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Blogs related to Latin music history and culture.
Asian Influence on Puente’s Latin Jazz
Some of Tito Puente's music reflected the influence Asian culture had on him. As we celebrate Asian month in the US, it's essential to recognize those influences and how they enriched Latin Jazz and Latin music.
Bobby Sanabria's Article on…
Cuarteto Coculense, First Mariachi Recording
"The very first Mariachi recording" as identified in the cover of the Cuarteto Coculense 1907-1909 album, precedes the Mexican Revolution and is now at the US Library of Congress.
Mariachi Before the Revolution and the Disc
The Cuarteto…
Tito Rodriguez: “Inolvidable” After 50 Years
Tito Rodriguez was the ultimate Latin music entertainer of his time. Tito could sing equally well "guarachas" and "boleros", he could dance, and play the timbales and the vibes.
He had a unique charisma that won over Latino audiences…
Misa Jíbara: Legacy of Pedro Escabí
During the Christmas season, many Puerto Rican churches transform their hymns into jíbaro rhythms. We owe this modality of the Misa Jíbara to the late professor and folklorist Pedro Escabí.
When in the early 1960s the Vatican Council II…
Ismael Miranda Music Legend Part 4: the ’90s
Ismael Miranda finished the '80s with four Christmas albums (Part 3) and starts the '90s by jumping into the Salsa Romántica craze. He extends that romanticism into a series of Bolero albums with Andy Montañez and finishes the decade with…
Puerto Rican Plena Still Strong
As this week Puerto Rico commemorates its "discovery" by Columbus (November 19) in 1493, our folk rhythm of "Plena" is still going strong over a century after its origin.
Note: this blog was originally published in 2010, when this rhythm…
Ismael Miranda Music Legend Part 3; 2nd Decade Solo
After a strong finish to his first decade as a solo artist (as we covered in Part 2), Ismael Miranda continued producing good Salsa albums towards the end of the Fania Records era. He even resurrected the Orquesta Revelación. But as the 80s…
Ismael Miranda Music Legend Part 2; Early Solo Career
The solo career of Ismael Miranda began incredibly well. His first three solo albums were so good and became so popular that they marked the rest of his career.
The impact of these albums was such that when in 2001 Ismael Miranda…