Latin Band Leader, club, dance school and record label-owner, Edmundo Ros was born in Port of Spain in Trinidad.
As a young man he was enrolled in a military academy where he became interested in music and learned to play the euphonium. In 1927 he and his family moved to Venezuela where Ros played in the Venezuelan Military Academy Band and the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra.
In 1937, a music scholarship from the Venezuelan government enabled Edmundo to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Whilst studying, Ros cut a few records in Fats Waller’s band and was the vocalist and percussionist in Don Marino Baretto’s band at the Embassy Club in London.
Forming his own band - Edmundo Ros and His Rumba Band - in 1940, he made his first records with the Parlophone label. A prolific recording artiste, by the end of the decade, Ros was selling millions of copies of 78 rpm singles. His album Rhythms of The South sold a million copies in 1958.
The band held a succession of residencies in high-end clubs and restaurants in London, including the Cosmo Club in Wardour Street, the St Regis Hotel in Cork Street, the Coconut Grove and the Bagatelle Restaurant. It was at the Bagatelle that the future Queen of England, Elizabeth II danced in public for the first time to Ros’ band.
The bandleader turned proprietor himself, buying the Coconut Grove and renaming it Edmundo Ros's Dinner and Supper Club in 1964.
Edmundo was awarded the OBE in the New Year's Honours List for 2000. The bandleader was also a Freeman of the City of London.
Edmundo Ros died aged 100 in Alicante in Spain where he lived with his second wife, Susan following his retirement in 1975. He had two children, Douglas and Louisa from his first marriage to Britt Johansen.
Photograph: Getty.
As a young man he was enrolled in a military academy where he became interested in music and learned to play the euphonium. In 1927 he and his family moved to Venezuela where Ros played in the Venezuelan Military Academy Band and the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra.
In 1937, a music scholarship from the Venezuelan government enabled Edmundo to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Whilst studying, Ros cut a few records in Fats Waller’s band and was the vocalist and percussionist in Don Marino Baretto’s band at the Embassy Club in London.
Forming his own band - Edmundo Ros and His Rumba Band - in 1940, he made his first records with the Parlophone label. A prolific recording artiste, by the end of the decade, Ros was selling millions of copies of 78 rpm singles. His album Rhythms of The South sold a million copies in 1958.
The band held a succession of residencies in high-end clubs and restaurants in London, including the Cosmo Club in Wardour Street, the St Regis Hotel in Cork Street, the Coconut Grove and the Bagatelle Restaurant. It was at the Bagatelle that the future Queen of England, Elizabeth II danced in public for the first time to Ros’ band.
The bandleader turned proprietor himself, buying the Coconut Grove and renaming it Edmundo Ros's Dinner and Supper Club in 1964.
Edmundo was awarded the OBE in the New Year's Honours List for 2000. The bandleader was also a Freeman of the City of London.
Edmundo Ros died aged 100 in Alicante in Spain where he lived with his second wife, Susan following his retirement in 1975. He had two children, Douglas and Louisa from his first marriage to Britt Johansen.
Photograph: Getty.
