Xavier Cugat

Bandleader
Xavier Cugat

About

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Birth Place
Spain
Born
January 01, 1900
Died
October 27, 1990
Cause of Death
Heart Failure

Biography

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Spanish-born band leader who popularized the Latin beat in the US through nightclub and film appearances with his band, the Gigolos, and a succession of sultry songstress-wives. Performing well into his 80s, he is best known among the younger generation as the former husband of singer Charo....

Filmography

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Charros, gauchos y manolas (1930)
Director
Entertaining the Troops (1989)
Himself
The Phynx (1970)
The Monitors (1969)
The Eddy Duchin Story (1956)
Himself
Chicago Syndicate (1955)
Benny Chico

Photos & Videos

View All
A Date with Judy - Behind-the-Scenes Photos
35 Photos
On An Island With You (1948) — (Movie Clip) Nightingale (Dance)
Neptune's Daughter - Movie Poster
1 Photo
This Time for Keeps (1947) - Movie Poster
1 Photo
Neptune's Daughter (1949) -- (Original Trailer)

Family & Companions

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Rita Montaner
Wife
Carmen Castillo
Wife
Lorraine Allen
Wife
Abbe Lane
Wife
Singer, actor.

Bibliography

Read More
"I, Cugat"
Xavier Cugat
"My Wives"
Xavier Cugat

Biography

Spanish-born band leader who popularized the Latin beat in the US through nightclub and film appearances with his band, the Gigolos, and a succession of sultry songstress-wives. Performing well into his 80s, he is best known among the younger generation as the former husband of singer Charo.

Filmography

 

Director (Feature Film)

Charros, gauchos y manolas (1930)
Director

Cast (Feature Film)

Entertaining the Troops (1989)
Himself
The Phynx (1970)
The Monitors (1969)
The Eddy Duchin Story (1956)
Himself
Chicago Syndicate (1955)
Benny Chico
Donatella (1955)
Himself
Neptune's Daughter (1949)
On an Island with You (1948)
Luxury Liner (1948)
Himself
A Date with Judy (1948)
This Time for Keeps (1947)
Holiday in Mexico (1946)
No Leave, No Love (1946)
Specialty
Week-End at the Waldorf (1945)
Bathing Beauty (1944)
Two Girls and a Sailor (1944)
Stage Door Canteen (1943)
The Heat's On (1943)
You Were Never Lovelier (1942)

Writer (Feature Film)

Charros, gauchos y manolas (1930)
Screenwriter

Producer (Feature Film)

Charros, gauchos y manolas (1930)
Producer

Music (Feature Film)

The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017)
Song
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (2008)
Song Performer
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (2008)
Song
My Kid Could Paint That (2007)
Song Performer
Happy Feet (2006)
Composer
Little Man (2006)
Song Performer
Down With Love (2003)
Song Performer
Two Weeks Notice (2002)
Song Performer
Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss (1998)
Song Performer
Crimes And Misdemeanors (1989)
Song
Radio Days (1987)
Song Performer
Radio Days (1987)
Song
Tiger by the Tail (1970)
Composer
The Americano (1955)
Abbe Lane's Music numbers comp and Supervisor by
Chicago Syndicate (1955)
Composer
The Americano (1955)
Composer
Donatella (1955)
Music
Luxury Liner (1948)
Composer
Holiday in Mexico (1946)
Composer
Bathing Beauty (1944)
Composer
Charros, gauchos y manolas (1930)
Music Director
In Gay Madrid (1930)
Music Score
In Gay Madrid (1930)
Composer

Misc. Crew (Feature Film)

Entertaining the Troops (1989)
Other
Donatella (1955)
Other

Cast (Special)

The Louis Jourdan Timex Special (1959)
Guest

Music (Special)

Routes of Rhythm With Harry Belafonte (1990)
Song Performer

Cast (Short)

Mighty Manhattan, New York's Wonder City (1949)
Himself

Life Events

1912

Came to the United States as violinist

1915

Became American citizen

1928

Debut as bandleader at Hollywood's Cocoanut Grove

1978

Retired as bandleader and returned to Spain

1986

Formed new 16-piece band and toured Spain

Photo Collections

 
35 Photos
A Date with Judy - Behind-the-Scenes Photos
Here are a number of photos taken behind-the-scenes during production of MGM's A Date with Judy (1948), starring Wallace Beery, Elizabeth Taylor, Jane Powell, and Robert Stack.
1 Photo
Neptune's Daughter - Movie Poster
Here is an original-release American movie poster for Neptune's Daughter (1949), starring Esther Williams and Red Skelton.
1 Photo
This Time for Keeps (1947) - Movie Poster
Here is an original release movie poster for This Time for Keeps (1947), starring Esther Williams. This poster is an insert, which measures 14" x 36"

