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 aristocratic Cuban family, 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 Havana (capital and largest city of Cuba), Died June 27, 2001 (New York City (most populous city in the United States) )

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 December 25, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116261.

O'Farrill, Chico. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 25, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116261.

"O'Farrill, Chico." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 25 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://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 - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no92025813

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

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/74051679

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

Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/311446 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/311446

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