Xavier Cugat

Francesc d'Asís Xavier Cugat Mingall de Bru i Deulofeu was born on January 1, 1900 in Girona, Spain, and died on October 27, 1990. His childhood was spent in Cuba, and when he was 15 years old his family moved to New York. He soon moved to Los Angeles where he worked during the day as a cartoonist for the Los Angeles Times newspaper, and at night formed a band that played in many of the small nightclubs around Los Angeles. In 1928 his band called "The Gigolos" got a gig at the famous Coconut Grove nightclub, and his success there led him to ever greater successes. He was married and divorced five times, the last time was to Spanish guitarist and humorist Charo. He is most famous for bringing the Rhumba to immense popularity in the 1930's and 1940's.