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.

Sentimental Journey
Esquivel Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'Sentimental Journey' by these artists:

Acker Bilk I'm gonna take a Sentimental Journey, Gonna set my heart…
Al Nevins and His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Barry Manilow Gonna take a sentimental journey, gonna set my heart at eas…
Bert Kaempfert And His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
BILK MR. ACKER I'm gonna take a Sentimental Journey, Gonna set my heart…
Billy Vaughn Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Billy Vaughn & his Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Billy Vaughn and His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Brown Green Homer Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…

Buck Clayton and His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Carl Stevens and His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Carroll Gibbons And His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Conway Twitty Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Dinah Shore Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Eddie Heywood and His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Eddy Heywood & His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Ella Fitzgerald Eddie Heywood Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Ella Fitzgerald Teddy Wilson & Tommy Dorsey Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Emmy Rossum Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Enoch Light and the Light Brigade Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Ernie Fields & His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Ferlin Husky I'm gonna take a sentimental journey I'm gonna set my…
Frank Chacksfield & His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Frank Sinatra Writer(s): Brown/Homer/Green Gonna take a sentimental jour…
Frank Sinatra & Doris Day Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Green/ Brown/ Homer Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Hal McIntyre Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Hal McIntyre & His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Hal Mcintyre And His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Hank Snow Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Harpers Bizarre Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my mind at ease G…
Harry James & Doris Day Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Kay Starr Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Keely Smith Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Kenyon Hopkins and His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Leo Addeo & His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Leo Addeo And His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Les & Larry Elgart Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Les and Larry Elgart Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Les Brown Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Les brown and his orch. Voc Doris Day Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Les Brown and His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Les Brown v/Doris Day Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Les Brown w/Doris Day Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Les Brown/Ames Brothers Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
LIVING ROOM - Ella Fitzgerald Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
London Julie Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Lou Rawls Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Louis Prima & Keely Smith feat. Sam Butera & The Witnesses Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Louis Prima / Keely Smith / Sam Butera Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Louis Prima and Keely Smith with Sam Butera and The Witnesses Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Louis Prima Keely Smith & Sam Butera & The Witnesses Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
McKay Nellie Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Michael Maxwell & His Orchestra/Steve Band Wingfield Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Michael Maxwell and His Orchestra and The Steve Wingfield Band Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Mina Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Mr. Acker Bilk I'm gonna take a Sentimental Journey, Gonna set my heart…
Muggsy Spanier & His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Olstead Renee I'm gonna take a Sentimental Journey, Gonna set my heart at…
PEGGY LEE & BENNY GOODMAN & TOMMY DORSEY ORCHESTRA Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Pere Ubu Window My size Outside Monoxide Inside Paradise Curtain No b…
Ray Anthony & His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Renee Olstead I'm gonna take a Sentimental Journey, Gonna set my heart at…
Reneй Olstead I'm gonna take a Sentimental Journey, Gonna set my heart at…
Ringo Starr Gonna take a sentimental journey, Gonna set my heart at ease…
Rita Coolidge Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Rosemary Clooney Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
russ morgan and his orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Ruth Brown Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Ruth Brown & The Delta Rhythm Boys Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Sammy Kaye Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Sammy Kaye & His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Sarah Harmer Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at…
Sarah Harmer Jason Euringer Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at…
Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her (jesus christ Never mind I don't care ? Come with a doub…
Starr Ringo Gonna take a sentimental journey, Gonna set my heart at eas…
Steve & Eydie Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Steve Lawrence Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Steve Lawrence / Eydie Gorme Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Steve Lawrence Eydie Gorme Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
The Ames Brothers Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
The Ames Brothers with Les Brown and His Band of Renown Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
The Chordettes Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
The Delphin jr. orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
The Four Lads Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
The Lennon Sisters Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Tommy Dorsey Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Werner Müller and His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Willie Nelson Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at…
Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
YUKI Osorenaide kanjiyou Muda na mono wa sutete ikou Terenagara y…
潘迪华 Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna to set my heart at…
Ella Fitzgerald Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…

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