Malagueña (song)
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Originally the sixth movement of the Suite Andalucia by Ernesto Lecuona, who also provided it with Spanish lyrics, the song Malagueña has since become a popular, jazz, marching band, and drum corps standard and has been provided with lyrics in several languages.
A German language version, sung by Caterina Valente, with Werner Müller's Orchestra, was popular in the United States (not making the Billboard chart, but charting on Cash Box, peaking at position #42) in February 1955. English lyrics have been written by Marion Banks. A later charting version was recorded by Connie Francis in 1960, and charted at #42 on Billboard as the flip side of her #1 pop smash "My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own." Bill Holman's arrangement for the Stan Kenton Orchestra which appeared on the 1961 album Adventures in Jazz turned Malagueña from a flamenco genre piece into a fiery big band showpiece[1].
Over the years, “Malagueña” has been performed numerous times by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Marching Band, and as such, has become one of the songs most identified with the group [2]. The University of Minnesota hockey pep band also plays the song after each home win by their men's hockey team. The Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps also often feature the song, and won their second DCI World Championship with a program including the work. Other corps to perform the piece include the Boston Crusaders, The Cadets, and the Hawthorne Caballeros as well as the Hanover (PA) Lancers. One of the most notable performances of this piece in recent years has been as part of the Broadway musical Blast!, a fusion of Corps style musical arrangements and field (stage) movements with traditional theatric elements.
Rock versions have included an instrumental version by Bill Haley & His Comets recorded live in Sweden in 1968 (it was a staple of their live shows in the 1960s and 1970s, usually performed by guitarist Nick Nastos). An instrumental version by Ritchie Valens was released years after his death. A surf instrumental version of Malagueña has been performed by the Trashmen and the Bambi Molesters, as well as in part of an arrangement of Misirlou by Dick Dale and others. The genealogy of this arrangement is not known. Other instrumental versions were provided by Brian Setzer in his album "ignition" and by Dave Salyer in his Album "Red Hot Guitar"
