The Latin Beat: The Rhythms and Roots of Latin Music, from Bossa Nova to Salsa and Beyond

The Latin explosion of Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, and the Buena Vista Social Club may look like it came out of nowhere, but the incredible variety of Latin music has been transforming the United States since the turn of the century, when Caribbean beats turned New Orleans music into jazz. In fact, we wouldn't have any of our popular music without Imagine pop sans the mambos of Perez Prado and Tito Puente, the garage rock of Richie Valens, or even the glitzy croon of Julio Iglesias, not to mention the psychedelia of Santana and Los Lobos and the underground cult grooves of newcomers like Bebel Gilberto. The Latin Beat outlines the musical styles of each country, then traces each form as it migrates north. Morales travels from the Latin ballad to bossa nova to Latin jazz, chronicles the development of the samba in Brazil and salsa in New York, explores the connection between the mambo craze of the 1950's with the Cuban craze of today, and uncovers the hidden history of Latinos in rock and hip hop. The Latin Beat is the only book that explores where the music has come from and celebrates all of the directions it is going. "An accessible combination of serious study and exciting pop reference, The Latin Beat explains each of the wildly varied Latin musical forms - bossa nova, cumbia, merengue, tango, ranchera, rumba, son, salsa - in the context of the countries in which they arose (Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Domincan Republic, Mexico). Morales then traces each of these forms as they migrated north, and explains how they were absorbed into the American mix. He travels from the Latin ballad to the cocktail-lounge bossa nova to Latin jazz, chronicles the development of the samba in Brazil and salsa in New York, explores the connection between the mambo craze of the '40s and '50s with the Cuban craze of today, and uncovers the hidden history of Latinos in '80s and '90s rock and hip hop. The Latin Beat explores where the music has come from, and celebrates all of the directions it is going."--Jacket Frontmatter Acknowledgments (page ix) Introduction (page xi) 1 The Beat Is in the Blood (page 1) 2 The Evolution of Cuban Music into Salsa (page 33) 3 The Story of Nuyorican Salsa (page 55) 4 Contemporary Cuban Music (page 95) 5 The Latin Ballad from the Bolero to the New Latin Pop (page 119) 6 Latin Jazz (page 171) 7 Re-imagining Brazil (page 197) 8 Other Latin Beats from Mexico, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic (page 237) 9 The Hidden History of Latinos and Latin Influence in Rock and Hip-hop (page 275) 10 Latin Alternative (page 303) Bibliography (page 353) Index (page 355) The Beat Is In The Blood -- The Evolution Of Cuban Music Into Salsa -- The Story Of Nuyorican Salsa -- Contemporary Cuban Music -- The Latin Ballad From The Bolero To The New Latin Pop -- Latin Jazz -- Re-imagining Brazil -- Other Latin Beats From Mexico, Colombia, And The Dominican Republic -- The Hidden History Of Latinos And Latin Influence In Rock And Hip-hop -- Latin Alternative. Ed Morales. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [353]-354) And Index. Latin music is the product of a culture that has combined in from Europe, Africa, and the indigenous people of Latin America, as well as its North America neighbors, and its variety reflects all these inputs. For everyone who has fallen in love with Latin music, a guide to its many styles that also traces its place in American music and culture