mambo!; Columbia House Party CL-2506 |
| 8 | Here's Cugat; Philips/Mercury MG-25120 |
| 7 | The Great Latin American Rhythms of Xavier Cugat: Dance with Cugat; Philips/Mercury MG-25149 |
| 8 | Mambos by Cugat; Philips/Mercury MG-25168 |
| 6 | The King of Rhumba; Philips B-07673-R (Holland) |
| 8 | Meet Xavier Cugat (and Abbe Lane); Philips B-07681-R (Holland) |
| 7 | Music for Latin Lovers; Pye/Mercury MPT-7530 (England; in US on 12" LP Mambo!) |
| 6 | Xavier Cugat & his Orchestra: Rumbas; RCA Victor LPT-8 (My Shawl, The Lady in Red, Green Eyes, Siboney, Havana's Calling Me, Perdon, Estrellita, La Bomba |
| 5 | Xavier Cugat & his Orchestra: Tangos; RCA Victor LPT-11 |
| 7 | Xavier Cugat & his Orchestra: Dancetime with Cugat; RCA Victor LPM-3170 (with Abbe Lane, Juan Guerrero, Stuart Foster; Madalena, Say Si Si, Quizas Quizas, La Ultima Noche, Chivirico--mambo, You Too You Too?, Rocking the Mambo, Vola Colomba) |
| Rating | |
| 3 | Relaxing with Cugat (Quiet Music Vol.6); Columbia CL-515 |
| 7 | Dance with Cugat; Columbia CL-537 (w/Miguelito Valdez, Tito Rodriguez, Dinah Shore..) |
| 6 | Cugat's Favorite Rumbas; Columbia CL-579 (CL-6021 + 4; 2 w/Miguelito Valdes) |
| 4 | Tango Time (with Mark Weber Orchestra); Columbia CL-597 |
| 8 | Olé; Columbia CL-618 (w/Abbe Lane) |
| 5 | Cha Cha Cha--The New Latin American Dance Craze; Columbia CL-718 |
| 7 | Mambo at the Waldorf; Columbia CL-732 |
| 7 | Merengue by Cugat; Columbia CL-733 (w/Vitin Aviles) |
| 6 | Bread, Love, & Cha Cha Cha; Columbia CL-1016 |
| 6 | Latin Carnival; Columbia CB-2 (CL-36545; Columbia Record Club exclusive, limited-edition, "FREE BONUS" singles compilation) |
| 6 | Cugat Cavalcade; Columbia CL-1094/CS-8055 |
| 3 | Waltzes...but by Cugat; Columbia CS-8059 |
| 6 | The Dance Beat of Xavier Cugat; CBS/Harmony HL-7242 (compilation) |
| 6 | The Latin Rhythms of Xavier Cugat; CBS/Harmony HL-7271 (CL-50461; compilation) |
| 7 | Anyone Can Cha Cha (w/Joe Loco); CBS/Epic LN-3338 |
| 5 | The King Plays Some Aces; RCA Victor LSP-1882; 1958 |
| 4 | Cugat in Spain; RCA Victor LSP-1894; 1959 |
| 4 | Chile con Cugie; RCA Victor LSP-1987; 1959 |
| 4 | Cugat in France, Spain, & Italy; RCA Victor LSP-2173; 1960 |
| 6 | Latin Spice; RCA Victor CS-169 (compilation) |
| 5 | That Latin Beat!; RCA Camden CAL-323 (compilation) |
| 4 | Pure Gold; RCA ANL1-1310e; 1976 (compilation) |
| 7 | Cugat's Favorites; Mercury MG-20065; 1956? (reissues from 2 10" LPs; two jacket versions) |
| 7 | Mambo!/Music for Latin Lovers; Mercury MG-20108; 1957 |
| 5 | Most Popular Movie Themes; Mercury SR-60745; 1960 |
| 7 | Viva Cugat!; Mercury PPS-6003; 1961 |
| 8 | The Best of Cugat; Mercury PPS-6015; 1961 |
| 6 | Twist with Cugat; Mercury SR-60705; 1962 |
| 5 | Cugat's Golden Goodies; Mercury SR-60798; 1963 |
| 7 | Cugi's Cocktails; Mercury SR-60832; 1963 |
| 6 | Cugat Plays Continental Favorites; Mercury PPS-6021; (audiophile; standard release as Cugat Plays Continental Hits; Mercury SR-60872) |
| 6 | Cugat Caricatures; Mercury SR-60888; 1964 |
