1954 XAVIER CUGAT The Americano - 78 RPM Record

Xavier Cugat And His Orchestra – The Americano
From RKO Picture "Americano"
Written by Xavier Cugat and George Rosner
78 RPM audio transfer from Bowness Arts' collection of vintage records.

Xavier Cugat And His Orchestra – The Americano / Flute Nightmare
Label: Columbia – 40377 (Canada)
Format: Vinyl, 10", 78 RPM
Released: 1954
Genre: Latin, Stage & Screen
Style: Mambo
Other side of this record: Flute Nightmare

Xavier Cugat was a renowned Spanish-Cuban bandleader, violinist, and actor, born on January 1, 1900, in Girona, Catalonia, Spain. He was popularly known for his Afro-Cuban orchestra that fused Latin rhythms with jazz and popular music, which became a hallmark of his music. Cugat's family moved to Havana, Cuba, when he was a child, and it was there that he began his musical training. He played the violin in several orchestras in Cuba, including the Havana Symphony Orchestra, and later moved to New York City to join the Roxy Orchestra. In 1931, Cugat formed his own band, which became popular in the United States and later throughout the world. His band's style featured Latin American rhythms with American jazz, and it quickly became a sensation. He also introduced the "rumba" dance to America and helped popularize the "Conga" line dance. Cugat was also a talented actor and appeared in several films during his career, including the musicals "You Were Never Lovelier" and "Bathing Beauty." He also had his own television show, "The Xavier Cugat Show," which aired in the 1950s. Cugat died on October 27, 1990, in Barcelona, Spain, at the age of 90. He left behind a legacy as a pioneer of Latin American music and dance, whose influence can still be heard in modern music today. He was posthumously inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

Note: The first 78 RPM record came into existence around 1894, and in 1912, the Gramophone Company established 78 rpm as their recording standard. The production of shellac records continued throughout the 78 rpm era, with "non-breakable" 78 rpm vinyl records being introduced in the 1940s. The popularity of the 33 1/3 rpm "Long Play" record, initially released in 1948, caused the 78 rpm record to become obsolete before the end of the 1950s. As these 78 rpm recordings are quite old, they may contain derogatory language and/or negative stereotypes. It is important to evaluate such recordings within their historical context and consider them as a reflection of the attitudes prevalent at the time. These recordings form an integral part of the historical record and do not represent the views of this poster, channel, or Bowness Arts.