Artist:Perez Prado
Song:Mambo No. 5
Album:Cuban Originals
Most music fans are familiar with Lou Bega's 1999 hit single Mambo No. 5. This was a cover of the 1949 recording by Perez Prado, known as The King of Mambo. He was a pioneer of Cuban music. Mambo No. 5 is probably his signature song. He was born Dec. 11, 1916 in Matanzas, Cuba. His father was a journalist. Prado studied piano as a child and played piano and organ in local clubs. He was a pianist and arranger for Sonora Matancera. Prado moved to Mexico in 1949 and signed with RCA. The mambo was created in Cuba in the 30s but Prado popularized it with hits like Mambo No. 5. When arranger Sonny Burke went on vacation in Mexico, he brought the mambo to the US. And that led to Prado signing with RCA in the US and touring. Prado topped the charts in 1955 with his cha cha cover of Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White. Other hits include Mambo No. 8 and Patricia. This CD contains Prado's original recordings from the late 40s. For a while in the late 40s Prado was very successful touring internationally. Of course with changing musical tastes that all ended in the 60s and he left RCA in 1965. Prado returned to Mexico City and continued to tour mostly in Latin America. He didn't record much. Perez Prado died of a stroke on Sept. 14, 1989 at age 72. He was inducted into The Latin Music Hall of Fame in 1999. Here's Perez Prado performing Mambo No. 5 in the 70s.
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