Biography
Until recently, Don Azpiazu stood as an overlooked colossus. The ensemble he led scored a massive nationwide success with its 1930 release of "Peanut Vendor," a track that ignited ten years of rumbamania while also becoming the first U.S. recording of genuine Latin music from its country of origin rather than American material merely arranged to a Latin beat in the manner of the '20s tangos. Azpiazu's "Peanut Vendor" likewise brought the full array of Cuban percussion instruments into American studios, tools now viewed as commonplace. The group's next release, "Green Eyes," delivered the earliest instance of genuine crossover success by featuring a North American vocalist. Above all, the band ranked as outstanding by any measure, whether judged against contemporaries or later ensembles.
Albums
