America's Music Film Series: Latin Rhythms from Mambo to Hip Hop

Song & Social Change in Latin America offers seven essays from a diverse group of scholars on the topic of music as a reflection of the many social-political upheavals throughout Latin America from the 20th century to the present. Topics covered include: the Tropicalia movement in Brazil, the Nueva Cancion in Central America, Rock in Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Peru, the Vallenato in Colombia, Trova in Cuba, and urban music of Puerto Rico in the mid-20th century. The collection also includes five interviews from prominent and up-and-coming musicians Ruben Blades, Roy Brown, Habana Abierta, Ana Tijoux, and Mare representing a variety of musical genres and political issues in Central America, the Caribbean, South America, and Mexico."

The Music of Latin America and the Caribbean is the first text written on the rich musical heritage of this region specifically for the non-music major. The text is arranged by region, focusing on the major countries/regions (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, etc. in Latin America and Jamaica, the Virgin Islands, Haiti, etc. in the Caribbean). In each chapter, the author gives a complete history of the region’s music, ranging from classical and classical-influenced styles to folk and traditional music to today’s popular music.

Arsenio RodrÍguez, composer and musical innovator, made an indelible impact on a broad range of musical styles from the Caribbean and Latin America to West and Central Africa. The son montuno style that he created and his innovative conjunto ensemble inspired other Cuban musicians and played a key role in the development of salsa, yet Arsenio achieved only intermittent commercial success. Drawing on the testimony of family, musicians, dancers, and other contemporaries, David Garcia traces Arsenio's early career in Cuba, his influence on Cuban and Latin popular music in the 1940s, his struggle for recognition at the height of mambo-mania in the 1950s, and his importance to Puerto Rican and Cuban communities in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Garcia shows how matters of race, class, and identity as well as the transnational Latin music industry shaped Arsenio's music and career.

Salsa Talks is a special book that will appeal to the huge Latino population the world over and to the Japanese, Americans, Italians, Spaniards and people far-and-wide that love salsa music. In addition, it is the ultimate library-friendly book. It includes a three-level index, bibliography, glossary and about 300 photos.Although salsa music is hugely popular, most books on the subject have taken an academic approach. This has created a chasm between the salsa fans and their thirst for intimate details about the artists, the music and photos of their idols. Salsa Talks is a celebration of salsa music, for all who love or have a curiosity about salsa. Salsa Talks treads on new territory. Never before has the story of salsa been told in such an engaging, entertaining and educational manner. Throughout the book, you will find anecdotes, recollections and revelations about widely known salsa superstar musicians. This book tells the story of salsa, with a slight twist: in the words of the musicians themselves. Salsa Talks has taken care to respect that delicious language the artists use to talk about their music, with all its "flava." After reading Salsa Talks, you will truly feel that you know something about salsa music: its main players, the characteristics of the music, who's who and what they have contributed to the music.

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 it: 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.