Cugat, Xavier

Cugat, Xavier * January 1, 1900 – † October 27, 1990Cugat, XavierXavier Cugat Xavier Cugat (Francisco de Asis Javier Cugat Mingall de Bru y Deuolfeo), affectionately known as »Cugie,« was born in Gerona, Spain, and emigrated to Cuba with his family when he was five. Something of a child prodigy, he trained as a classical violinist, played as a child in various Havana cafes and silent movie houses, and earned a seat as first violin with the orchestra of the National Theater in Havana at age 12…