cd - Xavier Cugat
Xavier Cugat was a Spanish-Cuban musician and bandleader who played a pivotal role in introducing Latin American music to the United States. Born in Girona, Spain, he grew up in Cuba, where he studied classical violin. In 1933, he became the leader of the resident orchestra at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, a position he held for 16 years. Cugat was known for his recordings of songs like "Perfidia" and "Brazil" and frequently appeared in films during the 1940s and 1950s. His music blended jazz with Latin rhythms, influencing many artists and contributing to the popularity of mambo and rumba in the U.S.
