19 Facts About Edmundo Ros

Edmundo Ros OBE, FRAM, born Edmund William Ross, was a Trinidadian-Venezuelan musician, vocalist, arranger and bandleader who made his career in Britain.

Edmundo Ros directed a highly popular Latin American orchestra, had an extensive recording career and owned one of London's leading nightclubs.

Edmundo Ros's mother, Luisa Urquart, was a Venezuelan teacher, thought to be descended from indigenous Caribs, and his father, William Hope-Ross, was a mulatto of Scottish descent.

Edmundo Ros was the eldest of four children, having two sisters, Ruby and Eleanor, followed by a half-brother, Hugo.

Edmundo Ros's parents separated after Hugo was born, and after various false steps Edmund was enrolled in a military academy.

Edmundo Ros played drums in the city's nightclubs and in the Martial Band of Caracas, and he was hired by Sojo as timpanist in the new Venezuela Symphony Orchestra.

Edmundo Ros's bands were always based in London nightclubs or restaurants.

Edmundo Ros was with Decca Records from 1944 to 1974, and altogether he made more than 800 recordings.

The shift in musical tastes to rock bands such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones affected Edmundo Ros's standing but he played on into the 1970s.

Edmundo Ros destroyed almost all the charts, which conclusively ended the orchestra's existence.

In 1994, Edmundo Ros conducted and sang with the BBC Big Band with Strings at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.

Edmundo Ros was initiated into the exclusive entertainment fraternity the Grand Order of Water Rats on October 4,1964.

Edmundo Ros was a Freemason, initiated into the Chelsea Lodge No 3098 and a Founder Member and Worshipful Master of Lodge of Ascension No 7358; on retirement a member of Sprig of Acacia Lodge No 41, Javea, Spain.

Edmundo Ros became a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in 1991.

Edmundo Ros normally was nicknamed by fans and journalists as the King of Latin Music.

Edmundo Ros designed and built a large house in Page Street, Mill Hill, London NW7, which he named Edritt House, after himself and his first wife.

Edmundo Ros gave his last public performance on 8 January 1994.

Edmundo Ros died on 21 October 2011, shortly before his 101st birthday.

The series was never completed, but most of the later Edmundo Ros material is available on LP or CD.