Editing Juan García Esquivel

{{Short description|Mexican composer (1918–2002)}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist  <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name = Juan García Esquivel
| image = Esquivel!.jpg
| caption = Esquivel in 1967
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name = 
| alias = Esquivel!
| birth_date = {{birth date|1918|1|20}}
| birth_place = [[Tampico]], [[Tamaulipas]], Mexico
| death_date = {{death date and age|2002|1|3|1918|1|20}}
| death_place = [[Jiutepec]], [[Morelos]], Mexico
| instrument = [[Piano]]
| genre = {{plainlist|
*[[Easy listening]]
*[[Lounge music|Lounge]]
*[[Space age pop]]
*[[Exotica]]
}}
| occupation = {{plainlist|
*[[Arrangement|Arranger]]
*[[Conductor (music)|Conductor]]
*[[Bandleader]]
}}
| label = {{plainlist|
*[[RCA Victor]]
*[[Reprise Records|Reprise]]
}}
| associated_acts = 
| website = 
}}

'''Juan García Esquivel''' (January 20, 1918 – January 3, 2002),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/11/arts/juan-garcia-esquivel-dies-pop-composer-was-83.html|title=Juan García Esquivel Dies; Pop Composer Was 83|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 11, 2002|author=Jon Pareles|access-date=11 February 2019}}</ref> often known mononymously as '''Esquivel!''', was a Mexican [[musical band|band]] leader, [[pianist]], and [[film score composer|composer]] for television and films. He is recognized today as one of the foremost exponents of a sophisticated style of largely instrumental music that combines elements of [[lounge music]] and [[jazz]] with [[Latin music (genre)|Latin]] flavors.  Esquivel is sometimes called "[[Honorific nicknames in popular music|The King of]] [[space age pop|Space Age Pop]]" and "The [[Busby Berkeley]] of Cocktail Music", and is considered one of the foremost exponents of a style of late 1950s-early 1960s quirky instrumental pop that became known (in retrospect) as "Space Age Bachelor Pad Music".

==Early life==
He was born in 1918, in [[Tampico]], [[Tamaulipas]], and his family moved to [[Mexico City]] in 1928 where he became a self-taught musician from an early age. In interviews, Esquivel's family members have stated that the young boy started playing piano when he was around 6 years old, to the amazement of older musicians who would gather around him in disbelief and to his own delight exhibiting his musical gifts. They have also stated  that Esquivel continued to eschew formal musical training as he grew older, preferring to learn from books and by listening to and playing music instead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2_UhHB8Kts |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/I2_UhHB8Kts| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Juan Garcia Esquivel, Programa Especial de TV Parte-1 de 4|publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=2019-10-12}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Music==
Esquivel played a style of late 1950s-early 1960s quirky instrumental pop known today as [[lounge music]].  Esquivel's musical style was highly idiosyncratic, and although elements sound like his contemporaries, many stylistic traits distinguished his music and made it instantly recognizable. These  included exotic percussion, wordless vocals, virtuoso piano runs, and exaggerated dynamic shifts.  He used many [[jazz]]-like elements; however, other than his piano solos, there is no improvisation, and the works are meticulously arranged by Esquivel himself, who considered himself a perfectionist as a composer, performer, and recording artist.

His orchestration employed novel instrumental combinations, such as Chinese bells, mariachi bands, whistling, and numerous percussion instruments, blended with orchestra, mixed chorus, and his own heavily ornamented piano style. Vocal groups were often utilized to sing only nonsense syllables, most famously "zu-zu" and "pow!"  A survey of Esquivel's recordings reveals a fondness for [[glissando]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spaceagepop.com/esquivel.htm|title=Juan Garcia Esquivel|website=Spaceagepop.com|access-date=2019-10-12}}</ref> sometimes on a half-valved trumpet, sometimes on a [[timpani|kettle drum]], but most frequently on pitched [[percussion instrument]]s and [[steel guitar]]s.

Esquivel's use of [[stereo]] recording was notable, and he occasionally employed two bands recording simultaneously in separate studios, such as on his album ''[[Latin-esque]]'' (1962). That album's song "Mucha Muchacha" makes unusual use of stereo separation, with the chorus and brass rapidly alternating in the left and right audio channels.

