Xavier Cugat
Xavier Cugat | |
|---|---|
| Born | Francisco de Asís Javier Cugat Mingall de Bru y Deulofeu 1 January 1900 |
| Died | 27 October 1990 (aged 90) Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain |
| Resting place | Cementeri de Girona, Girona, Catalonia, Spain |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1925–1970 |
| Spouses | Carmen Castillo
(m. 1929; div. 1946)Lorraine Allen
(m. 1947; div. 1952) |
| Relatives | Francis Cugat (brother) |
| Website | xaviercugat |
Xavier Cugat (/ˈzeɪviər kuːɡɑːt/; Catalan: [ʃəβiˈe kuˈɣat]; 1 January 1900 – 27 October 1990) was an American musician and bandleader who was a leading figure in the spread of Latin music. Originally from Girona, Spain, he spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba, before arriving in New York City in 1915. A trained violinist and arranger, he was the leader of the resident orchestra at the Waldorf–Astoria before and after World War II. Also a restaurateur in West Hollywood, he and his band appeared in numerous motion pictures in the 1930s and 1940s. He was also a cartoonist. The personal papers of Xavier Cugat are preserved in the Library of Catalonia.