Videos

Movie Clip

On An Island With You (1948) — (Movie Clip) Nightingale (Dance) Smitten Navy movie technical adviser Kingsley (Peter Lawford) gets turned down by the star Roz (Esther Williams, backed by her director, Dick Simmons), slipping into a dance number for her fiancè and co-star (Ricardo Montalban) and the second lead (Cyd Charisse), Xaiver Cugat’s group backing with his own composition, in MGM’s On An Island With You, 1948.
You'll Never Get Rich (1941) -- (Movie Clip) Boogie Barcarolle Dance director Robert (Fred Astaire) takes a call from frisky financier Cortland (Robert Benchley), then rehearses with not-intimidated Sheila (Rita Hayworth), their first on-screen dance together and a Cole Porter tune, early in You'll Never Get Rich, 1941.
You Were Never Lovelier (1942) -- (Movie Clip) Dearly Beloved Fred Astaire introduces the Jerome Kern/Johnny Mercer tune that became a standard, performing at the wedding for the eldest daughter of South American potentate Acuna (Adolphe Menjou), Rita Hayworth as his non-cooperative next-in-line, in You Were Never Lovelier, 1942.
Bathing Beauty (1944) -- (Movie Clip) The Song I Wrote For Miss Brooks Leaping in to story after an impertinent opening number, Red Skelton introduces his co-star Esther Williams, in her third film but her first all-out swim-spectacle, Xavier Cugat backing Carlos Ramirez on his own original song, in MGM’s Bathing Beauty, 1944.
You Were Never Lovelier -- (Movie Clip) The Shorty George Maybe the best number in their second musical, Fred Astaire (as "Robert") is gaining in the esteem of Rita Hayworth (as "Maria,"), Xavier Cugat's band backing them in rehearsal of a Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer tune, in You Were Never Lovelier, 1942.

Trailer

Neptune's Daughter (1949) -- (Original Trailer) A polo player romances a bathing suit designer in MGM's Neptune's Daughter (1949), starring Esther Williams.
You Were Never Lovelier - (Original Trailer) Rita Hayworth is an Argentine heiress who thinks Fred Astaire is her secret admirer in You Were Never Lovelier (1942).
No Leave, No Love - (Original Trailer) Van Johnson is a returning veteran who falls for a radio singer in the musical No Leave, No Love (1946).
Two Girls and a Sailor -- (Original Trailer) Singing sisters create a World War II canteen and become rivals for the same man in Two Girls and a Sailor (1944) starring June Allyson & Gloria DeHaven.
Holiday in Mexico - (Original Trailer) An ambassador's daughter (Jane Powell) falls for a famous musician on Holiday In Mexico (1946).
This Time for Keeps (1947) - (Original Trailer) A famous singer's son falls for a swimming star in This Time For Keeps (1947) starring Esther Williams and Jimmy Durante.
On an Island with You - (Original Trailer) A movie star (Esther Williams) falls for a handsome naval officer during location shooting in Hawaii in the Technicolor musical On an Island with You (1948).
Week-End at the Waldorf -- (Original Trailer) Week-End at the Waldorf (1945), a remake of the Academy Award-winning best movie Grand Hotel (1932) starring Ginger Rogers and Walter Pidgeon.
Date With Judy, A - (Original Trailer) Robert Stack and Elizabeth Taylor are the non-singing romantic leads, in the expansive MGM musical comedy A Date With Judy, also starring Jane Powell, Carmen Miranda and Wallace Beery.
Luxury Liner - (Original Trailer) The daughter of a ship's captain becomes a sea-going cupid in Luxury Liner (1948) starring George Brent and Jane Powell.
Bathing Beauty - (Original Trailer) A songwriter enrolls in an all-girl school to court a pretty gym teacher in Bathing Beauty (1944), starring Red Skelton & Esther Williams.

Companions

Rita Montaner
Wife
Carmen Castillo
Wife
Lorraine Allen
Wife
Abbe Lane
Wife
Singer, actor.
Charo Baeza Charo
Wife
Entertainer.

Bibliography

"I, Cugat"
Xavier Cugat
"My Wives"
Xavier Cugat

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