| 6 | Music of Ernesto Lecuona; Mercury SR-60936; 1964 |
| 6 | The Latin Soul of Xavier Cugat; Pickwick SPC-3095 (compilation of Mercury material) |
| 7 | Feeling Good!; Decca DL-74672 |
| 7 | Dance Party; Decca DL-74740 |
| 7 | Bang Bang; Decca DL-74799; 1966 |
| 6 | Xavier Cugat Today!; Decca DL-74851 |
| 5 | Xavier Cugat: Midnight Roses--The Quiet New Excitement of Xavier Cugat; MCA/Decca DL-75046 (bossa easy-listening) |
| 6 | Spanish Eyes; Decca/Vocalion VL-3910; 1970 (compilation) |
| The Beautiful New Sound of Strings; Musicor M2S-3179 (2-LP) |
| Latin Reflections; Musicor/MusicO MDS-1015 |
| The Pick of Xavier Cugat; 51West 16048 |
| 5 | To All My Friends; Vivatone (in Germany as Gema/Intersound ISST-106 and imported to UK by Decca; disco-samba best for the Cugat jacket art) |
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| 7 | Bing Crosby: El Bingo 10"; Decca DL-5001 |
| 8 | Abbe Lane (w/Sid Ramin): Where There's a Man; RCA Victor LSP-1899; 1959 ("Go to Sleep..") |
| 6 | Various: The Dancing Beat of the Latin Bands; RCA Victor LSP-2087; 1959 |
| 7 | Various: Fire Down Below--Music with a Calypso Beat; Mercury MG-20287 ("Ay-Round the Corner"; others: Sarah Vaughan, Rusty Draper, Georgia Gibbs, The Diamonds, David Carroll, Louis Jordan, Chuck Miller, Nick Noble, Richard Hayes, The Gaylords, Lola Lee) |
| 4 | Various: Hit Motion Picture Themes; Mercury SR-60810 |
| 8 | Various: Mambo Mucho Mambo; Columbia CL-626 (w/Machito & Belmonte) |
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| 7 | Xavier Cugat EP; Columbia B-1585 (Mambo Gordo, Mambo en Espana, La Cumparsita, Mambo Retozon) |
| 7 | Xavier Cugat Rumbas (Rumba with Cugat) EP; Columbia B-1668 (Tony's Wife--canta La Chata/Mama Inez/No Can Do--canta Leah Ray/Oye Negra) |
| 8 | Xavier Cugat: Dance the Rhumba EP; Columbia B-1750 (Morrocco/Tony's Wife--canta La Chata/Rhumba Fantasy/Cuban Rhythm) |
| 8 | Xavier Cugat: Dancing with Xavier Cugat EP; Columbia B-1871 (Mambo No. 8/Me Lo Dijo Adela/Cha-Cha-Cha/Guarare) |
| 7 | Xavier Cugat Hall of Fame Series EP; Columbia B-2510 (Xavier Cugat w/Aladdin & the Boyd Triplets: Come to the Mardi Gras/Miami Beach Rhumba; Xavier Cugat: Mambo No. 5/Mambo No. 8) |
| 7 | Xavier Cugat Hall of Fame Series EP; Columbia B-2511 (My Shawl, Oye Negra, Brazil, Tico Tico) |
| 6 | Xavier Cugat Hall of Fame Series EP; Columbia B-2561 (Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White/[The Chi Chi] Cha-Cha-Cha/Walter Winchell Rhumba/La Cumparsita) |
| 6 | Xavier Cugat Hall of Fame Series EP; Columbia B-2643 (tangos; Jalousie, Inspiration, Rain in Spain, Adios Muchachos) |
| 5 | Xavier Cugat EP; Columbia B-11433 (Cuatro Milpas/Mademoiselle de Paris/Mexicali Rose/Alma Llanera; vocal: Pepito Arvelo) |
| 6 | At Last We're Alone/Who Me?; Columbia/Epic 5-9123 (A side from "The Girl Rush"; B-side w/Abbe Lane) |
| 7 | Xavier Cugat & his Orchestra: Francesca/Mambo #5; Columbia 4-39349 |
| 7 | Xavier Cugat & Merv Griffin: That's Hot-Cha-Cha with Me!/Sweet & Gentle; Columbia 4-40530 |
