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.

One for My Baby
Esquivel Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'One for My Baby' by these artists:

Alex Stordahl and His Orchestra It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Axel Stordahl & His Orchestra It's quarter to three There's no-one in the place 'Cept Yo…
Axel Stordahl & His Orchestra/Frank Sinatra It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'Cept you…
Bette Midler Johnny: "Okay. And once again, here's Bette Midler." Bett…
Bette Midler & Cole Porter Johnny: "Okay. And once again, here's Bette Midler." Bette:…
Billie Holiday My baby don't care for shows My baby don't care for…
Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Billy Eckstine It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place…
Bob Haggart & His Orchestra It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…

Bob Haggart and His Orchestra It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Bobby Zee & Zoe Now, that i'm alone i realize everything I've been blindfold…
Buddy Greco My baby don't care for shows My baby don't care for…
Cab Calloway It's quarter to three There's no one in the place Except you…
Chuck Berry It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Command All-Stars I'm walking on air For I left all my blue days…
Count Basie & The Orchestra It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Count Basie Count Basie Orchestra Frank Sinatra It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'cept…
Danny Aiello It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
David I'm working day and night to Find me my passage…
Dianne Reeves It's quarter to three There's no one in the place Accept you…
Doris Day It's quarter to three, There's no-one in the place, 'Cept Jo…
Ella Fitzgerald It's quarter to three There's no one in the place except…
Ella Fitzgerald Billy May and His Orchestra It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Enoch Light and the Command All-Stars I'm walking on air For I left all my blue days…
Esquivel and His Orchestra It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Etta James It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Frank Sinatra "One For My Baby" Frank Sinatra 4:26 It's quarter ta' 3,…
Frank Sinatra & Axel Stordahl It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'Cept you…
Frank Sinatra & Axel Stordahl Orchestra It's quarter to three There's no-one in the place 'Cept Yo…
Frank Sinatra & Bill Miller It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'Cept you…
Frank Sinatra & Count Basie and His Orchestra It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'cept…
Frank Sinatra & Kenny G When somebody loves you It's no good unless he loves you…
Frank sinatra & Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'Cept you…
Frank Sinatra - Nelson Riddle It's quarter to three There's no-one in the place 'Cept You …
Frank Sinatra And Count Basie Orchestra It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'cept…
Frank Sinatra and His Orchestra It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'Cept you…
Frank Sinatra and Orchestra It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'cept…
Frank Sinatra and the Count Basie Orchestra It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'Cept you…
Frank Sinatra feat. Bill Miller on piano It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'cept…
Frank Sinatra featuring Bill Miller It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'Cept you…
Frank Sinatra Nelson Riddle It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'cept…
Frank Sinatra Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'Cept you…
Frank Sinatra with Axel Stordahl & His Orchestra It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Frank Sinatra with Axel Stordahl and His Orchestra It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Frank Sinatra With Axel Stordahl and His Orchestra and George Siravo and His Orchestra and Andre Pre It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Frank Sinatra with the Red Norvo Quintet It's quarter to three There's no-one in the place 'Cept Yo…
Frank Sinatra/Sammy Davis Jr. It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'Cept you…
Frank Sinatra; Orchestra under the direction of Axel Stordahl It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'cept…
Frank Sinatra;Count Basie and His Orchestra It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'Cept you…
Frankie Laine It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Georgia Gibbs I, I want, I want you I want you to…
Ginger Rodgers & Fred Astaire It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Hans Zimmer & Benjamin Wallfisch It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'cept…
Harold Arlen It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Harry Belafonte It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place…
Harry James & His Orchestra It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Hugh Laurie It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place…
Ida Sand It's quarter to three, There's no one in the place 'cept…
Jean-Michel Pilc I lost my baby I lost my darling I lost my friends I…
Joe Bushkin It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Johnny Mercer Paul Weston & His Orchestra It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Johnny Mercer with Paul Weston & His Orchestra It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Jr. Sammy Davis It's quarter to three, There's no-one in the place, 'Cept …
Julie London Okay, and once again, here's Bette Midler {Well, you know, …
Kai Winding & J. J. Johnson I have been waiting on this since May and Making my…
Keely Smith 'Cause nothing is too good for my baby For my baby,…
Kenny G When somebody loves you It's no good unless he loves you…
Kenny G & Frank Sinatra When somebody loves you It's no good unless he loves you…
KITCHEN - Frank Sinatra It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'Cept you…
Laurie Hugh It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place…
LaVerne Butler It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Leon Russell It's quarter to three There's no one in the place except…
Linda Eder It's quarter to three There's no one in the place Except you…
Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Marvin Gaye I know, woah, the essence of your togetherness Darling, is s…
Mel Tormé My baby don't care for shows My baby don't care for…
Mina It's quarter to three, There's no one in the place…
Nana Mouskouri It's quarter to three There's no one in the place except…
Nancy Sinatra Okay, and once again, here's Bette Midler {"Well, you know,…
Nelson Riddle Frank Sinatra It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'Cept you…
Oscar Peterson Trio It's quarter to three there's no one in the place except you…
Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Perry Como It's a quarter to three There's no one in the place…
ralph sharon & his orchestra Hey John Yes sir Come on let's have a drink If you insist I…
Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra; Tony Bennett It's quarter to three, There's no-one in the place, 'Cept …
Reeves Dianne It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Robbie Williams It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Robbie Williams & Kelly Clarkson It's quarter to three There's no one in the place Except you…
Rosemary Clooney It's quarter to three There's no one in the place except…
Sinatra It's quarter to three There's no one in the place 'Cept you…
Stacey Kent It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
The Command All-Stars I'm walking on air For I left all my blue days…
The Diamonds I've got you under my skin I've got you deep in…
The Fleetwoods I'm waiting this mornin' I'm waiting for my baby to come…
The Ralph Sharon Trio Hey John Yes sir Come on let's have a drink If you insist…
The Rat Pack It's quarter to three, There's no-one in the place, 'Cept …
Tony Bennett Hey John Yes sir Come on let's have a drink If you insist I…
Tony Bennett & Alejandro Sanz Hey, John Yes, sir Come on, let's have a drink If you insist…
Tony Bennett John Mayer Hey John Yes sir Come on let's have a drink If you insist I…
V.A. The sun is shining, there’s plenty of light A new day…
Willie & Leon It's quarter to three There's no one in the place except…
Willie Nelson It's a quarter to three There's no one in the place Except…
Willie Nelson & Leon Russell It's quarter to three There's no one in the place except…
Julie London Okay, and once again, here's Bette Midler {Well, you know, …
Robbie Williams It's quarter to three There's no one in the place Except y…

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

TRACKS