From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Wed Dec 11, 2002  6:15 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Perez Prado
 
PEREZ PRADO

Born Damaso Perez Prado, 11 December 1916, Mantanzas, Cuba
Died 14 September 1989, Mexico City, Mexico

Organist / bandleader / arranger.
Dubbed the King of Mambo at the height of his fame, Cuban bandleader
Perez Prado was instrumental in creating the sound. Starting in the
1940s, he blended the music of his native country with elements of
big band jazz to form an infectious and extremely danceable hybrid.
First coming to notice as the pianist/arranger in the Cuban big band
Orquesta Casino de la Playa, Prado's popularity spread to Mexico,
Latin America, and, in the 1950s, the United States. Because his two
number one hits, "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" (1955) and
"Patricia" (1958) were as much (or more) pop as mambo, Prado is some-
times unfairly remembered as an easy listening instrumentalist. In fact,
the bulk of his material was comprised of hot dance tunes highlighting
bursts of shrill horns, busy bongoes, and, at times, ghostly organ.
One of the most popular Latin musicians and bandleaders of his time,
both in Latin America and the U.S., his innovations were also widely
appreciated by jazz fans and musicians. He was largely forgotten by the
American audience after 1960 (after 1963, his records were no longer
released in the US), but remained active until his death in 1989.
(Adapted from All Music Guide.)

CD: King Of Mambo (BMG, 1995). 17 tracks, including the two chart toppers.
More info: http://www.laventure.net/tourist/prez.htm