Xavier Cugat

violin, conducting · 1900–1990 · Girona

A Catalan violinist and bandleader, nicknamed the "king of the rumba." Leading the orchestra of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel from 1933 to 1949, he spread Latin music in the United States and in film.

Profile not yet validated. Written by Jazzency, not yet proofread: dates and facts to be confirmed.

Styles

• Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban
• Swing, big bands

Landmark tracks

• The Lady in Red (1935)
• Brazil (1943)

Cited in 2 radio episodes

• Jun 17, 2026: Moustache, mambo et chihuahua, le monde fabuleux de Xavier Cugat, seconde partie (Pour qui sonne le jazz, TSF Jazz, in French)
• Jun 16, 2026: Moustache, mambo et chihuahua, le monde fabuleux de Xavier Cugat, première partie (Pour qui sonne le jazz, TSF Jazz, in French)

Sources

• EN : Xavier Cugat

Facts checked against these pages (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA). Method and licenses