Chick Chicky Boom, Chick Chicky Boom

“They call him Cuban Pete.  He’s the king of the rhumba beat.  When he plays the maracas he goes chick chicky boom, chick chicky boom.” – “Cuban Pete”

I love the song “Cuban Pete” and have ever since I first heard it.  It just makes me want to smile and move to the music.  The song’s got an interesting history, though.  Despite what many people under the age of 40 believe, it was not written for Jim Carrey to perform in the 1994 film, The Mask.  Nor, despite what many who were around in the ‘50s watching I Love Lucy might believe, was it written for the film Cuban Pete, staring Desi Arnaz.

Actually, it was written by an Englishman of Polish-Scottish descent, named José Norman (née Joseph Norman Sternberg).  Apparently, he was living in Liverpool as the leader of a Hawaiian band (under the name Joseph Norman), cozied-up to the family of the Cuban Consul General, and became infatuated with both the man’s daughter and his native music.  Joe marries the daughter, moves them to London, and (deciding to drop Hawaiian music in favor of Cuban) rebrands himself and his band as José Norman and His Rumballeros.

Norman wrote “Cuban Pete” in 1936, and the following year it was recorded by the incomparable Louis Armstrong.  He then moved with his wife to Cuba, where he ran her family’s coffee plantation until 1960 when he was forced into exile by Fidel Castro, and moved with his family to Los Angeles.

Now, what does this have to do with the cost of tea in China (or, more appropriately, the cost of coffee in Cuba)?  Well, as I’m sure you know, Cuba is the birthplace of the rhumba, the mojito, and the cigar.  And now, you can enjoy all three (simultaneously, if you choose), right here in Las Vegas!

Beginning tonight and continuing on Wednesday nights through the summer, Rhumbar at The Mirage will be hosting Havana Tone: The Only Latin Night Under the Stars.  With its spacious patio in the shadow of the Mirage’s world famous Volcano, surrounded by water features and lush, verdant foliage, Rhumbar allows its guests a spectacular view of the Strip, but (due to the sounds of the waterfalls) none of the noise from the traffic and pedestrians.

My advice: light a cigar, order a mojito (Rhumbar’s coconut ones are really tasty), and shake-it alongside the Rhumbar Dancers as you groove to los ritmos caliente!

“So if you like the beat, take a lesson from Cuban Pete, and he’ll teach you to chick chicky boom, chick chicky boom.”

Havana Tone
Rhumbar at The Mirage
Wednesday Nights at 9:30pm

Get into it!