Un altro grande se ne va...ci lascia Cuban Pete.

[chevere]

Purtroppo ho appena saputo che il grande ballerino del Palladium, Pedro “Cuban Pete” Aguilar si è spento
ieri 13 Gennaio 2009 a Miami.



http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=4WlECeBkuJA

[yt=425,350]4WlECeBkuJA[/yt]

Presto pubblicheremo maggiori informazioni.

Intanto potete leggere qualche notizia sulla sua storia qui:

http://www.lasalsavive.com/portale/pagine/news/milliedonay_scompare.shtml

Descanse en paz Maestro.

Intanto pubblichiamo la lettera ricevuta dalla sua compagna Barbara Craddock:

Pedro “Cuban Pete” Aguilar, 81, passed away on January 13, 2009, in Miami, FL.

 

Cuban Pete grew up in New York’s El Barrio and made his mark in the Latin dance world at the dawn of the Mambo craze, in New York’s famous Palladium Ballroom, and from there vaulted to international prominence. Known as the “King of the Latin Beat,” “Mr. Mambo,” and the “Prince of the Palladium,” he invented scores of dance movements and hand embellishments now viewed as standards of Latin dance. He served as a catalyst for social change in the entertainment and social arenas by being the first “man with a tan” to dance with a white woman onstage; in 1951 he danced with Millie Donay at the Palladium, ushering in one of the first instances of integration on the dance floor.

 

In his multi-decade career, he performed in movies, television, stage, and danced for American Presidents, heads of state and dignitaries, as well as serve as choreographer and consultant for the film, “Mambo Kings.” He adjudicated at many prestigious dance events worldwide, and was a skilled lecturer on the history of Latin dance and music.

 

With Barbara Craddock, he helped make history in the preservation of “clave,” by serving as choreographic consultant and instructor for Miami City Ballet’s unprecedented work, “Mambo No. 2 a.m.,” and was choreographer for “Latin Magic,” an original mambo ballet for the University of the Arts School of Dance in Philadelphia.

 

The recipient of numerous awards for his contributions to Latin dance, he was referred to as “the greatest mambo dancer ever” by LIFE Magazine, Tito Puente and George Goldner of TICO Records. He is archived in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC and RAICES Latin Music Museum in New York.

 

He is survived by his children, daughters Denise Gerard and Petrina Aguilar, son Sean Peter Aguilar, granddaughter Gina Gerard, grandson Noah Aguilar, sisters Socorra Blackman, Chickie Masdeu, Yvette Masdeu, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dance partner, Barbara Craddock. He is predeceased by his brothers Tony Aguilar and Pedro Aguilar, Jr., and his mother, Nellie Trujillo Masdeu.

 

In celebration of his life, a gathering will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2009, 1–3 PM, with a memorial service at 3 PM, at Boyd’s Family Funeral Home, 6400 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, FL.  A memorial service will be held in New York at a later date, details to follow.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:

Boys Harbor Inc. - Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts

One East 104th Street

New York, NY 10029-4495

Attn: Nina Olson

In Memoriam: Pedro “Cuban Pete” Aguilar

Cuban Pete is now dancing “en clave” with the angels.

Articoli interessanti:

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/features/arts/music/blog/2009/01/adios_cuban_pete.html

[Daikil]

  a ballare in cielo

[tommy salsero]

Quando Max me lo ha comunicato ieri sera,sono stato molto male.
Cuban Pete era il testimone più autorevole del Palladium,il maestro di ballo che insegnava lo stile palladium a New York all'interno del locale,mi pare tutti i Venerdì.
Insieme a Killer Joe Piro,che era l'altro maestro di cerimonia ufficiale del locale.

Eravamo in contatto com Barbara la sua partner,già da due anni per far venire Cuban Pete in Italia ad un evento lasalsavive.
Era la nostra sorpresa per l'evento del Palladium che abbiamo fatto l'anno scorso.
Però alla fine Pedro Aguilar non poteva affrontare un viaggio così lungo, probabilmente era peggiorato con la salute e tutto sfumò con nostro grande dispiacere.
Era un sogno per me conoscere questa leggenda e magari fare anche uno stage con lui.
Ieri ci è arrivata questa email.
Per me e Max è stato un bruttissimo colpo.
Barbara continuerà il suo lavoro con il suo staff e manterrà vivo il suo lavoro.
Ma la storia della musica e del ballo lo ha già decretato quando era in vita la leggenda del Palladium.
Presto faremo uno special sul grande Cuban Pete nel nostro portale.
Descanse en paz MAESTRO!

[dodicix]

      

[gmonthy]

ho letto con dispiacere anch'io la stessa news postata da Max...pensare a Cuban Pete mi fa evocare i bei tempi dell'era del Mambo, di cui il Palladium era sicuramente il centro artistico...lui e Killer Joe Piro erano sicuramente i maestri e primi interpreti significativi del nuovo ballo che stava nascendo assieme all'esplosiva musica dei grandi del mambo...

[Marcolino]

veramente una brutta notizia

il suo ricordo rimarrà per sempre!

[tommy salsero]

La mia trasmissione di stasera sarà dedicata a lui con uno special sul Palladium e i grandi del periodo.
Ho dovuto cambiare tutto la scaletta preparata ma lo faccio troppo volentieri,Cuban Pete forever!

[Claude]

Aveva incantato i giovani salseri a Los Angeles due anni fa.... e se non erro era anche tra i vecchietti del mambo, l'estate scorsa, a New York...

 

[Animambo]

Ho avuto l'onore di vederlo esibire sia in messo a tanta gente, che ballare socialmente con Barbara a una piccola festicciola locale a Boston. Grande lo era prima e grande lo sara' sempre!!
Riposa in pace...

[Salsafabio88]

Onore a te M° Pete

[tommy salsero]

Ho avuto l'onore di vederlo esibire sia in messo a tanta gente, che ballare socialmente con Barbara a una piccola festicciola locale a Boston. Grande lo era prima e grande lo sara' sempre!!
Riposa in pace...

Che fortuna che hai avuto,a me sarebbe piaciuto molto conoscerlo.

[chevere]

Oggi è arrivata questa email da Barbara Craddock:

January 21, 2009

On behalf of myself and the family of Pedro “Cuban Pete” Aguilar, we thank you for all the love and support you extended to us on his passing.

The outpouring of phone calls, flowers, emails, sympathy cards, and prayers have been more comforting than you know and helped us through this most difficult time. It has let us know how much he was revered and appreciated.

Warmest regards,

 
Barbara Craddock

[chevere]

A TRIBUTE TO

PEDRO “CUBAN PETE” AGUILAR

(June 14, 1927 – January 13, 2009)

You are cordially invited to join hostesses, Barbara Craddock and Denise Donay, for A Tribute to Pedro “Cuban Pete” Aguilar on Sunday, February 22, 2009. The event will be held from 3 – 7 PM, at Boys & Girls Harbor, Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts, conveniently located at 1 East 104 Street, New York City. In addition to his illustrious career, he was also a Father, a brother, and a friend to many. Mingle with Cuban Pete’s family and friends, share memories, and remember his legacy and accomplishments.
Pedro “Cuban Pete” Aguilar is the name that will be forever synonymous with “clave,” the rhythmic structure of Latin dance and music. A true Palladium Mambo icon, he invented scores of dance movements and hand embellishments viewed as the standards of Latin dance today.  He began performing professionally with Millie Donay in 1951, and the two set the dance world afire with their sizzling mambo and sensual guajira. He went on to perform in movies, television, stage, and danced for American Presidents, heads of state and dignitaries, as well as serve as choreographer and consultant for the film, “Mambo Kings.”  A gifted expert in the history, culture, and artistry of Latin dance and music, he and Barbara Craddock performed, taught, and lectured worldwide, since 1998. The duo made dance history by collaborating with Miami City Ballet on their unprecedented work, “Mambo No. 2 a.m.,” and they conceptualized and choreographed an original ballet, “Latin Magic,” for the University of the Arts School of Dance.

Referred to as the greatest mambo dancer ever, by LIFE magazine, Tito Puente and George Goldner of TICO Records, Cuban Pete did not rest on his laurels but continued to make significant contributions to Latin dance culture well into his 81st year. The recipient of numerous awards for his devotion to Latin dance artistry, he is archived in the Smithsonian Institute and RAICES Latin Music Museum.

Dance to the memory of the “King of the Latin Beat,” with a deejay playing many of Pete’s favorite tunes, as well as classic and contemporary salsa, and enjoy a star-studded professional dance show at 5 PM.

Minimum donations of $5.00 per person will be accepted at the door and all proceeds will fund the newly established Cuban Pete & Barbara Craddock Dance Scholarship Fund, benefiting Boys & Girls Harbor. A Latin light-bite menu will be available for purchase.