Latin music entered American popular music in three phases from the early 20th century. The first phase involved exotic novelty songs that incorporated Latin dance rhythms. The tango and rumba became popular dance fads. In the 1930s-1950s, Latin music hybridized with American styles to develop a commercial Latin sound led by Xavier Cugat. The mambo emerged as a fusion of Afro-Cuban son with big band. Artists like Tito Puente and Antonio Carlos Jobim incorporated Latin rhythms into mainstream American pop music. Starting in the 1950s, genres like the bossa nova, salsa, and tejano music became part of the fabric of American popular music.

1. Chapter 8Latin Music in the U.S.

2. First Half of 20th Century Latin music = any Spanish sounding musicMusic for dancing Originated in US (musicians within the Hispanic culture) Outside Latin community (non-Hispanic musicians) Using Latin elements

3. Slave trade brought Africans to US, Caribbean and BrazilUnlike southern slaves, Latin/Caribbean kept their culture Slaves in southern US were not allowed to have drumsMixture of culture/religion/more rhythmic texture/percussion instr.

4. Latin elements in American pop music3 PhasesExotic novelties – up to 1940Hybrid/transformed styles – grew out of interpretations 1930-50Part of the fabric of pop music – 1950s onward

5. First Stage: Exotic Novelty Latin dance music/rhythm entered US by Cuban habaneraThis is one of the first recorded instances of African influence on European music

6. 1st Dance Fad Tango was first dance fad Irene and Vernon Castle

7. Don Azpiazu (1930) “El Manisero” (the Peanut Vendor) Similarities to swing/sweet touched off widespread enthusiasm for Latin music

8. 2nd Latin Dance Fad Rumba grew out of “son”“Son” – most characteristic style of Afro-Cuban musicRural song/dance form with African/Hispanic elementsRumba – simplified for social dancingCuban radio – live performers – allowed Afro-Cuban to perform

9. Clave rhythm Is to Cuban music what back-beat is to rock

10. Second Stage Hybrids and TransformationsBy 1930s Latin influence was prominent in pop musichttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-didTK_g-Y&feature=related

11. Xavier Cugat (1900-1990) Helped establish a commercial Latin styleLatin music’s Paul WhitemanMusicians wore ridiculous uniforms, campy routines, entertainment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-didTK_g-Y&feature=related

12. “Begin the Beguine” (1935) Written by Cole PorterLatin rhythm Very long song Sophisticated melodic construction Percussion give a Latin flavor

13. Latin generated transformationsDevelopment of a Latin districtConsequence of Spanish-American War Uptown Latin style for Latinos More African soundingHeavier percussionDense, complex rhythms

14. 3rd Latin Dance Fad: MamboFirst to develop on US soil Merged authentic Afro-Cuban son with big-band horns and riffs.Mambo caught on with non-Latin audience 1940s As the mambo entered the mainstream, it watered down

15. Mambo thrived Rumba was not as popularReason: Presence of a stable, enthusiastic US audience for Afro-Cuban music 1930 was too small to support it

16. Tito Puente – “Mambo King” Appealed to Latin audiencesHeavy brass, full Cuban rhythm section

17. “Complicacion” (1958) Successful blend of American and Afro-Cuban elementsChachacha became more popular dance than mambo – simpler, slower

18. 1959 Castro assumed leadership in CubaUS/Cuba severed tiesMusic/musicians not able to come to US Ideas, influences stopped

19. Bossa nova Brazilian slang for “something new and different”Emerged in Rio 1950s as sophisticated alternative to samba

20. Antonio Carlos Jobim and Joao Gilberto Blended harmonic sophistication of west coast jazz with Brazilian rhythmsBossa craze peaked during the 1960s Lasted only a few years

21. “Girl From Ipanema” Landmark recording 1963 Gilberto and Stan GetzCool, flat, low-pitched voice Complex offbeat rhythms

22. TangoDance from Argentina Was first dance craze in USBuenos Aires is to tango what New Orleans is to jazz Music grew in low-life areasBandoneon – accordion from Germany – signature sound

23. Tango became first Latin dance to achieve a permanent place in American pop music

24. Astor Piazzolla ( 1921-1992) Born in Argentina grew up in NYCStudied in Paris Stretched the boundaries of tango http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUAPf_ccobc

25. “Oblivion”Bass is heart-beat of tango – remains constantEmotional quality similar to the blues – vocal like expression

26. Tejano MusicParallels country music Unlike Cuban music Seldom has percussion complex rhythmsCharacteristic sounds Accordion bajosextoOversized 12- stringInfluenced by Germans – polkashttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKZvSz4qs2w

27. “En elcielo no hay cerveza” (“In Heaven, There is No beer”) Flaco Jimenez Traditional tejano styles mixed with modern elementsFun loving party song Contemporary instr. elecgtr/bass