Salsa music

Salsa music is a style of Latin American music, combining elements of Cuban, Puerto Rican, and American influences. Because most of the basic musical components predate the labeling of salsa, there have been many controversies regarding its origin. Most songs considered as salsa are primarily based on son montuno and son cubano,^[10] with elements of guaracha, cha-cha-chá, danzón, descarga, bolero, guajira, rumba, mambo, jazz, funk, R&B, rock, bomba, and plena.^[11] All of these elements are adapted to fit the basic Son montuno template when performed within the context of salsa.^[12]

Originally the name salsa was used to label commercially several styles of Latin dance music, but nowadays it is considered a musical style on its own and one of the staples of Latin American culture.^[13][14]

While the term salsa today is a rebranding of various Latin musical styles, the first self-identified salsa band is Cheo Marquetti y su Conjunto - Los Salseros.^[15] Their first album released in Cuba in 1957 and later in the United States in 1962, “Salsa y Sabor” is also the first album to mention Salsa on its cover. Later on self-identified salsa bands were predominantly assembled by Cuban and Puerto Rican musicians in New York City in the 1970s. The music style was based on the late son montuno of Arsenio Rodríguez, Conjunto Chappottín and Roberto Faz. These musicians included Celia Cruz, Willie Colón, Rubén Blades, Johnny Pacheco, Machito and Héctor Lavoe.^[16][17] During the same period a parallel modernization of Cuban son was being developed by Los Van Van, Irakere, NG La Banda, Charanga Habanera and other artists in Cuba under the name of songo and timba, styles that at present are also labelled as salsa. Though limited by an embargo, the continuous cultural exchange between salsa-related musicians inside and outside of Cuba is undeniable.^[18]