Known as Juan Garcia Esquivel, Juan García Esquivel, Esquivel and Esquivel!… Read Full Bio ↴Known as Juan Garcia Esquivel, Juan García Esquivel, Esquivel and Esquivel!

Juan García Esquivel (January 20, 1918 – January 3, 2002) was a Mexican band leader, pianist, and composer for television and films. He is recognized today as one of the foremost exponents of a sophisticated style of largely instrumental music that combines elements of lounge music and jazz with Latin flavors. Esquivel is sometimes called "The King of Space Age Pop" and "The Busby Berkeley of Cocktail Music." Esquivel is considered one of the foremost exponents of a style of late 1950s-early 1960s quirky instrumental pop that became known (in retrospect) as "Space Age Bachelor Pad Music".

He was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas, and his family moved to Mexico City in 1928 where he studied at the UNAM.
Esquivel is considered the king of a style of late 1950s-early 1960s quirky instrumental pop known today as lounge music. Esquivel's musical style was highly idiosyncratic, and although elements sound like his contemporaries, many stylistic traits distinguished his music and made it instantly recognizable, including exotic percussion, wordless vocals, virtuoso piano runs, and exaggerated dynamic shifts. He used many jazz-like elements; however, other than his piano solos, there is no improvisation, and the works are tightly, meticulously arranged by Esquivel himself, who considered himself a perfectionist as a composer, performer, and recording artist.
His orchestration tended toward the very lush, employing novel instrumental combinations, such as Chinese bells, mariachi bands, whistling, and numerous percussion instruments, blended with orchestra, mixed chorus, and his own heavily-ornamented piano style. The chorus was often called upon to sing only nonsense syllables, most famously "zu-zu" and "pow!" A survey of Esquivel's recordings reveals a fondness for glissandi, sometimes on a half-valved trumpet, sometimes on a kettle drum, but most frequently on pitched percussion instruments and slide guitars.
Esquivel's use of stereo recording was legendary, occasionally featuring two bands recording simultaneously in separate studios, such as on his album Latin-Esque (1962). The song "Mucha Muchacha" makes particularly mind-bending use of the separation, with the chorus and brass rapidly alternating stereo sides.
He arranged many traditional Mexican songs like "Bésame Mucho", "La Bamba", "El Manisero" (Cuban/Mexican) and "La Bikina"; covered Brazilian songs like "Aquarela do Brasil" (also known simply as "Brazil") by Ary Barroso, "Surfboard" and "Agua de Beber" by Tom Jobim, and composed spicy lounge-like novelties such as "Mini Skirt", "Yeyo", "Latin-Esque", "Mucha Muchacha" and "Whatchamacallit". He was commissioned to compose the music of a Mexican children's TV show Odisea Burbujas.
His concerts also featured elaborate light shows years before effects like that became popular in live music. He performed in Las Vegas on several occasions, often as the opening act for Frank Sinatra.
Several compilations of Esquivel's music were issued starting with Space Age Bachelor Pad Music in 1994. The apparent success of these releases led to reissues of several of Esquivel's albums. The first reissues were compiled by Irwin Chusid, who also produced the first CD reissues of Raymond Scott and The Langley Schools Music Project.
The last recording on which Esquivel worked was Merry Christmas from the Space-Age Bachelor Pad in 1996, for which he did a voiceover on a track by the band Combustible Edison. This album also included several obscure tracks from his past sessions. The last CD released during his lifetime, See It In Sound, was actually recorded in 1960, but was not released at the time because the record company believed it would not be commercially successful. When finally released in 1998, it exhibited very unusual and introspective stylings absent from his other works, including a version of "Brazil", played as a musical soundscape of a man bar-hopping where the band plays different renditions of "Brazil" at each bar.
Esquivel also worked as a composer for Revue Productions/Universal Television; where he scored the TV western series "The Tall Man," and wrote the familiar Revue/Universal TV logo fanfare.

Tribute performances (current)

Jan 14, 2011 Boston - Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica - CD Release for "The Unforgettable Sounds of Esquivel"
Mar 18, 2011 New York City - Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica - CD Release for "The Unforgettable Sounds of Esquivel" (first-ever live performance of Esquivel's big band studio orchestra music in NYC)

Influences
Kronos Quartet recorded a string quartet arrangement of Esquivel's song "Mini Skirt" for their album Nuevo.

My Blue Heaven
Esquivel Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'My Blue Heaven' by these artists:

"Whispering" Jack Smith Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Al Friedman & His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Alex Welsh & His Band I saw you baby dancin' in Your x ray gingham dress I…
Amy & Adams When I was blind You lead me to safety When I couldn't…
André Popp & His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Art Tatum Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Artie Shaw Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Artie Shaw & His Gramercy 5 Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Bennie Green Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …

