Uploaded August 2014 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
MFF : In Nigeria, the so called Kalangu drums are sometimes used to tell the latest news. Their beats are like a secret language that only a few people are able to understand. The drummer tightens or loosens the drum skin to change sounds. Some of the local people believe that these drums can talk.
RENE TOUZET
René Touzet was a Cuban-born American composer, pianist and bandleader.
Living in the city of Cojimar, he learned classical piano from the age of 4, and went on to study at the Falcón Conservatory in Havana. By 1934 his classical training ended because of his family’s financial hardship, and he accepted a job as a pianist in Luis Rivera’s jazz band. Soon afterwards he became the leader of a 16-piece orchestra, playing big band music at the Grand Casino in Havana, and also began writing his own compositions. One of his most famous songs, "No Te Importe Saber", was recorded with lyrics by Mitchell Parish as "Let Me Love You Tonight", by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and others.
In 1944, after his club in Cuba was destroyed by a hurricane, Touzet moved to the USA where he joined a band led by Enric Madriguera. The band then moved to Hollywood, where Touzet met Desi Arnaz, and joined his band for a while. He also worked as pianist, songwriter and arranger with Xavier Cugat and Stan Kenton.
After forming his own orchestra in the mid-1950s, he successfully recorded ten albums for producer Gene Norman on his GNP Crescendo label between 1956 and 1966, and performed regularly at Norman’s club. One of his best known arrangements of this period, "El Loco Cha Cha", provided R&B singer Richard Berry with the riff for his classic pop song "Louie Louie". Touzet remained a popular bandleader through the 1960s, incorporating pachangas and other new rhythms into his compositions, without losing touch with the boleros and cha chas that brought him his first fame.
DID YOU KNOW ?
The music score of "Exodus" written by Ernest Gold for the film with the same title, won the Academy Award for Best Original Score at the 1960 Oscar Awards.
The 1960 film was directed by Otto Preminger and starred, among others, Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint.
MHO
A splendid latin arrangement of the famous filmscore with Rene Touzet at the piano and backed by his orchestra.
The first half of the theme kinda "remembers" the somewhat bombastic original version, while Touzet adds a rather playful and light sound during the second part.
One can definitely hear that Mr Touzet was a true virtuoso piano player. All in all, it makes for a nice change to hear this 'classic' sounding composition "the latin way". Enjoy !
MFF : In Nigeria, the so called Kalangu drums are sometimes used to tell the latest news. Their beats are like a secret language that only a few people are able to understand. The drummer tightens or loosens the drum skin to change sounds. Some of the local people believe that these drums can talk.
RENE TOUZET
René Touzet was a Cuban-born American composer, pianist and bandleader.
Living in the city of Cojimar, he learned classical piano from the age of 4, and went on to study at the Falcón Conservatory in Havana. By 1934 his classical training ended because of his family’s financial hardship, and he accepted a job as a pianist in Luis Rivera’s jazz band. Soon afterwards he became the leader of a 16-piece orchestra, playing big band music at the Grand Casino in Havana, and also began writing his own compositions. One of his most famous songs, "No Te Importe Saber", was recorded with lyrics by Mitchell Parish as "Let Me Love You Tonight", by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and others.
In 1944, after his club in Cuba was destroyed by a hurricane, Touzet moved to the USA where he joined a band led by Enric Madriguera. The band then moved to Hollywood, where Touzet met Desi Arnaz, and joined his band for a while. He also worked as pianist, songwriter and arranger with Xavier Cugat and Stan Kenton.
After forming his own orchestra in the mid-1950s, he successfully recorded ten albums for producer Gene Norman on his GNP Crescendo label between 1956 and 1966, and performed regularly at Norman’s club. One of his best known arrangements of this period, "El Loco Cha Cha", provided R&B singer Richard Berry with the riff for his classic pop song "Louie Louie". Touzet remained a popular bandleader through the 1960s, incorporating pachangas and other new rhythms into his compositions, without losing touch with the boleros and cha chas that brought him his first fame.
DID YOU KNOW ?
The music score of "Exodus" written by Ernest Gold for the film with the same title, won the Academy Award for Best Original Score at the 1960 Oscar Awards.
The 1960 film was directed by Otto Preminger and starred, among others, Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint.
MHO
A splendid latin arrangement of the famous filmscore with Rene Touzet at the piano and backed by his orchestra.
The first half of the theme kinda "remembers" the somewhat bombastic original version, while Touzet adds a rather playful and light sound during the second part.
One can definitely hear that Mr Touzet was a true virtuoso piano player. All in all, it makes for a nice change to hear this 'classic' sounding composition "the latin way". Enjoy !
