Biography Pérez Prado

1 biography

1.1 life
1.2 famous pieces
1.3 international popularity
1.4 later life

biography
early life

pérez born in matanzas, cuba; mother sara prado school teacher, father pablo pérez journalist @ el heraldo de cuba. studied classical piano in childhood, , later played organ , piano in local clubs. time, pianist , arranger sonora matancera, cuba s best-known musical group @ time. worked casino orchestras in havana of 1940s. nicknamed el cara de foca ( seal face ) peers @ time.

in 1949, perez moved mexico form own band , signed recording contract rca victor. specialized in mambos, upbeat adaptation of cuban danzón. perez s mambos stood out among competition, fiery brass riffs , strong saxophone counterpoints, , of all, pérez s trademark grunts (he says ¡dilo! ( it! ) in many of perceived grunts). in 1950 arranger sonny burke heard qué rico el mambo while on vacation in mexico , recorded in united states mambo jambo . single hit, caused pérez launch tour. appearances in 1951 sell-outs , began recording releases rca victor.

famous pieces

pérez composer of such famous pieces mambo no. 5 (later uk chart-topper both lou bega in 1999 , animated character bob builder in 2001) , mambo no. 8 . @ height of mambo movement in 1955, pérez hit american charts @ number 1 cha-cha-chá version of cherry pink , apple blossom white (composed french composer louiguy). arrangement, featuring trumpeter billy regis, held spot 10 consecutive weeks, sold on 1 million copies, , awarded gold disc. song went number 1 in uk , in germany. perez had first covered title movie underwater! in 1954, jane russell can seen dancing cherry pink , apple blossom white . in 1958 1 of perez s own compositions, patricia , became last record ascend no. 1 on jockeys , top 100 charts, both of gave way following week newly introduced billboard hot 100 chart. song went number 1 in germany, , in uk reached number eight.

international popularity

journalist alfredo ruiz del río , dámaso pérez prado

his popularity in united states matched peak of first wave of interest in latin music outside latino communities during 1940s, 1950s , 1960s. performed in films in united states , europe, in mexican cinema (rumberas film), trademark goatee , turtle-neck sweaters , vests. end of 1950s, popularity waned, , years gave way new rhythms, such rock , roll , pop music. association rca victor ended in mid 1960s, , afterward recorded output limited smaller labels , recycled latin-style anthologies.

later life

in 1970s pérez permanently returned apartment off mexico city s grand paseo de la reforma live wife , 2 children, son dámaso pérez salinas (known pérez prado, jr.) , daughter maría engracia. career in latin america still strong. toured , continued record material released in mexico, south america, , japan. revered 1 of reigning giants of music industry , regular performer on mexican television. in japan, live concert recording of 1973 tour released on lp in 4-channel format known quadraphonic.

in 1981 pérez featured in musical revue entitled sun, enjoyed long run in mexican capital. in 1983 brother pantaleón pérez prado, musician known professionally pérez prado, died, , press erroneously reported dámaso s death. last united states appearance in hollywood on september 12, 1987, when played packed house. year of last recording. persistent ill health plagued him next 2 years, , died of stroke in mexico city on september 14, 1989, aged 72.