A popular form of Latin-American dance music, characterized by Afro-Caribbean rhythms, Cuban big-band dance melodies, and elements of jazz and rock. It represents the ongoing evolution and assimilation of a variety of styles which have traveled from Cuba and Puerto Rico to New York, Miami, and elsewhere. The big bands which blazed forth in city dance halls and on New York's famous
Fania label in the mid-1960s used rhythm sections and a compositional structure based in the son music style. But they ultimately added fiery horn sections and jazz harmonies, landing squarely in the samba tradition. South and Central America developed their own appetites for Salsa, contributing to its growth through the
trailblazing work of artists like
Panama's Ruben Blades and
Cuba's Celia Cruz.
Salsa: Jaun Luis Guerra, Pedro Conga, Tito Rojas,
Maelo Ruiz, Rey Ruiz,
Frankie Ruiz, Johnny Rivera, Ismael Rivera, Puerto Rican Power, Dark Latin Groove Aka DLG, Legacia De La Salsa, Yuri Buenaventura, La India, Pedro Jesus, El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico, Tito Nieves, Roberto
Roena, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Cheo Feliciano, Willie Colón, Willie Rosario, Jerry Rivera, Sonora Carruseles, Joe Arroyo, Conjunto Chaney, Luis Enrique, Oscar D'Leon, Danny Rojo, Ruben Blades, Guayacan Orquesta, Tony Vega, Victor
Manuelle, Edgar Joel, David Cedeño, Eddie Santiago, Edwin Bonilla, Adolescent's Orquesta, Fania All-Stars, Celia Cruz, Willie Gonzalez, Hector Lavoe, and César Pedroso.