Everybody Salsa!
Salsa is a musical genre that has existed for decades and is still popular today. Salsa's origins are Cuban, but many believe that the Puerto Ricans who emigrated to the U.S. developed the style of salsa we know today.
As a result of political problems in the early twentieth century, many 5 people emigrated from Puerto Rico and settled in the United States. Between 1915 and 1930, about 50,000 Puerto Ricans arrived in the U.S. In 1917, a law was passed that made people from Puerto Rico American citizens. After this, Puerto Ricans were able to move freely between their home and the U.S. mainland.
10 Between 1940 and 1969, about 800,000 Puerto Ricans moved to the U.S, mainly to New York City and Miami. They brought with them their culture, style, and infectious1 Latin rhythm. One style of music and dance they brought to the U.S. was a blend2 of Afro3-Cuban rhythms and Puertc Rican traditional dance. In New York, musicians incorporated American jazz, and the salsa we know today was born. During this time, interest in musical styles began to increase. Nightclubs in New York City and iund the U.S. featured salsa music and dance, as well as mambo and i-cha.
style of salsa popular in the 1960s was known as salsa caliente.5 The ig lyrics told stories of the immigrants' struggle to make a living in New 20 :k City. By the late 1970s, salsa caliente was no longer popular; another le—salsa romantica,6 with its romantic love lyrics—took over. Salsa tiantica is still popular today and is performed by musicians such as .re Anthony, a singer from Puerto Rico.
ang Puerto Ricans continue to make unique blends of salsa by fusing it h other musical genres. A mixture of hip-hop and garage combined h salsa can be heard in Jennifer Lopez's music. Ricky Martin, another :rto Rican pop star, became world famous by combining rock rhythms h the salsa romantica style.
1 many people, listening to salsa music is not enough; its fast tempo and ly beat make them want to get up and dance. As the new millennium7 ;an an increasing number of salsa bars and dance clubs opened, and in fever8 infected the world. Some people say that there are now more :rto Rican salsa clubs in New York than there are in Puerto Rico!
June 21st, 2010
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