Dámaso Pérez Prado

Dámaso Pérez Prado (December 11, 1916 – September 14, 1989) was a Cuban bandleader, pianist, composer and arranger who popularized the mambo in the 1950s. His big band adaptation of the danzón-mambo proved to be a worldwide success with hits such as "Mambo No. 5", earning him the nickname "King of the Mambo". In 1955, Prado and his orchestra topped the charts in the US and UK with a mambo cover of Louiguy's "Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)". He frequently made brief appearances in films, primarily of the rumberas genre, and his music was featured in films such as La Dolce Vita.

Pérez Prado began his career as pianist and arranger for the Sonora Matancera, an internationally successful dance music ensemble from his hometown of Matanzas. He later established his own group and made several recordings in Havana in 1946, including "Trompetiana", a self-penned mambo and one of the first examples arranged for big band. He then moved to Mexico where he developed this particular genre in multiple forms, including bolero-mambo (with María Luisa Landín), guaracha-mambo (with Benny Moré) and two forms of instrumental mambo he created: mambo batiri and mambo kaen. The success of his 1949 recordings landed him a contract with RCA Victor in the US, which led to a prolific career in the 1950s. His number 1 hit "Cherry Pink" was followed by other charting singles, such as a cover of "Guaglione" and his own "Patricia", both released in 1958. In the 1960s, Pérez Prado's popularity waned with the advent of other Latin dance rhythms such as pachanga and, later, boogaloo. Despite several innovative albums and a new form of mambo he called "dengue", Pérez Prado moved back to Mexico in the 1970s, where he became a naturalized citizen in 1980. He died there in 1989. His son, Pérez Jr., continues to direct the Pérez Prado Orchestra in Mexico City to this day.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 11, 1917 (Matanzas), Died September 14, 1989 (Mexico City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1946 - 1953

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, composer, piano, performer, arranger, songwriter, vocalist, lyricist

Notes: Name sometimes appears as Dámaso Pérez Prado, D. P. Prado, D. Pérez Prado, Prado, or Perez. Also known by nickname "El Rey del Mambo."

