Bandleader Xavier Cugat was a Spanish-American musician and bandleader who was active in the early 20th century. He was known for his Latin-inspired music, which he popularized in the United States. He was also a successful recording artist, having released over 100 albums. Cugat was born in Catalonia, Spain, and moved to the United States in 1916. He formed his own orchestra in the 1920s and went on to become one of the most popular bandleaders of the era. He was also an actor, appearing in several films throughout his career.