Although delicious, I am not talking about the food salsa.
Instead, I am talking about the amazing dance and music of salsa! The history and journey are truly fascinating to learn about.
In my senior year Spanish class in high school, we had a topic about the different types of dance and music in Hispanic culture. It was easily one of my favorite topics we discussed.
There are four sections in the journey of salsa that help you understand the stories that created this amazing part of music history.
Salsa’s Roots (1500 – 1930)
Salsa has its roots in Afro-Cuban music. Cuban-born genres such as bolero, rumba, and son, among others, share a rhythmic pattern known as clave. Clave is part of a broader tradition of African rhythms that can be heard throughout the music of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Latin Jazz & Mambo (1940s – 1950s)
Latin jazz and mambo developed during the 1940s and 1950s. In New York, Black Latino musicians such as Mario Bauzá and Augusto Coén played an important role in shaping Latin jazz through their work with jazz and swing bands.
Meanwhile, Cuban musicians were also influenced by U.S. jazz while incorporating and experimenting with Cuba’s rich musical traditions.
Cuban composers Arsenio Rodríguez, who later moved to New York City, and Enrique Jorrín each contributed to the development and popularity of mambo and cha-cha-cha.
The ‘60s Generation (1960 – 1969)
In the 1960s, a new generation of bands broadened the sound of clave-based music. Although their music was rooted in Cuban traditions such as son, rumba, and mambo, they incorporated influences from jazz, R&B, classical music, and other Caribbean styles, including Puerto Rican bomba.
The movement was centered in New York but soon spread to cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles, as well as Puerto Rico and other parts of Latin America.
Salsa (1970 – Present)
Salsa evolved from its Afro-Cuban roots into a powerful expression of Latino and Latin American identity and culture.
During the 1970s, salsa experienced a major surge in popularity, particularly in New York, where musicians experimented with new instruments, rhythms, and socially conscious lyrics.
By the 1980s, both the music industry and salsa’s sound were evolving, but salsa and Latin jazz had become firmly established in the United States and around the world.
Understanding the roots of salsa music helps people understand the true culture behind the sound. To me, understanding Hispanic culture through music is the best way to learn about the culture.
The history of salsa is so interesting, and I hope this helps others love it as well!