= 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-091227 10-in. before 5/25/1949 El manicero Pérez Prado Piano solo, with percussion instrumentalist, piano  
Victor MBS-091229 10-in. before 5/25/1949 Tacuba Pérez Prado Piano solo, with percussion composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor MBS-091231 10-in. before 4/5/1949 Macóme Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-091232 10-in. 4/5/1949 José Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Victor MBS-091233 10-in. before 5/31/1949 Mangolele Beny Moré ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-091234 10-in. before 5/31/1949 Sera la negra Beny Moré ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-091572 10-in. before 10/31/1950 No me digas nada Maria Luisa Landin ; Pérez Prado Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-091574 10-in. before 9/22/1949 No me mires Maria Luisa Landin ; Pérez Prado Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor MBS-091701 10-in. before December 1949 Oh caballo Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor MBS-091704 10-in. 12/6/1949 Mambo en sax Roberto Pacheco ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance, with saxophone solo instrumentalist, piano, composer, leader  
Victor MBS-091705 10-in. before 1/5/1950 Bongó bongó Silvestre Méndez ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with tumba composer, leader  
Victor MBS-091706 10-in. before 3/7/1950 Mambo no. 5 Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal. instrumentalist, piano, composer, leader  
Victor MBS-091707 10-in. before 1/5/1950 Mambo a la Kenton Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Victor MBS-091792 10-in. before 4/26/1950 La múcura Beny Moré ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-091823 10-in. before 2/23/1950 Babarabatiri Beny Moré ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor MBS-091824 10-in. before 3/7/1950 Qué rico el mambo Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Victor MBS-091825 10-in. before 3/17/1950 Tocineta Beny Moré ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-091826 10-in. before 2/23/1950 Dolor karabaly Hermanas Gaona ; Beny Moré ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Male vocal solo, with female vocal trio and jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-091847 10-in. before 3/17/1950 Ana María Beny Moré ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-091850 10-in. before 7/19/1950 Guajiro Hermanas Gaona ; Beny Moré ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Male vocal solo, with female vocal trio and jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-091852 10-in. before 6/1/1950 Locas por el mambo Beny Moré ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-091858 10-in. before 3/17/1950 Eres exactamente Fernando Fernández ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-091963 10-in. before 4/22/1952 Malagueña Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-091964 10-in. before 10/2/1950 María Cristina Beny Moré ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Victor MBS-091966 10-in. before 2/10/1950 Pachito e-ché Beny Moré ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor MBS-091968 10-in. before 2/10/1950 A romper el coco Beny Moré ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-091969 10-in. before 4/26/1950 Mambo ete Beny Moré ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-091988 10-in. before 2/17/1950 Al compás del mambo Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Victor MBS-091989 10-in. before 2/17/1950 Mambo de Chattanooga Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-092057 10-in. before 2/13/1951 Mambo Kaen Orquesta Chamaco Domínguez Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor MBS-092138 10-in. before 6/1/1950 Mambo del ruletero Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal leader, composer  
Victor MBS-092139 10-in. before 6/27/1950 Mambo no. 8 Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Victor MBS-092141 10-in. before 6/27/1950 Qué te parece, cholito Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-092208 10-in. before 6/29/1950 Ni hablal Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal leader, composer  
Victor MBS-092209 10-in. before 6/29/1950 Pianolo Ramoncito Castro ; C. Morán ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with solo trumpet and bongó composer, leader  
Victor MBS-092236 10-in. before 9/12/1950 Mambo del papelero Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble composer, leader  
Victor MBS-092237 10-in. before 9/12/1950 Cuban mambo Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-092238 10-in. before 9/5/1950 La chula linda Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Victor MBS-092239 10-in. before 9/5/1950 Gateando Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Victor MBS-092312 10-in. before 12/9/1952 Mambo universitario Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Victor MBS-092313 10-in. before 10/2/1950 Bombokolea Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal leader, composer  
Victor MBS-092381 10-in. before 1/9/1951 Mamboletas Beny Moré ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-092382 10-in. before 12/12/1950 La camisa de papel Kiko Mendive ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-092383 10-in. before 1/2/1951 México lindo Kiko Mendive ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-092384 10-in. before 12/12/1950 Apúrate Kiko Mendive ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-092385 10-in. before 11/15/1950 Silbando mambo Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Victor MBS-092386 10-in. before 12/26/1950 Latino Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-092388 10-in. before 12/26/1950 Jumbo, jumbo Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Victor MBS-092389 10-in. before 1/9/1951 Martinica Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-092390 10-in. before 11/15/1950 Caballo negro Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal composer, leader  
Victor MBS-092576 10-in. before 3/6/1951 Jersey bounce Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-092577 10-in. before 3/6/1951 Guao Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-092578 10-in. before 2/6/1951 Jing a ling jing a ling Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-092579 10-in. before 2/6/1951 La niña Popof Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-092776 10-in. before 4/17/1951 Pasó un lucero Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-092777 10-in. before 4/17/1951 Broadway mambo Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-092778 10-in. before 4/17/1951 Mambo de París Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-092779 10-in. before 4/17/1951 Mona Lisa Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-093034 10-in. before 10/25/1951 Politécnico Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Victor MBS-093035 10-in. before 6/26/1951 Mi gallo Tony Camargo ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor MBS-093036 10-in. before 6/26/1951 Lupita Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093077 10-in. before 7/10/1951 Mucho, mucho, mucho Hermanas Montoya ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal trio leader  
Victor MBS-093104 10-in. before 9/25/1951 Chupando caña Tony Camargo ; Hermanas Gaona ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and female vocal trio leader  
Victor MBS-093105 10-in. before 10/30/1951 Koldoba Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093106 10-in. before 9/25/1951 Deja que suba la marea Tony Camargo ; Hermanas Gaona ; Beny Moré ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solos and female vocal trio leader  
Victor MBS-093676 10-in. before 11/18/1952 Las mañanitas Las Tres Conchitas ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal trio leader, arranger  
