Xavier Cugat
| Xavier Cugat | |
|---|---|
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| Born |
Francisco de Asís Javier Cugat Mingall de Bru y Deulofeu 1 January 1900 Girona, Catalonia, Spain |
| Died | 27 October 1990 (aged 90) Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, actor, director. screenwriter |
| Years active | 1925–1990 |
| Spouse(s) |
Rita Montaner (m.1918–1920; divorced) Carmen Castillo (m.1929–1946; divorced) Lorraine Allen (m.1947–1952; divorced) Abbe Lane (m.1952–1963; divorced) Charo (m.1966–1978; divorced) |
| Website | Xavier Cugat official webpage |
Xavier Cugat (English:; Catalan: [ʃəβiˈe kuˈɣat]; 1 January 1900 – 27 October 1990) was a Spanish-American bandleader and native of Spain who spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba. A trained violinist and arranger, he was a leading figure in the spread of Latin music in United States popular music. In New York, he was the leader of the resident orchestra at the Waldorf-Astoria before and after World War II. He was also a cartoonist and a restaurateur. The personal papers of Xavier Cugat are preserved in the Biblioteca de Catalunya.
Cugat was born as Francisco de Asís Javier Cugat Mingall de Bru y Deulofeu (Catalan: Francesc d'Assís Xavier Cugat i Mingall de Bru i Deulofeu) in Girona, Catalonia, Spain. His family immigrated to Cuba when Xavier was five. He was trained as a classical violinist and played with the Orchestra of the Teatro Nacional in Havana. On 6 July 1915, he and his family arrived in New York City as immigrant passengers on board the S.S. Havana. Cugat appeared in recitals with Enrico Caruso, playing violin solos.
Cugat was married five times. His first marriage was to Rita Montaner (1918–1920); his second was to Carmen Castillo (1929–1944); his third to Lorraine Allen (1947–52); his fourth to singer Abbe Lane (1952–64); and his fifth to Spanish guitarist and comic actress Charo Baeza (1966–78).
Entering the world of show business, he played with a band called The Gigolos during the tango craze. Later, he went to work for the Los Angeles Times as a cartoonist. Cugat's caricatures were later nationally syndicated. His older brother, Francis, was an artist of some note, having painted the famous cover art for F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby.
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