María Grever
Encyclopedia
María Grever was the first Mexican
female musician to become a successful composer.
Maria Joaquina de la Portilla Torres was born to a Spanish father and Mexican mother in Mexico. After spending much of her childhood in Spain, she returned with her parents to Mexico at the age of 12. She studied music in France, with Claude Debussy
among her teachers. In 1916 she married Leo A. Grever, an American oil company executive, and moved to New York City where she lived for the rest of her life.
Grever was said to have possessed a perfect pitch and wrote most of her songs in one key. Her first piece of music, a Christmas carol, was composed when she was four years old. She wrote her first song when she was 18 years old, "A Una Ola" ("To a Wave"), and it sold three million copies. In 1920 she began work as a film composer for Paramount Pictures
and 20th Century Fox
movie studios. Grever wrote more than 800 songs — the majority of them bolero
s — and her popularity reached audiences in Latin America, Europe, and the United States.
Grever's first song hit was "Jurame" ("Promise, Love"), a habanera
-bolero
. Other famous songs include "Volvere" ("I Will Return"), "Magic Is the Moonlight" ("Te Quiero Dijiste"), written for the 1944 Esther Williams movie, Bathing Beauty
, and "Cuando Vuelva a Tu Lado" ("When I Return To Your Side"/"What A Difference A Day Makes").
In 1956, Argentine singer-actress and Latin America star Libertad Lamarque
recorded a best-selling tribute to Grever's most popular songs: Libertad Lamarque canta canciones de Maria Grever.)
In 1959, Dinah Washington
recorded "What A Difference A Day Makes". It became her signature song: she won a Grammy Award
with it, and in 1998 the recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
female musician to become a successful composer.
Maria Joaquina de la Portilla Torres was born to a Spanish father and Mexican mother in Mexico. After spending much of her childhood in Spain, she returned with her parents to Mexico at the age of 12. She studied music in France, with Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
among her teachers. In 1916 she married Leo A. Grever, an American oil company executive, and moved to New York City where she lived for the rest of her life.
Grever was said to have possessed a perfect pitch and wrote most of her songs in one key. Her first piece of music, a Christmas carol, was composed when she was four years old. She wrote her first song when she was 18 years old, "A Una Ola" ("To a Wave"), and it sold three million copies. In 1920 she began work as a film composer for Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
and 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
movie studios. Grever wrote more than 800 songs — the majority of them bolero
Bolero
Bolero is a form of slow-tempo Latin music and its associated dance and song. There are Spanish and Cuban forms which are both significant and which have separate origins.The term is also used for some art music...
s — and her popularity reached audiences in Latin America, Europe, and the United States.
Grever's first song hit was "Jurame" ("Promise, Love"), a habanera
Habanera
Habanera may refer to:*"Habanera" , an aria from Bizet's Carmen*Habanera , a 1984 Cuban film*La Habanera , a 1937 German movie...
-bolero
Bolero
Bolero is a form of slow-tempo Latin music and its associated dance and song. There are Spanish and Cuban forms which are both significant and which have separate origins.The term is also used for some art music...
. Other famous songs include "Volvere" ("I Will Return"), "Magic Is the Moonlight" ("Te Quiero Dijiste"), written for the 1944 Esther Williams movie, Bathing Beauty
Bathing Beauty
Bathing Beauty is a 1944 musical starring Red Skelton, Basil Rathbone and Esther Williams and directed by George Sidney.Although this was not William's screen debut, it was her first Technicolor musical. The film was initially to be titled "Mr. Co-Ed" with Red Skelton having top billing...
, and "Cuando Vuelva a Tu Lado" ("When I Return To Your Side"/"What A Difference A Day Makes").
In 1956, Argentine singer-actress and Latin America star Libertad Lamarque
Libertad Lamarque
Libertad Lamarque was an Argentine-Mexican actress and singer. Originally from Argentina, she reached fame throughout Latin America while living in Mexico and working in Mexican cinema.-Career:...
recorded a best-selling tribute to Grever's most popular songs: Libertad Lamarque canta canciones de Maria Grever.)
In 1959, Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington, born Ruth Lee Jones , was an American blues, R&B and jazz singer. She has been cited as "the most popular black female recording artist of the '50s", and called "The Queen of the Blues"...
recorded "What A Difference A Day Makes". It became her signature song: she won a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
with it, and in 1998 the recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.