The Mambo dance originated in Cuba. The Mambo was originally played as any Rumba with a riff ending. It may be described as a riff or a Rumba with a break or emphasis on 2 and 4 in 4/4 time. Native Cubans or musicians without any training would break on any beat. It first appeared in the United States in New York's Park Plaza Ballroom - a favorite hangout of enthusiastic dancers from Harlem. The Mambo gained its excitement in 1947 at the Palladium and other renowned places such as The China Doll, Havana Madrid and Birdland. A modified version of the "Mambo" (the original dance had to be toned down due to the violent acrobatics) was presented to the public at dance studios, resort hotels, and at night-clubs in New York and Miami. Success was on the agenda. Mambo happy dancers soon became known affectionately as "Mambonicks".
The Mambo craze did not last long and today the Mambo is much limited to advanced dancers. Teachers agreed that this is one of the most difficult of dances. One of the greatest contributions of the Mambo is that it led to the development of the Cha-Cha.
Popular Mambo songs include "Mambo Italiano", "Papa Loves Mambo", "Mambo #5", "I Saw Mommy Do The Mambo", and "They Were Doin' The Mambo". 'Dance City', the superb CD album featuring Hernandez and the Mambo Kings Orchestra, stands on its own as one of the best recordings of its kind in years, an energetic big band-style session that recalls the glory days of Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez. Most people treat Mambo as a very fast dance. In essence, it is a slow and precise dance that doesn't move very much.
Song Suggestions:
Papa Loves Mambo by Dean Martin
Mambo No. 5 by Lou Bega
Ran Kan Kan by Tito Puente
Mambo Tequila by Various Artists
Melao De Cana by The Mambo Kings feat. Celia Cruz
Johnny's Mambo by Dirty Dancing Soundtrack
I Love Mambo by Gloria Estefan
Mambo by Julio Voltio
Mambo UK by ÁCubanismo!
Mambo Jambo by Perez Prado And His Orchestra
I Got A Girl by Lou Bega
Hit Me Up by Gia Farrell
Crazy Foot Mambo (Get an ugly girl to marry you) by Various Artists (Harry Bellafonte)
Black Mambo by Angel & The Mambokats
Cubana by Mambo Kings
Mambo Napoletano
Rum & Coca Cola by Xavier Cugat
Papa Loves Mambo by Nat King Cole & Various Artists
Mariana Mambo by Chayane
Moo La Lah by Celia Cruz
The Mambo