Luis Arcaraz Torras

Mexican, composer, pianist, arranger, singer and conductor. Led the most popular orchestra in Mexico during the 1940s and 1950s. Shying away from Latin rhythms, his playlist consisted mainly of American and Mexican pop favorites. He developed a large following throughout Latin America and in the United States as well, where during the late 1940s and early 1950s he consistently ranked number four on the list of all-time favorite bands. Born Luis Arcaráz Torrás in Mexico City on December 5, 1910, young Luis had two passions: music and bullfighting. Though he became a successful amateur bullfighter, his parents, who both had musical backgrounds, encouraged him to pursue his artistic side. His mother sent him to Spain to study music and engineering. He later gave up his engineering studies. Upon his return to Mexico he found work at radio station XEW, where he earned 36 cents an hour playing the piano and singing. Once established he put together an orchestra which debuted in 1928 at Tampico's Teatro Palma. Arcaráz composed more than 200 songs during his career, including the scores of many Mexican films. His most successful era was during the late 1940s and into the early 1960s, when he earned numerous awards in his home country and enjoyed immense popularity in the United States. In 1960 he moved to Monterrey, Mexico, where he established his own nightspot, Cita con Arcaráz (A Date with Arcaráz). Luis Arcaráz lost his life in a tragic automobile accident on June 1, 1963, near San Luis Potosí, while traveling to Mexico City.