Chico O'Farrill

Arturo "Chico" O'Farrill (October 28, 1921 – June 27, 2001) was a Cuban composer, arranger, and conductor, best known for his work in the Latin idiom, specifically Afro-Cuban jazz or "Cubop", although he also composed traditional jazz pieces and even symphonic works.

Born to an Irish father and a German mother, he played the trumpet early in his career. He composed works for Machito (Afro-Cuban suite with Charlie Parker, 1950) and Benny Goodman's Bebop Orchestra ("Undercurrent Blues"), and arranged for Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Kenton, among others.

In the 1990s, O'Farrill led a big band that took up residence at New York's Birdland nightclub. Chico's son, pianist Arturo O'Farrill, eventually took over the band.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 28, 1921 (Havana), Died June 27, 2001 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1947 - 1967

Roles Represented in DAHR: arranger

= 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
Decca 119508 8/16/1967 Green onions Count Basie Orchestra arranger  
Decca L 14618 8/16/1967 Goin' out of my head Count Basie Orchestra arranger  
Decca L 14619 8/16/1967 Hang on sloopy Count Basie Orchestra arranger  
Decca L 14620 8/16/1967 Green onions Count Basie Orchestra arranger  
Decca L 14621 8/16/1967 Knock on wood Count Basie Orchestra arranger  
Decca L 14622 8/15/1967 Bright lights, big city Count Basie Orchestra arranger  
Decca L 14623 8/15/1967 Mercy, mercy, mercy Count Basie Orchestra arranger  
Decca L 14624 8/15/1967 Don't let the sun catch you crying-1 Count Basie Orchestra arranger  
Decca L 14625 8/15/1967 Ain't too proud to beg Count Basie Orchestra arranger  
Decca L 14626 8/17/1967 Let the good times roll Count Basie Orchestra arranger  
Decca L 14627 8/17/1967 Reach out, I'll be there Count Basie Orchestra arranger  
Decca L 14628 8/17/1967 In the heat of the night Count Basie Orchestra arranger  
Decca L 14629 8/17/1967 Memphis, Tennessee Count Basie Orchestra arranger  
Columbia (U.K.) CL8472 10-in. 11/18/1947 La Don Juan Havana Cuban Boys ; Armando Orefiche ; Peggy Walsh Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo arranger  
Columbia (U.K.) CL8473 10-in. 11/18/1947 Drume negrita Havana Cuban Boys ; Armando Orefiche ; Chiquito Orefiche Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo arranger  
Columbia (U.K.) CL8474 10-in. 11/18/1947 Señorita Chi-Chi Rey Alvarado ; Havana Cuban Boys ; Armando Orefiche Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo arranger  
Columbia (U.K.) CL8482 10-in. 12/16/1947 Don Chimbilico Havana Cuban Boys ; Armando Orefiche ; Chiquito Orefiche Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo arranger  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "O'Farrill, Chico," accessed April 17, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116261.

O'Farrill, Chico. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 17, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116261.

"O'Farrill, Chico." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 17 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116261

External Sources

Wikipedia: Chico O’Farrill

Discogs: Chico O'Farrill

Allmusic: Chico O'Farrill

Grove: Chico O'Farrill

IMDb: Chico O'Farrill

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: O'Farrill, Chico, 1921-2001 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no92025813

Wikidata: Chico O’Farrill - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q177824

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/74051679

MusicBrainz: Chico O’Farrill - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/bd9700f4-89b9-4365-9b7b-054cd5a0e853

ISNI: 0000 0000 5951 1455 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000059511455

FAST: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/311446

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