Benny Goodman and His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Bert Kaempfert and His Orchestra & Bert Kaempfert Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Bob Wilber Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Bob Wilber & Kenny Davern Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Bob Wilber Kenny Davern Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Buck Clayton And His All-Stars 暖かな風に乗り君は降りてくる海啼くカモメが空を舞うように悲しみのまぼろしに人は追いすがりいつしか慕情に抱かれ泣き…
California Ramblers Five foot two, eyes of blue But oh, what those five…
Carl Stevens and His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
charlie mingus jackie mclean j.r. monterose mal waldron willie jones Wooh I like that Brain (It's only love i show) I pray to god…
Cliff Richard When the whippoorwills call And evening is nigh I’m so…
Cliff Richard & The Shadows I know that I can't keep her, Now she's in love…
Coleman Hawkins Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Coleman Hawkins And His All-Star Octet Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Coleman Hawkins' All Star Octet Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Dee-Dee Gaudet There's a cold, cold feelin' 'round my heart Tries to get…
Don Byas Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Don Voorhees When whippoorwill call, and evening is nigh I'll hurry to my…
Don Voorhees and His Orchestra When whippoorwills call an' evenin' is nigh, I hurry to my…
Doris Day Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Enoch Light & The Command All-Stars 暖かな風に乗り君は降りてくる海啼くカモメが空を舞うように悲しみのまぼろしに人は追いすがりいつしか慕情に抱かれ泣き…
Esquivel & His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Fats Domino When whip-poor-will call and evening is night I'll hurry to …
Floyd Cramer Don't know when I've been so blue Don't know what's come…
Francis Bay And His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Frank Sinatra; Arranged & conducted by George Siravo Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Frankie Carle Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Glen Gray Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Glenn Miller Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Glenn Miller His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Glenn Miller & His Band Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Glenn Miller & His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Glenn Miller & The Army Force Band Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Glenn Miller and his band Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Glenn Miller and The Army Air Force Band Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Glenn Miller Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Harry Connick Jr When whippoorwills call and evening is nigh, I hurry to my…
Harry Roy and His Band I saw you baby dancin' in Your x ray gingham dress I…
Hawkins Coleman Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Helen Humes Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Henry Jerome and His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Horne Lena Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Jack Hylton and His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Jackie Gleason Five foot two, eyes of blue But oh, what those five…
Jan Garber & His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Jimmie Lunceford & Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Jimmie Lunceford Trio Vocal Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Jimmy Carroll and His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Jimmy Lunceford Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
John Stevens When Whippoorwills call, and evening is nigh I hurry to my B…
Johnny Guarnieri Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Johnny Maddox Five foot two, eyes of blue But oh, what those five…
Jonah Jones Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Lawrence Welk Don't know when I've been so blue Don't know what's come…
Lena Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Lena Horne Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Les Brown & His Band Of Renown Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Les Brown & His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Les Brown and His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Lucy Yeghiazaryan Hello, whippoorwills call, the evenin′ is nigh Hurry to my b…
Luis Russell Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Marty Robbins Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Maxine Sullivan When whippoorwills call, and evening is nigh I hurry to my…
Millers Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Norah Jones When whippoorwills call and evening is nigh I hurry to my…
Oscar Peterson Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Oscar Peterson Trio Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Pat Boone Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra When whippoorwills call, and evening is nigh I hurry to my…
Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Paul Whiteman Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Pete Fountain Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Pizzicato Five (konishi) Translators: andrei cunha Denwa ga asa kara nari…
Ray Anthony Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Ray Anthony Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Reg Owen & His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Ricky Nelson When whippoorwills call and evening is nigh I hurry to my,…
Robert Mandell & His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Roger & The Evolution Won't you be my chauffeur Won't you be my chauffeur…
Rudy Vallee [Chorus] I guess I'll have to change my plan, I should…
Sammy Kaye Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Skitch Henderson And His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Stuff Smith Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Stuff Smith And His Onyx Club Boys Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
Taking Back Sunday Two sides twist and then collide; You're calling off the gua…
Ted Heath and His Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
The Glenn Miller Orchestra Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
The Platters Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
The Ramblers Five foot two, eyes of blue But oh, what those five…
The Smashing Pumpkins Day is ending Birds are wending Back to their shelter of Eac…
The String-A-Longs Don't know when I've been so blue Don't know what's come…
Time-Life Swing Era Vol. 1 Color my life just like a child's book Between the lines…
Tom and Jerry Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
Ziggy Elman Five foot two, eyes of blue But oh, what those five…

We have lyrics for these tracks by Esquivel:

05 Who's Sorry Now Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's heart is aching for …
05 Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's heart is aching fo…
09 MAGIC IS THE MOONLIGHT Magic is the moonlight On this lover's dream night As I se…
All Of Me What would I do without your smart mouth Drawing me in,…
Amor Amemos cada segundo juntos Nunca sabemos cuando parar Un te …
Autumn Leaves The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of…
Begin the Beguine When they begin the beguine It brings back the sound of…
Bye Bye Blues I got a big surprise when I saw you smile I…
Canadian Sunset Once I was alone So lonely and then You came, out of…
Carioca geudongan eotteoke jinaenni mureobojin motaetji geujeo eosae…
Dancing in the Dark Dancing in the dark Dancing in the dark Dancing in the dark…
I Get a Kick out of You I get no kick from champagne, Mere alcohol, Doesn't thrill…
It Had to Be You It had to be you, it had to be you. I…
Johnson Rag Johnson Flood Mississippi Mud Black Bottom I got 'em Lindy …
Lullaby of Birdland Lullaby of Birdland, that's what I Always hear when you…
Magic Is the Moonlight Magic is the moonlight On this lover's dream night As I see…
Misirlou Desert shadows creep across purple sands. Natives kneel in p…
Mucha Muchacha mucha muchacha hello muchacha oh, hello muchacha no no, me…
My Reverie Our love is a dream, but in my reverie I can…
Rhapsody In Blue (Story about a girl) (Story about the world) Suddenly …
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town I just came back from a lovely trip along the…
Speak Low Speak low when you speak, love, Our summer day withers away …
Street of Dreams Midnight, you heavy laden, it's midnight Come on and trade i…
That Old Black Magic Old black magic has me in its spell Old black magic…
The 3rd Man Theme When a zither starts to play You'll remember yesterday In it…
The Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at you…
The Third Man Theme When a zither starts to play You'll remember yesterday In it…
Time on My Hands When the day fades away into twilight The moon is my…
Whatchamacallit Do, do-do Do, do-do Do, do-do Do, do-do Do, do-do Do, do-do …
Who's Sorry Now Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's heart is aching for …
Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's heart is aching fo…

Who's Sorry Now Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's heart is aching for …

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

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