He arranged many traditional [[Music of Mexico|Mexican]] songs like "[[Bésame Mucho]]", "[[La Bamba (song)|La Bamba]]", "[[El Manisero]]" (Cuban/Mexican) and "[[La Bikina]]"; covered Brazilian songs like "[[Aquarela do Brasil]]" (also known simply as "Brazil") by [[Ary Barroso]], "[[Surfboard (Antônio Carlos Jobim song)|Surfboard]]" and "[[Agua de Beber]]" by [[Tom Jobim]], and composed spicy lounge-like novelties such as "Mini Skirt", "Yeyo", "Latin-esque", "Mucha Muchacha" and "Whatchamacallit".  He was commissioned to compose the music of a Mexican children's [[TV]] show ''[[Odisea Burbujas]]''. His 1958 album ''Four Corners of the World'' featured a fusion of "Latin American music combined with the wonderful melodies of European classical music."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dwek |first=Joel |date=2020-07-15 |title=MEXICO: Four Corners of the World - Esquivel! |url=https://www.200worldalbums.com/post/mexico-four-corner-of-the-world-esquivel |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=200worldalbums.com |language=en}}</ref>

His concerts featured elaborate light shows years before such effects became popular in live music.  He performed in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]] on several occasions, often as the opening act for [[Frank Sinatra]]. He frequently performed at the [[Stardust Resort and Casino|Stardust casino]] lounge circa 1964.

Several compilations of Esquivel's music were issued on compact disc starting with ''Space Age Bachelor Pad Music'' in 1994. The first reissues were compiled by [[Irwin Chusid]] (who also produced the first CD compilation of [[Raymond Scott]] recordings and the premiere release of [[The Langley Schools Music Project]]). The success of these releases led to reissues of several of Esquivel's original 1950s-'60s albums.

The last recording on which Esquivel worked was ''Merry Xmas from the Space-Age Bachelor Pad'' in 1996, for which he recorded [[voiceovers]] on two tracks by the band [[Combustible Edison]]; his voiceovers were recorded at home in Mexico by the band's keyboardist [[Brother Cleve]], who also mixed the tracks. This album was a re-release of the six Esquivel recordings that originally appeared on the 1959 RCA Victor LP ''The Merriest of Christmas Pops'', along with four more Esquivel recordings from the late 1950s and 1960s and two new Combustible Edison tracks featuring Esquivel's holiday-themed voiceovers.

The last CD released during his lifetime, ''See It In Sound'' (1998), was recorded in 1960 for RCA, but was not released at the time because RCA believed it would not be commercially successful. The album's concept was that Esquivel's music would be combined with sound effects and edited in a way that suggested a visual work such as a film, though without dialog or an explicitly stated narrative. For example, the album includes a version of "[[Aquarela do Brasil|Brazil]]" with an arrangement that makes extensive use of editing and sound effects to suggest a person going in and out of several bars, each bar featuring a band playing a unique arrangement of "Brazil".

Esquivel also worked as composer for Revue Productions/Universal Television. There he scored the TV western series "[[The Tall Man (TV series)|The Tall Man]]", and co-wrote, with [[Stanley Wilson (musician)|Stanley Wilson]], the [[Universal Television|Revue/Universal TV]] logo fanfare.<ref>{{cite book |title=A History of Television's The Virginian, 1962-1971 |url=https://www.google.pt/books/edition/A_History_of_Television_s_The_Virginian/OvPH-sYo_O8C |access-date=28 November 2024 |date=2014 | publisher=McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers | isbn=9780786457991 }}</ref>

==Music in recent TV and films==
Esquivel's recording of "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" was used in episode two of ''[[Better Call Saul]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://communityvoices.post-gazette.com/arts-entertainment-living/get-rhythm/item/38811-better-call-saul-songbook-episode-2-boulevard-of-broken-dreams|title='Better Call Saul' Songbook, Episode 2: 'Boulevard Of Broken Dreams'|first=Rich|last=Kienzle|website=Communityvoices.post-gazette.com|access-date=2019-10-12|archive-date=2015-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317074912/http://communityvoices.post-gazette.com/arts-entertainment-living/get-rhythm/item/38811-better-call-saul-songbook-episode-2-boulevard-of-broken-dreams|url-status=dead}}</ref>

His recording of his composition "Mucha Muchacha" was used in the films ''[[Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (film)|Confessions of a Dangerous Mind]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/confessions-of-a-dangerous-mind-mw0000020799|title=Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - Original Soundtrack &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=2019-10-12}}</ref> ''[[The Big Lebowski]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/44518013|title=Excerpt of film featuring recording in soundtrack|website=Vimeo.com|access-date=2019-10-12}}</ref> ''[[The Notorious Bettie Page]]'', ''[[Stuart Saves His Family]]'', ''[[Nacho Libre]]'' and ''[[Beavis and Butt-Head Do America]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115641/soundtrack|title=Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996)|website=IMDb.com|access-date=2019-10-12}}</ref>

His recording of his composition "Whatchamacallit" was used in the 2002 film ''[[Secretary (2002 film)|Secretary]]''.

