Edmundo Ros, born Edmund William Ross on December 7, 1910, in Port of Spain, Trinidad, was a prominent Trinidadian-Venezuelan musician, vocalist, arranger, and bandleader who made a significant impact on the British music scene. He passed away on October 21, 2011, in Alicante, Spain, at the age of 100.

Ros's early life was marked by his multicultural heritage; his mother, Luisa Urquart, was a Venezuelan teacher of Carib descent, and his father, William Hope-Ross, was of Scottish descent. After his parents separated, Ros attended a military academy where he developed an interest in music, learning to play the euphonium and percussion. At 17, he moved to Caracas, Venezuela, to study music under Vicente Emilio Sojo and played in the city's nightclubs and the Martial Band of Caracas. He later became a timpanist in the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra.

In 1937, Ros relocated to the United Kingdom to study at the Royal Academy of Music. By 1940, he had formed his own orchestra, Edmundo Ros and His Rumba Band, which gained popularity for its Latin American style. The band played at prestigious venues like the Coconut Grove club in Regent Street, which Ros owned from 1951, attracting high society and members of the British royal family. His orchestra became a staple in London's nightlife, performing at venues such as the Cosmo Club and the Bagatelle Restaurant.

Ros's career was bolstered by a scandal in the British high society, which unexpectedly turned him into a celebrity. He became a favorite of the Queen Mother and her daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. In 1951, he opened the Edmundo Ros Dinner and Supper Club, which became one of the most exclusive clubs in England.

Throughout his career, Ros recorded extensively with labels like Parlophone and Decca, producing hits such as the "Wedding Samba," which sold over three million copies. He was known for his willingness to experiment with music, creating Latinized versions of popular tunes and exploring new stereo dynamics.

In the early 1960s, Ros collaborated with the Ted Heath orchestra on the album "Heath versus Ros," and despite the rise of rock bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, he continued to perform until the 1970s. He disbanded his orchestra in 1975 after a tour in Japan and retired to Spain with his second wife. In recognition of his contributions to music, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2000.