DOCUMENTARY

52 minutes
English
2003

Yves Billon

Les Films du Village , Canal 22 , RFO , Zarafa Films

A COLLECTION OF RARE FOOTAGE OF PEREZ PRADO, KING of MAMBO.

When mambo came out in 1950 it created a tremendous shock wave which spread at the speed of "son" throughout concert halls and dance halls all over the world - an unprecedented bout of dancing called mambomania. This perfect mixed-breed music came from the explosive meeting between son and jazz. Perez Prado a Cuban musician launched this music successfully and soon became the king of mambo. He was a precursor as he was the first to take advantage of all the means distribution - records, radio, cinema and television- which expanded worldwide during the post-war period. The mambo was also the sensuous echo of the young consuming society longing for pleasure and fun.font>