What 1950s cha cha songs created the cha cha craze?

[Johannson]

I've seen lists of vintage cha cha songs on StreetSwing, and I've searched Deezer for 1950s cha cha, and 1954 cha cha, and 1955 cha cha (up to 1959). I was expecting some recognizable songs with latin names, but I'm only recognizing "Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps" (which I love) and "Tea for Two" (which feels trite to me). It seems to me that the search results are missing the songs that actually created the craze. Which 1950s cha cha songs created the craze?

 

[opendoor]

Browse https://www.discogs.com/es/artist/392767-Enrique-Jorrin-Y-Su-Orquesta

 

[opendoor]

The story goes like this: Jorín played in a very long dance competition. Everyone was tired and so the pace of the mambo slowed down. The last two couples on the floor just shuffled along to the slow music. This became chachachá onomatopoeic. Later the crowd asked for more of this style.

Enrique Jorrin and the chachachá | Havana Music

havanamusicschool.com

 

[Johannson]

Thanks. I should have said I have read the origin story dozens of times, but somehow all sources neglected to mention what songs actually created the craze internationally. I know La Enganadora by Jorrin was one of the early hits in Cuba, and I know it was influential internationally, but is it the most iconic of cha chas in America? Perez Prado's Que Rico El Mambo is a clear example of one of the mambos that launched the mambo craze in America. Does Cha Cha not have anything equally iconic?

 

[Johannson]

... Besides La Enganadora, there must be others. What others?
Jorrin had more hits like "El alardoso", "Nada para ti", and "El túnel", but if any of those got played at an average dance event no one would go "oh yes! this song!". Are Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps (Quizás, Quizás, Quizás), Tea for Two, and La Enganadora the only well-known cha chas from the '50s?

 

[MamboMike]

I am a huge fan of vintage cha cha and mambo music and frankly wish they would play these I don't know if there was a particular song that started the craze, but here are some vintage cha cha favorites. Caution -- some might be from the 60s!

Four Beat Cha Cha Cha by Tito Puento
El Cayuco* -- Tito Puente
A Gozar Timbero -- Tito Puente
Que Sera Mi China -- Tito Puente
Donde Estabas Tú -- Tito Puente
Enjoy the Timbale -- Tito Puente
Aqui -- Tito Puente

Cha Cha Cha para ti -- Tito Rodriguez (a bit slow for comps)
Agua con Azúcar -- Tito Rodriguez
Rico Rica Cha -- Tito Rodriguez
Todo es Cha Cha Cha -- Tito Rodriguez (on the fast side)
Nunca -- Tito Rodriguez

Spanish Grease -- Willie Bobo

Oyelo -- Johnny Colon and his Orchestra
Boogaloo Blues -- Johnny Colon and his Orchestra
Mira Ven Acá -- Johnny Colon and his Orchestra

Fried Neck Bones and Some Home Fries -- Willie Bobo

Watsui Boogaloo* -- Willie Rosario & His Orchestra

Bang! Bang!* -- The Joe Cuba Sextet

El Montuno De Patato -- Carlos "Patato" Valdes

I like it like that* -- Pete Rodriguez

Oye Como Va -- Willie Colon and Tito Puente

El Son Te Llama (Guajira) -- Orquesta Tabaco y Ron

Guajira con Soul -- Johnny Ventura

Guantanamera -- Celia Cruz

*I have heard these played at comps

 

[Cal]

Not sure if this is the kind of thing you’re looking for, but if you’re thinking of the “mainstream USA” kind of songs that that my parents would have listened/danced to in the 1950s, maybe you need to think of the popular singers in the era (say, Rosemary Clooney) and the popular big dance bands of the era that played in places like the Peabody, or the Waldorf Astoria. They quite often took already recognizable songs and adapted them to a Cha Cha Cha rhythm.

How about:
Perdido
Tangerine
In a Little Spanish Town
Corazon De Melon
Historia de un Amor
Cha Cha on the Rocks
Tremendo Cha Cha
Bongo Cha Cha Cha

 

[Johannson]

I am a huge fan of vintage cha cha and mambo music and

Thanks. I recognize some of these as 60s hits. Possibly suitable-enough for my purposes.
I had sought out cha chas by the Titos. The ones I've heard weren't familiar to me.

 

[Johannson]

... the popular singers in the era ... often took already recognizable songs and adapted them to a Cha Cha Cha rhythm.

Good point. This doesn't explain what launched the craze, but adapting recognizable songs to the new rhythm would indeed have bolstered the cha cha craze. ... (I am still wondering what launched the craze.)

 

[opendoor]

Could the Cha Cha craze be a construct, a marketing gimmick or a legend in the first place? And several musicians compete for who was the first. When one copies from the other, something like that happens. And besides money politics also played a role, as Cuba isolated itself. Maybe you'll conduct interviews with eyewitnesses? Wouldn't that be an interesting project, Johannson ?

 

[Johannson]

Could the Cha Cha craze be a construct, a marketing gimmick or a legend in the first place? ...

Interesting...