| Various: Dance the Samba EP; Columbia B-1752 (Noro Morales: Glorita/Xavier Cugat: The Wedding Samba/Good Good Good/Bullumba Landestoy: Cuban Nightingale) |
| 7 | Various: All-Star Pops EP; Columbia B-2088 (Belmonte w/Bernadine Read: Learnin' the Blues/Felicia Sanders: Blue Star/Xavier Cugat & Merv Griffin: Sweet & Gentle/Doris Day: I'll Never Stop Loving You) |
| Xavier Cugat: That Latin Beat!; RCA Camden 345 |
| 8 | Xavier Cugat: Rock Moruno/Rock of the Hours (based on Dance of the Hours); RCA Victor 47-7615 (Latin rock/exotic rock!) |
| 8 | Xavier Cugat: Jungle Flute/Blue Tango; Philips/Mercury 5817-X45 |
| 7 | Xavier Cugat: Festival/Ray Cura & Xavier Cugat: Won't You Surrender (Two Guitars); Philips/Mercury 5829-X45 (A-side vocal by Abbe Lane w/Don Rodney) |
| 7 | Xavier Cugat: Latin Lament EP; Philips/Mercury EP-1-3119 (African Lament, Misirlou, La Hora, Staccato Samba) |
| 8 | Xavier Cugat: Cugat Cocktail EP; Philips EP 429-218-BE (Compadre Pedro Juan, Rico Vacilon, El Marijuano, Carnival in Uruguay) |
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| Toca-Tu Samba/Good, Good, Good; Columbia 36793 (vocal: Nestor Amaral/Del Campo; B-side on LP CL-537) |
| Rumba Rumba/Tierra Va Tembla; Columbia 36953 (vocal: Del Campo/Del Campo & Boyd Triplets) |
| South America, Take it Away!/Chiquita Banana; Columbia 37051 (vocal: Buddy Clark) |
| Dinah Shore & Xavier Cugat: I'll Never Love Again/You, So It's You!; Columbia 37090 (A-side on LP CL-537) |
| Yo Te Amo Mucho And That's That/La Ole Marina; Columbia 37163 (vocal: Del Campo) |
| Rumbasia/Minsan Lamang (Lover's Lament)--Philippine Folk Song; Columbia 38516 (B-side vocal: Del Campo) |
| Latin Magic/Goombay; Columbia 38642 (vocal: Toni Arden/Jimmy Saunders) |
| 7 | The Adventures of Chiquita the Chihuahua; Mercury Playcraft MP-4 (spoken w/music; narration by Gilbert Mack & Xavier Cugat) |
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| Don Juan (first synchro-sound film); Warner Bros.; 1926
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| The Jazz Singer (first soundie/dialogue); Warner Bros.; 1927
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| Cugat & his Gigolos (first musical short); Warner Bros.
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| Charros, Gauchos y Manolas (musical he scored, directed, produced)
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| The Great Divide (as musical director only)
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| Two Girls and a Sailor (w/Harry James); MGM; 1944 |
| Bathing Beauty (w/Esther Williams); MGM |
| Weekend at the Waldorf; MGM |
| Holiday in Mexico; MGM |
| This Time for Keeps; MGM |
| No Leave, No Love; MGM |
| You Were Never Lovelier; MGM |
| Let's Face It |
| Sweater Girl |
| Call Me Mister |
| On an Island with You (w/Esther Williams); MGM |
| A Date with Judy (w/Carmen Miranda); MGM |
| Stage Door Canteen; Warner Bros. |
| The Heat's On (orchestra only) |
Hip Wax