Moises Simons

Cuban composer, pianist and orchestra leader. Born in Havana, 24 August 1889 Died in Madrid, 24 June 1945. He was the composer of "El Manisero" (The Peanut Vendor), one of the landmarks of Cuban music into American consciousness. He charted eight times in the U.S. and once in the U.K. between 1930 and 1975. "The Peanut Vendor" charted six of those times--first by Don Azpiazu & His Havana Casino Orchestra in 1930, when it hit #1. English versions (with addition of lyrics by L. Wolfe Gilbert & Marion Sunshine) hit #5 twice in 1931--first by Red Nichols & His Five Pennies and then by The California Ramblers. In 1930, the sheet music sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA. The song has been covered by over one hundred and fifty artists. His other charted song is "Marta (Rambling Rose of the Wildwood)". It charted three times, first by Arthur Tracy, whose version hit #19 in the U.S. in 1932. It too had English lyrics added by Gilbert and Sunshine.