Ros was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad. His mother was an Afro-Venezuelan and his father was of Scottish descent. He was the eldest of four children, having two sisters, Ruby and Eleanor, followed by a half-brother, Hugo. His parents separated after Hugo was born, and after various false steps Edmundo was enrolled in a military academy. There he became interested in music and learned to play the euphonium. From 1927-37 his family lived in Caracas, Venezuela. He played in the Venezuelan Military Academy Band as well as being a tympanist in the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra. Later he received a music scholarship from the government, and, from 1937–42, studied harmony, composition and orchestration at the Royal Academy of Music. At the same time he was the vocalist and percussionist in Don Marino Baretto's band at the Embassy Club, and also recorded several sides as a sideman to Fats Waller, who was visiting London in 1938.
In the 2000 New Year's Honours List, Ros (then aged 90), was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He turned 100 on 7 December 2010.
Ros was a Freeman of the City of London, having been admitted to the Freedom of the Worshipful Company of Poulters on 5 January 1965 and subsequently clothed with the Livery of the Poulters' Company on 22 June 1965. He was a Mason, a member of Sprig of Acacia Lodge No 41, Javea, Spain.
Ros married twice: first to Britt Johansen in 1950. The first marriage produced two children, Douglas and Louisa. He designed and built a large house in Page Street, Mill Hill, London NW7, which he named Edritt House, after himself and his first wife. The house still stands, next to Copthall Girls' School. He remarried in 1971.
In August 1940, Ros formed his own rumba band, performing as Edmundo Ros and His Rumba Band. In 1941 he cut his first tracks with Parlophone, the first number being "Los Hijos de Buda". The band played regularly at the Coconut Grove club in Regent Street, attracting members of high society. Ros's bands were always based in London nightclubs or restaurants. The first was the Cosmo Club in Wardour Street; then followed the St Regis Hotel, Cork Street, the Coconut Grove and the Bagatelle Restaurant. At the Bagatelle a visit from Princess Elizabeth and party made his name. The future queen danced in public for the first time to Edmundo's music. In later years his orchestra was often invited to play at Buckingham Palace.
By 1946 Ros owned a club, a dance school, a record company and an artistes' agency. His band grew to 16 musicians and was renamed Edmundo Ros and His Orchestra. His number "The Wedding Samba", 1949, sold three million 78s. His album Rhythms of The South (1958) was one of the first high-quality LP stereo records: it sold a million copies. He was with Decca Records from 1944 to 1974, and altogether he made more than 800 recordings.
In 1951 Ros bought the Coconut Grove on Regent Street and in 1964 renamed it Edmundo Ros's Dinner and Supper Club. The club became popular for its atmosphere and music, but it closed in 1965, when legalised casino gambling had drawn away many of its best customers. During the 1950s and 1960s the Ros orchestra appeared frequently on BBC Radio, continuing into the early 1970s on Radio Two Ballroom.
In 1975, during Ros's seventh tour of Japan, his band's Musicians' Union shop steward tried to usurp Ros's authority by making arrangements with venues behind his back. Upon their return to the UK Ros organised a celebratory dinner after a BBC recording session and announced the disbanding of the orchestra. He destroyed almost all the charts (arrangement sheets), which conclusively ended the orchestra's existence.
Ros retired and moved to Jávea, Alicante, Spain. He gave his last public performance on 8 January 1994.
Conga Boom
Edmundo Ros Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where night and day you'll hear it being played
Compared to it the rhumba drops to zero
It's twice as hot as ninety in the shade
To see that dance it was mucho dinero
You'll feel a thrill go running up your spine
You're heart will miss a beat -
Once you're down south beyond the border line
They're all falling around
They love the conga boom
Those - adore it
Call it rio's big surprise
Ay yay yay
Every hot conga band by the old rio band
Plays the conga the conga boom
They call it conga boom
They call it conga boom
One two three boom
One two three boom
The song Conga Boom by Edmundo Ros is a celebration of the conga, a popular dance in Rio de Janeiro. The lyrics describe how the conga has taken over the city, with people dancing to it day and night. The dance is considered even hotter than the rhumba, and is so thrilling that it's worth paying a lot of money just to witness it. The conga has become Rio's big surprise, and everyone falls around in adoration of it.
The song's upbeat tempo and lively rhythm perfectly capture the excitement and energy of the conga. The lyrics emphasize the physicality and sensuality of the dance, with references to the thrill running up your spine and your heart missing a beat. The repeated refrain of "One two three boom" encourages listeners to join in and dance along.
Overall, Conga Boom is a joyous celebration of a dance that has become a cultural phenomenon in Rio de Janeiro. Its catchy melody and infectious beat are sure to get anyone moving.
Line by Line Meaning
It's all the rave in rio de janeiro
The conga boom is incredibly popular in Rio de Janeiro and everyone is obsessed with it.
Where night and day you'll hear it being played
The conga boom music never seems to stop playing in Rio de Janeiro, whether it's night or day.
Compared to it the rhumba drops to zero
The conga boom makes the rhumba dance seem insignificant in comparison.
It's twice as hot as ninety in the shade
The conga boom music is extremely hot and lively and will get anyone up and dancing.
To see that dance it was mucho dinero
Watching the conga boom being performed was quite expensive but worth the cost for the excitement it brought.
You'll feel a thrill go running up your spine
Watching or dancing to the conga boom will give you an intense, exhilarating feeling.
You're heart will miss a beat -
The conga boom's rhythm is so captivating that it may make your heart skip a beat.
Once you're down south beyond the border line
Even beyond the southern border, people still love and dance to the conga boom.
They call it the conga boom
This beloved music and dance style is known as the conga boom.
They're all falling around
People are falling into the rhythm, dancing and enjoying the conga boom.
They love the conga boom
People adore the conga boom and can't get enough of it.
Those - adore it
Even those who may not typically enjoy dancing are infatuated with the conga boom.
Call it rio's big surprise
The conga boom has become one of Rio de Janeiro's biggest and most exciting attractions.
Ay yay yay
This is an enthusiastic exclamation that emphasizes the fun and excitement of the conga boom.
Every hot conga band by the old rio band
The best conga bands in Rio de Janeiro all play the conga boom style of music.
Plays the conga the conga boom
The conga boom music is played by many talented musicians in the city.
They call it conga boom
This exciting music style is known as the conga boom and is adored by many.
They call it conga boom
The name of this music style is repeated again to emphasize its popularity and importance in Rio de Janeiro.
One two three boom
This quick, rhythmic chant is used to help people dance and keep up with the beat of the conga boom music.
One two three boom
Again, this chant is repeated to keep people moving and dancing to the conga boom rhythm.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TOMMIE CONNOR, EDMUNDO ROS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind