Cuban-born Damaso Pérez Prado, known worldwide as “The King of the Mambo,” revolutionized Latin music in the mid‑20th century with his electrifying rhythms and brassy orchestrations. After moving to Mexico City in the 1940s, he popularized the mambo sound across the globe, blending Afro-Cuban roots with big band jazz energy. His vibrant arrangements and distinctive vocal exclamations became trademarks of the genre, influencing generations of Latin and popular musicians. Prado’s legacy endures as a cornerstone of dance music and a defining voice of Latin American cultural expression.