Hugo Montenegro and His Orchestra Black Velvet [1965]

Time Records Series 2000 S/2196 

Hugo Montenegro was born in New York City. He attended Manhattan College while studying composition and leading his own band for school dances. He was later hired by Time Records as a musical director producing a series of albums for the label, and moved to Los Angeles in the early 1960s where he began working for RCA records, producing a series of albums and soundtracks for motion pictures and television themes, such as the second theme for “I Dream of Jeannie.” During the mid‑60’s he started producing some of the most renowned works from the space age pop era, featuring electronics and rock in albums such as Moog Power and Mammy Blue.

Montenegro’s electronic works were decisive and influential for the future generations of electronic musicians, giving a retro/futuristic edge by the use of the Moog synthesizer, and helped to push its popularity. He will be also remembered by his versions of classics such as Ennio Morricone’s The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

In the late 1970s, severe emphysema put an end to his musical career, and he died 6 February 1981, Palm Springs, California.

Tracklist:
1 Days of Wine and Roses
2 How To Handle A Woman
3 Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
4 My Prayer
5 If Ever I Would Leave You
6 Cry Me A River
7 Dicitencello Vuie
8 Stark Velvet
9 Caress
10 Ante el Escorial