"Mini Skirt" was used as the opening theme for the BBC documentary series ''[[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]'' and ''[[When Louis Met...]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends (TV Series 1998–2000)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0217229/soundtrack|website=IMDb.com|access-date=2019-10-12}}</ref>

Esquivel's recording of "[[My Blue Heaven (song)|My Blue Heaven]]" was used in the trailer for the 2021 film ''[[Malibu Road]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Malibu Road (2021)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2914760/|website=IMDb.com|access-date=2022-03-18}}</ref>

In 2022, Esquivel's 1959 recording of "Fantasy" was used by [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] in its "Data Auction" global TV ad campaign, to promote privacy on its [[iPhone]] product.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ulanoff |first=Lance l |date=2022-05-18 |title=Apple's data auction privacy ad is only scary because it's true |url=https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/apples-data-auction-privacy-ad-is-only-scary-because-its-true |access-date=2022-06-03 |website=TechRadar |language=en}}</ref>

==Discography==
(12" LP releases, US and Mexico)
* ''Las Tandas de Juan Garcia Esquivel'' (1957, [[RCA Victor]] Mexico)
* ''To Love Again'' (1957, RCA Victor)
* ''Cabaret Tragico'' (April 1958, RCA Victor Mexico)
* ''Other Worlds Other Sounds'' with [[Randy Van Horne|Randy Van Horne Singers]] (October 1958, RCA Victor)
* ''Four Corners of the World'' (December 1958, RCA Victor)
* ''Exploring New Sounds in Hi-Fi/Stereo'' (May 1959, RCA Victor)
* ''The Ames Brothers: Hello Amigos'' (1959, RCA Victor)
* ''Strings Aflame'' (August 1959, RCA Victor)
* ''The Merriest of Christmas Pops'' (1959, RCA Victor)
* ''Infinity in Sound, Vol. 1'' (August 1960, RCA Victor)
* ''Infinity in Sound, Vol. 2'' (April 1961, RCA Victor)
* ''[[Latin-esque]]'' (1962, RCA Victor)
* ''More of Other Worlds Other Sounds'' (1962, [[Reprise Records]])
* ''The Living Strings: In a Mellow Mood'' (1962, [[RCA Camden]])
* ''The Genius of Esquivel'' (1967, RCA Victor)
* ''1968 Esquivel!!'' (1968, RCA Mexico)
* ''[[Burbujas (Juan García Esquivel album)|Burbujas]] '' (1979)
* ''Odisea Burbujas'' (1980, Discos America)
* ''Vamos al Circo'' (1981, Discos America)
(CD releases)
* ''Space-Age Bachelor Pad Music'' (1994, [[Bar/None Records]])
* ''Music From a Sparkling Planet'' (1995, Bar/None Records)
* ''Cabaret Mañana'' (1996, BMG Entertainment)
* ''Merry Xmas from the Space-Age Bachelor Pad'' (1996, Bar/None Records)
* ''See It in Sound'' (1998, House of Hits Records), recorded 1960, previously unreleased
* ''The Sights and Sounds of Esquivel '' (2005, Bar/None Records)
* ''Esquivel! Remixed'' (2006, SonyBMG Mexico)
* ''Complete 1954–1962 Recordings'' (2017, New Continent, Europe)
(Related releases featuring Esquivel's music)
* ''The Unforgettable Sounds of Esquivel'' (Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica, 2010)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://orchestrotica.com/2010_exotica_esquivel_album.cfm|title=The Unforgettable Sounds of Esquivel (2010) (best price + 3 free MP3s) - Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica|first=Brian|last=O'Neill|website=Orchestrotica.com|access-date=12 June 2021}}</ref>
* ''Perfect Vision: The Esquivel Sound'' – Metropole Orkest (June 2013, Basta Music)

==See also==
* [[Exotica]]
* [[Space age pop]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Commons category|Juan García Esquivel}}
*Wood, Susan (2016). ''Esquivel! Space-Age Sound Artist''. {{ISBN|9781580896733}}.

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20011218114847/http://www.bar-none.com/bios/esquibio_space.html Bar-none.com]
* [http://www.spaceagepop.com/esquivel.htm SpaceAgePop.com on Esquivel]
* [http://www.weirdomusic.com/artists/esquivel.htm Weirdomusic.com on Esquivel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529140550/http://www.weirdomusic.com/artists/esquivel.htm |date=2019-05-29 }}
* {{IMDb name|0305652}}
* [https://julianbh.com/spaceage/esquivel/esquivel.html ''Space Age Bachelor Pad Music on the Web'' on Esquivel]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:García Esquivel, Juan}}
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:Exotica]]
[[Category:Bandleaders]]
[[Category:Mexican composers]]
[[Category:Mexican male composers]]
[[Category:Mexican pianists]]
[[Category:20th-century pianists]]
[[Category:Mexican jazz musicians]]
[[Category:Mexican male pianists]]
[[Category:20th-century Mexican male musicians]]
[[Category:Mexican male jazz musicians]]
[[Category:People from Tampico, Tamaulipas]]