Latin Music USA: Episode 1

In the first episode of Latin Music USA, we explore the origins of Latin music in the United States. We trace the influence of Latin music on American popular music, from the early days of jazz and swing to the rise of rock and roll.

Introduction

Latin Music USA is a four-part documentary series that explores the rise of Latin music in the United States. Spanning four generations and features some of the biggest names in music, Latin Music USA chronicles the ways in which Latin music has shaped and been shaped by American culture.

Episode 1, “The Chicano Wave,” chronicles the explosion of Chicano rock in the 1960s and ’70s. Bands like Santana and Los Lobos brought a new sound to American radio, while singers like Selena and Gloria Estefan enjoyed crossover success with English-language audiences. Latin Music USA also examines how politics and social change played a role in the rise of Chicano rock, with artists using their platform to speak out against discrimination and injustice.

The Birth of Salsa

In the 1970s, a new kind of Latin music took over the airwaves and dance floors of New York City. It was called salsa, and it was a mix of Latin rhythms, African sounds, and American pop.

Salsa was born in the barrios of New York City, where Puerto Rican immigrants had been coming to find work since the 1950s. They brought with them the music they loved: Cuban son, Mexican rancheras, and their own native bomba and plena. In the clubs and bars of East Harlem and the Bronx, they danced to this music all night long.

But by the 1970s, many Puerto Ricans were born in the United States, and they were looking for a sound that was their own. They found it in salsa. Salsa combined all the music they loved—Latin rhythms, African sounds, and American pop—into a new sound that was uniquely Cuban-American.

Salsa quickly spread from New York City to other Latin American countries, and then to the world. Today, it is one of the most popular types of Latin music.

The Salsa Explosion

The “Salsa Explosion” of the 1970s brought the sounds of Latin America to the mainstream and changed American pop music forever.

In the first episode of Latin Music USA, we trace the story of salsa from its roots in Afro-Cuban son and New York City’s Puerto Rican community, to its spread across the globe. We chronicle how Cuban exiles such as Celia Cruz and Tito Puente became superstars, and how New York-based salsa groups such as Fania All-Stars and The Latin Brothers took the music to new heights.

We also explore how salsa found a welcoming home in East L.A., where Chicano musicians created a distinctive hybrid of salsa, rock, and R&B. And we tell the story of Willie Colón, who with his collaborator Héctor Lavoe created some of salsa’s most enduring anthems.

The New York Sound

The New York Sound is a term used to describe the Latin music scene in New York City during the 1960s and 1970s. The sound is characterized by its fusion of traditional Latin styles with rock, jazz, and soul. It was pioneered by artists such as Willie Colón, Hector Lavoe, and Rubén Blades.

The Golden Age of Salsa

The Golden Age of Salsa was a period in the late 20th century when salsa music enjoyed a growing popularity in the United States. The music itself was a result of the cultural melting pot that is New York City, where Afro-Cuban rhythms were combined with other musical styles to create a new and exciting form of music.

During this period, many of the leading exponents of salsa were based in New York, including such legends as Tito Puente, Willie Colon, and Eddie Palmieri. The music they created was characterized by its infectious rhythms and catchy melodies, and it quickly found a enthusiastic audience both within Latino communities and beyond.

The Golden Age of Salsa came to an end in the early 1980s, as salsa gave way to other Latin musical styles such as reggae, Latin hip hop, and merengue. However, the music remains hugely popular to this day, and continues to evoke memories of good times for those who remember the Golden Age fondly.

The Legacy of Salsa

In the 1970s, a new style of music called salsa emerged from the Latino community in New York City. Salsa combined the Afro-Cuban rhythms of Cuba with the African-influenced sounds of Latin America, resulting in a vibrant new style of music.

Salsa quickly became popular among Latinos and non-Latinos alike, and within a few years, it had spread to Puerto Rico, Colombia, Panama, and other parts of the world. Today, salsa is one of the most popular genres of Latin music, and its influence can be heard in many other genres, including pop, hip-hop, and rock.