Cugat was born Francisco de Asis Javier Cugat Mingall de Bru y Deulofeo in Girona, Spain. His family immigrated to Cuba when he was five. He trained as a classical violinist and played with the Orchestra of the Teatro Nacional in Havana.
Sometime between 1915 and 1918, Cugat moved to New York, where he played with a band called "The Gigolos" during the tango craze. Later, he went to work for the Los Angeles Times as a cartoonist (Cugat's caricatures were later nationally syndicated).
In the late 1920s, when sound began to be used in films, Cugat put together a tango band that had some success in early short musical films. By the early 1930s, he began appearing with his group in feature films. Cugat took his band to New York to open the new Waldorf Astoria Hotel and it became the hotel's resident group.
He shuttled between New York and Los Angeles for most of the next thirty years, alternating hotel and radio dates with movie appearances.
In 1940, he recorded the song Perfidia with singer Miguelito Valdés which became a big hit. Cugat followed trends closely, making records for the conga, the mambo, the cha-cha-cha, and the twist when each were in fashion.
His first marriage in 1952 was to singer, Abbe Lane, they performed together until they divorced in 1964. He married salsa dancer Charo on August 7, 1966; the two were the first couple to marry in the newly opened Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.
Cugat did not lose sleep over artistic compromises: "I would rather play
Chiquita Banana and have my swimming pool than play Bach and starve."
Cugat died of heart failure at age 90 in Barcelona, in his native province of Catalonia, Spain.
Miami Beach Rumba
Xavier Cugat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Soon I was at Miami Beach
There, not so very far from Cuba
Oh, what a rumba they teach
Palm trees are whispering "yo te quiero"
What could I do but stay awhile
I met a Cuban caballero
So I never got to Cuba
But I got all its atmosphere
Why even Yuba and his tuba
They played a night right here
I'll save Havana for mañana
Meanwhile I've heaven in my reach
I found the charm of old Havana
In a rumba at Miami Beach
Ahi, ahi, ahia, with this swing
You will flying.
Here's the night
In Miami, la la la
Ahi, ahi, ahi, with this swing
You will flying.
Here's the night
In Miami, la la la
Ahi, ahi, ahi, with this swing
You will flying.
Here's the night
In Miami, la la la
Xavier Cugat's "Miami Beach Rumba" tells the story of a traveler who sets out to go to Cuba but ends up in Miami instead. The song speaks to the rich Latino culture in Miami and how even though the traveler never made it to Cuba, he found its atmosphere in the rumba dance they teach in Miami. The traveler meets a Cuban caballero and together, they dance in true Latin style. This song highlights the vibrancy of Miami's Latin culture and how it offers its own unique charm.
The lyrics of "Miami Beach Rumba" are brought to life with lively dance rhythms, orchestra arrangements, and Cugat's signature Latin jazz style. The catchy chorus of "Ahi, ahi, ahia, with this swing / You will flying / Here's the night / In Miami, la la la" is a perfect representation of the high-energy, vibrant atmosphere of Miami's Latin nightlife.
Line by Line Meaning
I started out to go to Cuba
I originally had plans to visit Cuba
Soon I was at Miami Beach
But I ended up at Miami Beach instead
There, not so very far from Cuba
Miami Beach is relatively close to Cuba
Oh, what a rumba they teach
Miami Beach has an amazing rumba dance scene
Palm trees are whispering 'yo te quiero'
The palm trees are romantic and say 'I love you'
What could I do but stay awhile
I felt compelled to stay for a bit
I met a Cuban caballero
And I met a charming Cuban gentleman
We danced in true latin style
And we danced with authentic Latin flair
So I never got to Cuba
I didn't end up visiting Cuba after all
But I got all its atmosphere
But I was able to experience its atmosphere at Miami Beach
Why even Yuba and his tuba
Even Yuba and his tuba joined the party
They played a night right here
And we had an unforgettable night at Miami Beach
I'll save Havana for mañana
I'll save my trip to Havana for another day
Meanwhile I've heaven in my reach
For the meantime, Miami Beach is paradise for me
I found the charm of old Havana
I discovered the same charm and vibe of old Havana at Miami Beach
In a rumba at Miami Beach
Through experiencing the rumba dance culture at Miami Beach
Ahi, ahi, ahia, with this swing
This swing and energy is great
You will flying
It lifts my spirits
Here's the night
This is the night
In Miami, la la la
In Miami, we celebrate with song and dance
Writer(s): Irving Fields, Albert Gamse
Contributed by Sadie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
John David
When I was a kid of about 8 I used to play my parents 78RPM records on my little record player. This was one of my favorites along with the flip side "Come to the Mardi Gras." Hopefully, I will get to hear that again now that 60 years have passed. Thank you for this treat.
Toni Perez
fantastico,cuantas veces le he visto salir del ritz,a veces acompañado de lindas señoritas otras veces con su chiwua,un recuerdo para el y su musica,toni
Mark 0
The original choice for Dexter's show... And it also fits perfectly!
Felix Borsani
QUE HERMOSA RUMBA. RECUERDO SE DIFUNDIA MUCHO CUANDO YO ERA PEQUEÑO. QUE BELLAS EPOCAS. ESTE TIPO DE MUSICA ENTRABA EN ADOLESCENTES, PERSONAS MAYORES, JOVENES Y NIÑOS
Maruja Carreres
Muy bonitos recordando el ayer
héctor de rosa
Buenísimo con abbe Lane