THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

279- Pérez Prado-Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White.

1955-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.01. Perez Prado may have written ‘Mambo No 5,’ but this was definitely Mambo’s Number 1 song.

Pérez Prado was born Dámaso Pérez Prado on December 11th, 1916, in Matanzas, Cuba, he died of complications from a stroke after being in ill health for the previous two years on September 14th, 1989, at the age of 72. In 1949 Prado moved to Mexico where he formed his own band after signing with ‘RCA Victor’ records in Mexico City. Prado had 23 Albums released by that label between 1951-1976, he also provided the soundtrack to eight films in the 1950’s. His most well known compositions and covers include his 1958 American Billboard Hot 100 Number 2 and UK Number 8 single ‘Patricia,’ his 1958 cover of ‘Guaglione,’ which reached Number 2 in the UK in 1995 after it was used for a ‘Guinness’ advert, and also ‘Mambo No 5,’ from 1949. In 1999 ‘Mambo No 5’ was sampled by the German singer Lou Bega for his worldwide hit ‘Mambo No 5 (A Little Bit’) In 2001 the song once again topped the UK chart, when a novelty version by ‘Bob the Builder,’ from the BBC children’s television show, was sung by the British actor Neil Morrissey. Perez Prado who became affectionately known as the ‘King of the Mambo’ performed for the last time in 1987, but his son Perez Jr. continues to direct the Perez Prado Orchestra in Mexico City. In 1999, Pérez Prado was posthumously inducted into the ‘International Latin Music Hall of Fame.’

‘Mambo’ is a genre of Cuban dance music that was developed by the Cuban multi-instrumentalist Orestes Lopez, (1908-1991) his brother Israel ‘Cachao’ Lopez, (1918-2008) and the Cuban flautist Antonio Arcario (1911-1994) in the late 1930’s. By the late 1940’s Mambo had become a dance craze in the United States, with bandleaders such as Perez Prado refining the genre. Prado adapted the fast Mambo rhythm to the American style Big Bands of the 1940’s, distancing the style away from it’s more traditional quieter Cuban roots.

‘Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White’ is the English version of ‘Cerisiers Roses et Pommiers Blancs’ with the music written by Louis ‘Louiguy’ Guglielmi, (1916-1991) his other most notable composition is ‘La Vie en Rose,’ which became the signature song of Edith Piaf (1915-1963) (see also best songs 178.) The French lyrics to ‘Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White’ were written by Jacques Larue, (1906-1961) while the English lyrics were written by Mack David, (1912-1993) the older brother of Hal David (1921-2012) (see also best songs 902-832-815-740-644-376 and 224.)

Mack David was born on July 5th, 1912, in New York City, United States, he died on December 30th, 1993, at the age of 81. Mack David is credited with writing lyrics or music or both for over 1000 songs. He is best remembered for his work on the ‘Disney’ films Cinderella, (1950) and Alice in Wonderland, (1951) and for his translation of song lyrics into English. Although Mack David did not write an English translation of Édith Piaf’s lyrics to what would become her signature tune ‘La Vie en rose,’ his words captured the spirit of the song. ‘La Vie en rose’ was recorded by over 80 international singers and musicians, and has been featured in several dozen motion pictures as well. Between 1950-1966, eight of Mack David’s songs received nominations for an ‘Acadamy Award,’ including Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo,’ with Jerry Livingston (1909-1987) and Al Hoffman, (1902-1960) from ‘Cinderella,’ (1950) ‘Walk on the Wild Side,’ with Elmer Bernstein, (1922-2004) from ‘Walk on the Wild Side,’ (1962) and ‘Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte,’ with Frank De Vol, (1911-1999) from ‘Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte’ (1964.) Mack David also had his songs cross over into the ‘Pop’ charts, including ‘I Don’t Care If The Sun Don’t Shine,’ a hit for Patti Page, (1927-2013) (see also best songs 1050) (1950-Billboard Number 8) it was later covered by Elvis Presley (1935-1977) (see also best songs 954-664-442 and 194) as a Rockabilly-styled tune in 1954. Mack David also co-wrote the lyrics for ‘Baby It’s You,’ which has been a hit for the Shirelles, (1961-Billboard Number 8) and the band ‘Smith,’ (1969-Billboard Number 5) and was covered by the Beatles (see also best songs 599-456-319-238-218-141-80-51-10 and 5) on their debut studio Album ‘Please Please Me’ in 1963.

Pérez Prado’s instrumental with his orchestra, of ‘Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White’ which features the very distinctive trumpet playing of Billy Regis, was first recorded for the 1955 movie ‘Underwater!’ where Jane Russell (1921-2011) can be seen dancing to the song. When released as a single it topped the American chart, and went onto be the best selling single of 1955. The most successful vocal version in America was by Alan Dale, (1925-2002) whose recording made Number 14, also in 1955. In the UK the Perez Prado version spent two weeks at Number 1, while a competing instrumental recording by the British trumpeter Eddie Calvert (1922-1978) also made Number 1, but for four weeks. The song also charted in the UK in 1982 for the British Pop/Salsa group ‘Modern Romance,’ whose vocal version peaked at Number 15.