Flores negras

This piece, titled *Black Flowers*, has its roots in the bolero genre, a style that evokes deep and often melancholic feelings. Its creation is attributed to the Cuban musician Sergio De Karlo, who conceived and composed it in 1937. The song had its first public appearance at the hands of Mexican tenor Pedro Vargas, who performed it in the film *Los chicos de la prensa* that same year. Shortly after, Vargas recorded it for the RCA Victor label, giving it its first record release. However, the popularity of *Black Flowers* expanded significantly thanks to the Mexican singer Elvira Ríos. She was instrumental in the song resonating in places as diverse as the United States and South America.

Her first recording of the piece took place in New York City on May 21, 1940, under the Decca Records label. Ríos's interpretation was also part of the soundtrack of the Argentine film *Ven... mi corazón te llama* in 1942. Later, she would re-record the song in Mexico, first for RCA Victor in 1963 and then for Orfeón in 1974. Over the years, other artists have left their mark on *Black Flowers*, including Lydia Mendoza in 1937, Bing Crosby in 1941, Eydie Gormé with Los Panchos in 1965, Elvira Quintana also in 1965, Irma Serrano in 1973, Julio Jaramillo, and Ana Gabriel in the year 2000.

Eydie Gormé's version, with a duration of 2 minutes and 21 seconds, was produced by Pete Rosaly.