Victor MBS-093678 10-in. before 2/17/1953 Mambo del futbol Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093679 10-in. before 11/18/1952 El primer suby Las Tres Conchitas ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal trio leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093710 10-in. before 12/30/1952 El rey del suby Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093711 10-in. before 12/9/1952 El bombero Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093712 10-in. before 7/2/1953 The suby Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093713 10-in. before 12/30/1952 Mambo de las normalistas (Mambo existencialista) Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093743 10-in. before 12/30/1952 El velerito Hermanas Montoya ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Female vocal trio, with jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-093745 10-in. before 2/17/1953 Vida, vida, vida Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093746 10-in. before 12/30/1952 Mambo del cartero Hermanas Montoya ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Female vocal trio, with jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093799 10-in. before 3/10/1953 Carretro Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093800 10-in. before 3/10/1953 Suby universitario Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093862 10-in. before 3/19/1953 Beautiful Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093863 10-in. before 6/9/1953 El ba-ba-la balau Los Cuatro Diablos ; Pérez Prado Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet leader, performer, composer  
Victor MBS-093865 10-in. before 3/19/1953 A la Billy May Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093888 10-in. before 12/15/1953 Los norteños Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with shouts composer, leader  
Victor MBS-093889 10-in. before 6/2/1953 Suby del poli Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093890 10-in. before 6/2/1953 Rompiendo piano Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093891 10-in. before 5/19/1953 Silvana Mangano Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093925 10-in. before 5/19/1953 Anna (El Negro Zumbón) Tony Camargo ; Pérez Prado Orchestra ; Carmencita Pernett Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet leader  
Victor MBS-093926 10-in. before 6/9/1953 Maria Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093978 10-in. before 7/10/1951 Paso baklan Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Victor MBS-093995 10-in. before 6/24/1953 Suby en Paris Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-093996 10-in. before 6/24/1953 Cerezo rosa Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-093997 10-in. before 11/3/1953 Yum-bam-be Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-094032 10-in. before 7/8/1953 María Victoria Pérez Prado Orchestra ; María Victoria Female-male vocal duet, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist  
Victor MBS-094033 10-in. before 7/2/1953 Jazz me blues Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-094069 10-in. before 11/3/1953 Mambo del gasolinero Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-094136 10-in. before 8/31/1953 La engañadora Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-094137 10-in. before 8/31/1953 Que linda es mi novia Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor MBS-094163 10-in. before 9/22/1953 Chiquita pimienta Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor MBS-094164 10-in. before 9/22/1953 La cerveza Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor E1FB-2086 10-in. 5/3/1951 Virgen del Carmen Perla Marini ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and shouts leader  
Victor E1FB-2087 10-in. 5/3/1951 Manhattan mambo Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor E1FB-2088 10-in. 5/3/1951 Mambo del reloj Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with shouts leader  
Victor E1FB-2089 10-in. 5/3/1951 Mambo del 65 Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with shouts composer, leader  
Victor E1FB-2986 10-in. 10/22/1951 Mama y Tata Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal trio leader  
Victor E1FB-2987 10-in. 10/22/1951 Olé mambo Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor E1FB-2988 10-in. 10/22/1951 Adiós, muchachos Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor E1FB-2989 10-in. 10/22/1951 Concierto en Carnegie Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet leader, composer  
Victor E1FB-3643 10-in. 9/19/1951 Muchachita Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal ensemble composer, leader  
Victor E2FB-5601 10-in. 2/8/1952 Enamorado Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor E2FB-5602 10-in. 2/8/1952 Perdido Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor E2FB-5603 10-in. 2/8/1952 Alékum-sálem Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor E2FB-5604 10-in. 2/8/1952 Mario, el limpiabota Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor CU-200 10-in. before 2/22/1949 Kandela Orquesta Casino de la Playa Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor CU-268 10-in. before 4/21/1949 No me quieras tanto Abel Del Rivero ; Cecilia González ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet leader  
Victor CU-269 10-in. before 7/29/1949 Kon tomá Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor CU-270 10-in. before 4/21/1949 ¿Que es amor? Abel Del Rivero ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor CU-271 10-in. before 7/29/1949 Memoria a chano Abel Del Rivero ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor CU-290[b] 10-in. before 6/30/1949 Timba, timba Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano, leader, composer  
Victor CU-291[b] 10-in. before 6/30/1949 Agony Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor CU-292[b] 10-in. before 9/6/1949 Rica Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Victor CU-293[b] 10-in. before 9/6/1949 Kuba-mambo Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band and male vocal ensemble instrumentalist, piano, composer, leader  
Victor CU-761 10-in. before 12/15/1953 Rosita Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal ensemble composer, leader  
Victor CU-1407 10-in. before 1/24/1946 Diez y siete setecientos Conjunto Pérez Prado ; Tito Guizar Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor CU-1408 10-in. before 1/24/1946 Qué me importa Conjunto Pérez Prado ; Tito Guizar Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor CU-1409 10-in. before 1/24/1946 Tu felicidad Conjunto Pérez Prado ; Tito Guizar Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor CU-1410 10-in. before 1/24/1946 No vuelvo contigo Conjunto Pérez Prado ; Tito Guizar Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor CU-1411 10-in. before 3/4/1946 Aquí estoy Conjunto Pérez Prado ; Myrta Silva Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor CU-1412 10-in. before 3/4/1946 ¡Ay, qué bueno! Conjunto Pérez Prado ; Myrta Silva Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor CU-1413 10-in. before 3/4/1946 La flauta de Bartolo Conjunto Pérez Prado ; Myrta Silva Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor CU-1414 10-in. before 3/4/1946 El tumbaíto Conjunto Pérez Prado ; Myrta Silva Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor CU-1564 10-in. before 11/20/1946 Suavecito pollito Orlando Guerra ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor CU-1565 10-in. before 11/20/1946 Caballeros, abran paso Orlando Guerra ; Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor CU-1566 10-in. before 11/20/1946 Trompetiana Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Victor CU-1567 10-in. before 11/20/1946 Rumbambó Pérez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Columbia CO43911 10-in. 6/8/1950 Mambo jambo Xavier Cugat ; Xavier Cugat Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Pérez Prado, Dámaso," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116415.

Pérez Prado, Dámaso. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116415.

"Pérez Prado, Dámaso." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116415

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