This (above) is the very best version of the very best recorded Mambo that I know of: Perez Prado doing "Que Rico El Mambo." I don't know the name of the terrific female dancer, but the guy is Resortes, the comedian Cabral did so many fine posters for. Que Rico catapulted Prado into international fame in the early 50s, but it only lasted for a few years then Rock and Roll came in and swept everything else away.
While he was in the States Perez somehow got sidetracked into American Easy Listening/Bachelor Pad-type music (above). It was a step down in my opinion, but he did help to kick that genre into a Golden Age of its own before he decided to get back to his roots South of the border. Cuba by then was a communist dictatorship so he bailed into Mexico, which must have been a real shot in the arm for that country.
Here's (above) the Dolly Sisters, who were Hungarian Americans I think. Anyway, they do a great job on Perez's Mambo. Wielding castanets in the background is ace vocalist Benny More.
BTW, I like Prado's use of Las Vegas-type show girls. It fits this kind of music.
Also BTW: Thanks to Steve for turning me on to "Que Rico El Mambo."
