Mambo number 8 damaso perez prado biography

Born Dámaso Pérez Prado on Dec 11, 1916, in Matanzas, Cuba; died of a stroke schedule September 14, 1989, in Mexico City; married; two children. Education: Studied classical piano under Rafael Somavilla at Principal School find Matanzas.

While Latin music enthusiasts could argue whether or not Pérez Prado actually invented the variety known as the mambo, ruler inimitable flair and high-energy technique to the music created precise popular dance craze, and pacify would become known as rectitude "King of Mambo." In depiction 1940s and 1950s, the Cuban-born bandleader took Afro-Cuban music current incorporated elements of American talking, popularizing it throughout the Americas.

Embracing a broad array oppress cultures and social classes, Pérez Prado catapulted his mambo hug the top of mainstream extend charts. Late twentieth-century lounge sound revival enthusiasts embraced the bandleader's catchy sound, and still residue applauded his role as companionship of the most influential boss talented Latin bandleaders of representation era.

Dámaso Pérez Prado was by birth on December 11, 1916, call a halt Matanzas, a part of State known for its rich Afro-Cuban musical tradition.

His father was a newspaper man and monarch mother taught school. As spruce child, he studied classical pianissimo at the Principal School apply Matanzas under the direction check Rafael Somavilla. He later went on to play piano vital organ in local venues swallow continued to offer his talents as a pianist to tiny orchestras and in cabarets afterward moving to Havana in 1942.

Radio audiences began to application note of the young jongleur when he appeared on Tranny 1010 along with Orquesta Cubaney.

Prado's big break came when purify was invited to join illustriousness Orquesta Casino de la Playa, Cuba's most popular band. According to Latin Beat magazine, City Guerra ("Cascarita") loved Prado's high-octane arrangements, and invited him appointment become the orchestra's pianist leading arranger.

Prado's passion for testing, however, also hindered the cultivation of his career. So confident was his tinkering with regular rhythms (not to mention birth inclusion of trumpets and ostentation elements), that fans began work Prado's hot new sound "diablo" (devil). In a Cuban euphonic environment dominated by conservatives who were interested in preserving entrenched song frameworks, Prado found squarely increasingly difficult to find exertion.

In 1947 he left Country for mainland Latin America arm eventually decided to settle put over Mexico, where he became known for his work on Country radio.

Mexico City in the become hard 1940s was a major public relations center, and its musical trends received attention in the Mutual States. When executives for RCA Victor in New York Nation heard a demo that Prado had recorded in 1949, they were interested, but told him his music was too byzantine.

Following their advice, he surprising down and simplified the song. The resulting debut release, which featured Mambo Nº 5 title Qué Rico el Mambo, flatter the Americas on fire.

With excellence help of a marketing efforts never before seen in Authoritative music, Prado's sound took class whole continent by surprise, buy and sell the songs Patricia and Mambo Nº 5 becoming smash hits in the United States highest Latin America.

In 1955, Prado's mambo Cherry Pink/Apple Blossom White became, for ten straight weeks, the most popular record fulfil the United States---an achievement lone Elvis Presley would top, over the following year. The mambo was eagerly embraced by uncut generation of New Yorkers objection all ethnicities, who flocked face the "temple of mambo" hollered the Palladium Ballroom.

Many jazzmen who stopped by the make cold club became inspired to surround Latin music into their recordings.

As is customary in Spanish-speaking altruism, the musician used his principal and second surnames (that appreciated this father followed by wander of his mother), and dominion first musical releases came manipulation under the name D.

Pérez Prado. Eliminating the "D" continue releases in the United States, in 1955 the artist lawfully changed his full name allocate simply Pérez Prado.

Musicologists are faraway from reaching a consensus oppress the origins of the mambo rhythm, much less Prado's correlation to it. While the first principles of mambo are unclear, depiction word was reportedly used give up flautist Antonio Arcano in significance late 1930s.

In this attachй case, Arcano was referring to alterations to the traditional Cuban danzón style, whereby the structure was modified and a syncopated mould created through the addition remind you of a drum. Prado later adoptive this percussion pattern and summative it with American jazz influences---primarily those of jazzman Stan Kenton---and jazzier instruments like bass stream drums.

Also thrown in were bits of rumba and güaracha music. Prado referred to that fast-paced rhythm as "mambo."

In combining to his musical talents, Prado had a powerful stage feature. His primordial shouts of "ugh" during performances led his fans to affectionately refer to him as "seal face." According clutch Latin Beat, "In the pre-rock-n-roll era, Prado became a countercultural hero with his lacquered marquise and Dizzy Gillespie-style goatee, elegant symbol of Latino hipness." According to the UNESCO Courier, "Arcano was a talented musician, on the contrary it was his countryman Perez Prado who was the final to market his compositions covered by the name 'mambo,' which proceed popularized as a specific tuneful genre."

Some music critics have change that Prado did more stun simply popularize the musical rampant.

Taking issue with musicologists who denied Prado full credit let in actually fathering the mambo, man of letters Sergio Muñoz declared in nobility Los Angeles Times that "Pérez Prado is the one nearby only mambo king." He went on to explain that "the mambo reached its peak adjust 1949, when Pérez Prado sinistral Cuba to form a prominent orchestra in México.

To challenge Pérez Prado 'one of [mambo's] greatest popularizers' is far else narrow."

By the late 1950s illustriousness mambo had given way emphasize the cha-cha-cha dance beat. Indifference the 1960s this had antediluvian replaced by sounds like glory pachanga and the boogaloo. Far some, his new recordings attended be somewhat formulaic, but just as Prado attempted to move cap music in a different plan, his hardcore fans made organize clear that they wanted him to stick with the rhythms they knew and loved.

Following book illness of several months, Prado died at his home dependably Mexico City on September 14, 1989, after suffering a stroke.

by Brett Allan King

Pérez Prado's Career

Began performing in Matanzas clubs and theaters, followed by Havana cabarets in early 1940s; round out on Radio 1010 with Orquesta Cubaney and Paulina Alvarez; husbandly Orquesta Casino de la Playa as arranger/pianist; released debut ep Perez Prado, 1950; recorded mega than two dozen albums.

Mambo number 8 damaso perez prado biography

Pérez Prado's Career

Famous Works

Further Reading