Who was María Grever? Google Doodle pays tribute to Mexican composer covered by Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra
On February 11, 1938, one of Mexico’s finest singers and music composers, Maria Grever, recorded ‘Ti-Pi-Tin’, and 83 years later, Google has now celebrated the anniversary by making a beautiful graphic of the acclaimed composer. Grever is helmed as the first female Mexican music composer who received international acclaim. She wrote hundreds of songs recorded by singers like Aretha Franklin, Placido Domingo, and Frank Sinatra.
The Google Doodle says, “Thanks for all the music María Grever; it continues to strike a chord with listeners around the world today!”
Grever started to write music from a very early age. It is reported that when she was only four years old, she reportedly composed a holiday carol for her school that persuaded her father to hire acclaimed composers of that era to come and tutor her. Grever remains one of the most popular Mexican artists who tried to change the world through their art. Grever’s ‘What A Difference a Day Makes’ was popularized by Dinah Washington and other noted singers like Vaughn Monroe, Dean Martin, Ben E. King, Lonnie Johnson, Jacky Terrasson, and Julie Dawn.
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As a #duallanguage #school. we honor #MaríaGrever first #female #Mexican #composer to achieve international acclaim,best known for "What A Difference A Day Makes" "Cuando vuelva a tu lado"popularized by Dinah Washington & numerous artists.#culture #music pic.twitter.com/zhIpgQK89V
— EmersonD100 (@EmersonD100) February 11, 2021
Who was Maria Grever?
María Joaquina de la Portilla Torress, aka Grever, was born on September 14, 1885, and moved to her father’s natal city, Sevilla, Spain, in 1891. As per reports, Grever studied music in France, where Franz Lenhard and Claude Debussy taught her. After moving back to Mexico in 1900, she started attending her aunt’s solfège school to continue her music education.
"I was always play-acting. I used to wrap myself up in my mother's veils and recite things. They were always tragedies. I was an orphan left lonely by the sea,” Grever said to The Brooklyn Daily Eagle in 1947. She also recalled the time when doctors told her family members to let her continue her work else she will fall ill.
“My family once insisted that I must rest. I tried. I remained in bed. Then my blood pressure went up. The doctor said: 'Let her get up and work, and she will be well again.'"
Over her entire career, Grever reportedly wrote more than 800 songs and received recognition from audiences in Europe, North America, and Latin America. As per reports, Grever wrote her first song, ‘A Una Ola’, when she was 18 years old, which reportedly sold over three million copies.
Grever moved to New York with her husband, Leo A. Grever, in 1920 and started working for Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox. It was around the same time when she found an inclination towards the Jazz and Modern Rhythms, but she never stopped working on her Mexican Music. Grever’s first international hit was ‘Júrame’, followed by ‘Volveré’, and ‘Te Quiero Dijiste’. She was awarded a Grammy after Washington performed ‘What a Difference a Day Makes’.
Didn't know What a Difference a Day Makes was written by Maria Grever, a Mexican woman. One of my fave Dinah Washington tracks. Enjoy https://t.co/hyJEPnSMJG
— Chella Ramanan 🍒🇬🇩 (@ChellaRamanan) February 11, 2021
In one of her earlier interviews, Grever stated that there is a cultural richness in Mexican Music, where melody and rhythm merge to make something wonderful. It was Grever’s wish to present the Mexican rhythms and tunes to the American audience.