Mario Ruíz Armengol

Mario Ruiz Armengol (known as "Mayito" or "Mister Harmony") (March 14, 1914 in Veracruz, Mexico – December 22, 2002 in Cancun, Mexico), was a Mexican pianist, composer, arranger, conductor and music teacher. He was the son of pianist and conductor Ismael Ruiz Suárez and Rosa Armengol.

Ruiz Armengol started to play piano at eight years old and debuted as a conductor at fifteen, along with Leopoldo Beristaín. At sixteen years old Ruiz Armengol was one of the founding members of the XEW-AM (a legendary Mexican radio broadcaster) music band.

He studied with José Rolón, Rodolfo Halffter and Joaquín Amparán, and in 1942 met Mexican composer Manuel M. Ponce with whom he started a close friendship. By 1954 he was nicknamed "Mr. Harmony" by American musicians such as Duke Ellington, Billy May and Clare Fischer.

Ruiz Armengol became very famous for his boleros. He also wrote more than 31 children's songs, 19 Cuban dances, 16 studies, 16 reflections, 32 miniatures, 5 waltzes, scherzos, minuets, sonatas, fantasies, preludes and piano works for four hands, chamber music for piano and violin, violincello, harp and flute. He was a highly reputed Mexican musician, a master of harmony and classical piano compositions.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 17, 1914 (Veracruz), Died December 22, 2002

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1936 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, composer, songwriter, arranger, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor MBS-90591 10-in. February 1936 or earlier Enigma José Sabre Marroquín ; Pedro Vargas Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Victor MBVE-90681 10-in. before 4/14/1936 Bongó Toña, la Negra Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBVE-90682 10-in. before 4/14/1936 El cacahuatero Toña, la Negra Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-94983 10-in. before March 1938 Nostalgias Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Carlos Ramírez Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble arranger, leader  
Victor MBS-015030 10-in. approximately 1938 Callecita milonguera Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Emilio Tuero Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-015031 10-in. before 8/14/1939 María Teresa Emilio Tuero Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-015232 10-in. before 8/10/1938 Envidia Pedro Vargas Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-015233 10-in. before July 1938 Niebla del riachuelo Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Pedro Vargas Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-054147 10-in. before 12/12/1940 Si no me engaña el corazón Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Emilio Tuero Male vocal solo leader  
Victor MBS-054150 10-in. before 12/12/1940 Organillero Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Emilio Tuero Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-054368 10-in. before 4/3/1941 Al son de la marimba Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Emilio Tuero Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-054370 10-in. before 5/27/1941 Estoy enamorado Emilio Tuero Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader, composer  
Victor MBS-054376 10-in. before 4/17/1941 Cuando tu vuelvas Chucho Martínez Gil Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor MBS-067407 10-in. before 5/18/1942 Pensando en ti Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Emilio Tuero Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader, arranger  
Victor MBS-067411 10-in. before 5/14/1942 En esta tarde gris Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Emilio Tuero Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-067412 10-in. before 5/14/1942 Charlemos Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Emilio Tuero Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-092372 10-in. before 10/23/1950 Cosas pequeñas Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Pedro Vargas Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-092373 10-in. before 10/3/1950 Lágrimas de novía Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Pedro Vargas Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-092374 10-in. before 10/3/1950 Bolero Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Pedro Vargas Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-092375 10-in. before 11/28/1950 Fúlgida luna Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Pedro Vargas Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-092376 10-in. before 10/23/1950 Acércate más Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Pedro Vargas Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-092377 10-in. before 2/6/1951 Rosa Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Pedro Vargas Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-092378 10-in. before 11/28/1950 Mujer Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Pedro Vargas Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-092642 10-in. before 2/27/1951 Jurar por ti Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Pedro Vargas Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-092643 10-in. before 2/27/1951 Qué será Orquesta Mario Ruiz Armengol ; Pedro Vargas Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Ruíz Armengol, Mario," accessed March 30, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105851.

Ruíz Armengol, Mario. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105851.

"Ruíz Armengol, Mario." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 30 March 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105851

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.