Latin American Music

Latin American Music

The Caribbean region was the first area of the Americans to be populated by African immigratnts. A strong African influence pervades music, dance, the arts, literature, speech, and religious pratices. Other immigrants that were bought to the new world have adopted their culture. They had left some of their culture, modified others, and create new forms. This adaptation to local american conditions is called creolization. Latin American music has always been deeply influenced by the vibrant rythms and melodies that blacks brought with them from their African Homeland. The African heritage is often a primary basis of some of the most internationally influential music to come out of Latin american. Manyh of their Popular genres come from many Latin American countries like Puerto Rico, Cuba, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, and many others.

One of the most popular musical genres is salsa. This musical genre comes from Puerto Rico. This Music was influenced by the african heritageis often a primary basis of some of the most internationality influential music to come out of Latin America. Latin American Music Has always been deeply influened by the vibrant rythms and melodies that blacks brought with them from their african homeland. Salsa is similar to mambo by their dance step ups. Salsa is usually refers to a fusion of informal dance styles having roots in the caribbean. Strongly influencedby African musci and dance, Salsa is danced by couples with frequent exchanges of partners. It's a perfromance dance too.

Salsa became popular in the 70's. From New York salsa quickly expanded to cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, and other Latin Countries while the new style became a symbol of pride and cultural identity for Latinos, especially Puerto Ricans. The number of salsa bands, both in New York and in other parts of teh U.S, increased dramatically in the 70's as did salsa- oriented radio stations and record labels. Eddie Palmieri and Celia Cruz adapted to the salsa Fromat, joined by more authentically traditional singers like willie colon and Ruben Blades. Colon and Blades worked together for much of the 1970's and 80's, becomingsome of the most popular salsa performers in the world. Their 1978 album Siembra was, at that time, the best- selling Latin albm in history