Dámaso Pérez Prado

Dámaso Pérez Prado (Known as "El Rey del Mambo")

Composer, Pianist, Bandleader, King of Mambo

Born 1916-12-11

Matanzas, Cuba

Passed Away 1989-09-14 Mexico City, Mexico, Cuba

Lifespan 72 years old

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"¡Qué rico el mambo! The rhythm that moves the blood knows no borders or flags."

Archival Overview

Sensational composer and bandleader hailed worldwide as 'The King of Mambo' (El Rey del Mambo), whose dynamic brass arrangements and global hits like 'Mambo No. 5' ignited the 1950s mambo craze.

Biographical Record

Dámaso Pérez Prado was born in Matanzas on December 11, 1916. Working as pianist at Havana's famous Tropicana Club, Pérez Prado took traditional Cuban danzón-mambo and electrified it with brass stabs, screaming saxophones, and his guttural grunt '¡Dilo!'.

Relocating to Mexico City in 1948, his orchestra exploded onto global charts. In 1955, his instrumental 'Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White' topped the US Billboard chart for ten consecutive weeks. 'Mambo No. 5' and 'Mambo No. 8' made him one of the most recognized Latin bandleaders of the 20th century.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial

Panteón Dolores
Mexico City, Mexico

                         GPS: 19.4040, -99.2010                    

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