''Rumba King'' Xavier Cugat, or "Cugie", was the first bandleader to front a successful Latin orchestra in the United States.
Born in Catalonia, Spain, he and his family emmigrated to Cuba when he was 5, and then to NYC at 15.
Cugat was also a talented caricaturist. His work appeared in newspapers, magazines and galleries around the world. During the 1920s he worked as a cartoonist for the Los Angeles Times newspaper while playing music at night.
I Love Lucy's Desi Arnaz, who would go on to play Cuban bandleader Ricky Ricardo, began his career as a guitarist in Cugat's band.
Cugat had a reputation as a womanizer and was married several times including a marriage to Charo.
No comments:
Post a Comment