Universally known as the King of the Mambo, Pérez Prado was the single most… Read Full Bio ↴Universally known as the King of the Mambo, Pérez Prado was the single most important musician involved in the hugely popular Latin dance craze. Whether he actually created the rhythm is somewhat disputed, but it's abundantly clear that Prado developed it into a bright, swinging style with massive appeal for dancers of all backgrounds and classes. Prado's mambo was filled with piercing high-register trumpets, undulating saxophone counterpoint, atmospheric organ (later on), and harmonic ideas borrowed from jazz. While his tight percussion arrangements allowed for little improvisation, they were dense and sharply focused, keeping the underlying syncopations easy for dancers to follow. Prado played the piano, but was often more in his element as the focal point of the audience's excitement; he leaped, kicked, danced, shouted, grunted, and exhorted his musicians with a dynamic stage presence that put many more sedate conductors and bandleaders to shame. With this blueprint, Prado brought mambo all the way into the pop mainstream, inspiring countless imitators and scoring two number one singles on the pop charts (albeit in a smoother vein than the fare that first made his name) as the fad snowballed. He was a star throughout most of the Western Hemisphere during the '50s, and even after his popularity waned in the United States, he remained a widely respected figure in many Latin countries, especially his adopted home of Mexico. Prado is often best remembered for his softer, more commercial work, which has an undeniable kitschiness that plays well with modern-day lounge-revival hipsters. Unfortunately, that has served to obscure his very real credentials in the realm of authentic, unadulterated Latin dance music, and to this day he remains somewhat underappreciated.

Money
Perez Prado and His Orchestra Lyrics

Once I had a bank account
My bank book was filled with a large amount
Girlfriends all like millionaires
I lost my money and I got the air

You can walk into a restaurant
Sit right down and eat all you want
The waiter comes with a great big check
If you haven't got the money he breaks your neck

Money, money, money, money
Money, money always gets the honey
Life would be so sunny
With money, money, money, money, money

I went to college for a degree
Which gave me great ability
I can do most anything
Except make my pockets go tingaling

Money, money, money, money
Money, money always gets the honey
Life would be so sunny
With money, money, money, money, money

You must have money rich or poor
That's one thing that I know for sure
People say that money talks
My pockets are speechless they've got no squawk

But if you want advice from me
This is my philosophy
Save your pennies everyday
Without a dollar you can't make hey

Money, money, money, money
Money, money always gets the honey
Life would be so sunny
With money, money, money, money, money

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Written by: BRODSKY, ROY, TEPPER, SID

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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