Role

:

Conductor Performer

Country

:

France

Birth

:

April 16, 1908 in Paris, France

Death

:

March 30, 1979 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain

 

Ray Ventura was a French musician, bandleader, and composer who was born on April 16, 1908, in Paris, France. He was the son of a Spanish father and a French mother. Ventura's father was a musician, and he introduced his son to music at a young age. Ventura learned to play the piano and the saxophone, and he began performing in public when he was a teenager. In the 1920s, Ventura played in various jazz bands in Paris. He was influenced by American jazz musicians such as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. Ventura formed his own band, the Ray Ventura Orchestra, in 1928. The band played a mix of jazz, swing, and popular music. Ventura was the bandleader and played the saxophone and clarinet. The Ray Ventura Orchestra became popular in France in the 1930s. The band recorded many songs, including "Tout va très bien, Madame la Marquise," which became a hit in 1935. The song was a humorous take on the problems of the French aristocracy. Ventura's band also performed in films and on radio programs. During World War II, Ventura's band continued to perform in France. Ventura himself was briefly imprisoned by the Germans in 1940 but was released after a few months. The band's music was popular with both French and German soldiers. After the war, Ventura's band toured Europe and North Africa. In the 1950s, Ventura's band began to play more traditional French music, such as chansons and musette. The band also performed in cabarets and nightclubs. Ventura continued to compose music and write songs. He also appeared in films and on television. Ventura's band disbanded in 1959, but he continued to perform as a solo artist. He also worked as a producer and helped to launch the careers of other musicians. Ventura died on March 29, 1979, in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Throughout his career, Ray Ventura received many awards and honors. In 1937, he was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque for his recording of "Tout va très bien, Madame la Marquise." In 1950, he was awarded the Legion of Honor, one of France's highest honors. In 1978, he was awarded the Grand Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros for his contributions to French music. Ray Ventura's music continues to be popular in France and around the world. His mix of jazz, swing, and popular music influenced many other musicians. Ventura's humor and wit also made him a beloved figure in French culture.

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