El primero de enero/January 1st

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¡Feliz cumpleaños a ... Xavier Cugat! (1900-1990)

Born in Catalonia, Spain in 1900, Cugat was a musician who popularized Latin music, especially the rumba, in the United States. He was also an artist (caricaturist) and filmmaker. Though Cugat was born in Spain, when he was a toddler he moved with his family to Havana, Cuba, where he learned to play the violin (and excelled!). In 1917, he moved to the United States, where he eventually found great success with his dance band. He was known for his showmanship and often cradled a chihuahua while performing (Click HERE to see the Xavier Cugat Orchestra perform Bim Bam Bum). He was also a caricaturist with the Los Angeles Times, and a filmmaker. Cugat was married five times and died in Barcelona (in Catalonia, Spain) at the age of 90.

Xavier Cugat's orchestra performing Manicero (Peanut vendor): CLICK HERE

Xavier Cugat's New York Times obituary: CLICK HERE

For resources for teaching Spanish, Level 1 through AP, CLICK HERE.

Other events of note on January 1st:
1861- Porfirio Diaz conquers Mexico City, Mexico
1899 - Spanish rule ends in Cuba
1927 - Cristero war begins in Mexico
1959 - Fulgencio Batista, dictator of Cuba, is overthrown by Fidel Castro's forces during the revolution

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