Exitos Musicales

Roberto Inglez and his Orchestra: ‘The Melody Maker’
Part 1 (of 2): Who was Roberto Inglez ?

The composer of these 2 shows will take you on his quest to the man who between 1946 and 1954 released a 78rpm record every month (approx. 100), and could be heard on the radio every Saturday, also on the short wave between 12.30 and 13.00 pm. His records were “selling like hot cakes” not only in England, but in large parts of South-America and especially in Portugal as well. On tour in Brazil he was paid the highest wage ever for an orchestra of this size and for that time. He stood at the beginning of a wave of popularity of the South-American music, but did that with an orchestra which could have up to 24 people. Their fixed location was the world-famous and highly luxurious Savoy hotel in London from where his radio shows were also broadcasted. His orchestra had actually a classical arrangement, with strings and wind instruments, from piccolo to the French horn, he had after all had enjoyed a classical music education, and good percussion which is well-connected to the different ‘Latin’ rhythms.

He stood at the head of that orchestra as an arranger and pianist with a very distinguished style of playing which became his trade-mark and which was immediately recognizable, playing with the one-finger-system on the low tones of the piano. His repertoire consisted of very recognizable melodies from famous films and from the popular music world of that time, but which can be heard until today, because they are simply ‘timeless’. Many famous vocalists from other countries came especially to London to make recordings with him. It took a long time before the composer found out about the identity of Roberto Inglez, despite the fact that he already had composed a large collection by him. As you know, in 1946 the Internet did not exist with its Google search engine where every detail can be brought in.

These 2 shows will undoubtedly charm the Latin-American music ‘lovers’, but also the lovers of classical orchestra music.

Playlist:

1. Cara, bolero (Cuando) – Roberto Inglez from The Savoy Hotel, Ldn. – Parlophone R 3261 1-3-1950
2. And Mimi, beguine – Roberto Inglez from The Savoy Hotel, Ldn. – Parlophone F 2269 1-2-1948
3. Maxixe carioca, samba – Vocalion CDEA 6095 – The Melody Maker 2 (with vocal quartet) 1-3-1951
4. Uno, bolero – Roberto Inglez from The Savoy Hotel, Ldn. – Parlophone R 3172 (Marianito Mores/Discépolo) 1-2-1949
5. Laura, beguine – Roberto Inglez from The Savoy Hotel, Ldn. – Parlophone F 2094 Film: “Laura” (David Vaccin) 1-9-1946
6. Ya que te vas, beguine – Vocalion CDEA 6062 – Roberto Inglez Come Closer To Me (Night after night) (Lecuona) 1-11-1946
7. Brazil, samba – Roberto Inglez from The Savoy Hotel, Ldn. – Parlophone F 2242 (S.K.Russell/A.Barroso) 1-11-1947
8. Without you (Tres palabras), beguine – Roberto Inglez from The Savoy Hotel, Ldn.. – Parlophone F 2168 Film: “Make Mine Music” (Farres/Gilbert) 1-1-1947
9. Come closer to me, beguine (Acércate más) – Roberto Inglez from The Savoy Hotel, Ldn.. – Parlophone F 2169 – Film: “Easy To Wed” (Osvaldo Farrés/Stewart) 1-2-1947
10. Río de Janeiro, samba – Harlequin HQ CD 108 – Roberto Inglez 1945-1947 (Isto e o meu Brasil (Barroso) 1-11-1947
11. O mama mama, samba – Roberto Inglez from The Savoy Hotel, Ldn.. – Parlophone R 3261 – Roberto Inglez, vocal (Charlie Chester) 1-3-1950
12. In the heart of a shamrock, beguine – Roberto Inglez from The Savoy Hotel, Ldn.. – Parlophone R 3195 (with vocal quartet) 1-5-1949
13. The wedding samba, Film: “On an island with You” – Roberto Inglez from The Savoy Hotel, Ldn.. – Parlophone R 3227 – Pat Hutton, vocal (Ellestein/Small/Liebowitz) 1-10-1949
14. Mambo jambo, – Roberto Inglez from The Savoy Hotel, Ldn.. – Parlophone R 3324 (Qué rico el mambo) (Dámaso Pérez Prado) 1-10-1950
15. Bruca maniguá, afro-cubano – Roberto Inglez from The Savoy Hotel, Ldn.. – Parlophone F 2256 1-1-1948
16. Jamaican rumba, rumba – Roberto Inglez from The Savoy Hotel, Ldn. – Parlophone F 2207 (Arthur Benjamin) 1-5-1947
17. Kalú, baiâo – Roberto Inglez from The Savoy Hotel, Ldn. – Parlophone 3581 (Humberto Teixeira) 1-10-1952
18. Fidgetty samba, samba – Vocalion CDEA 6095 – Roberto Inglez The Melody Maker 2 – 1-5-1951