How Latin Music Has Influenced US Music
May 12, 2011How Latin Music Has Influenced US Music
You may think that most popular Latin Music today developed around Central and South America, but many styles were actually influenced from the melting pot of the United States. These genres didn’t just develop in one place, but were spread across most of the metropolitan areas of the country with a large Hispanic population. Learn more on this topic in the paragraphs below.
In fact, many of the earliest forms of American tunes paid homage to the Spanish population and their cultures. The forefather of the modern jazz movement as well as rhythm and blues had their beginnings with the beats they borrowed from the popular sound. Within a few years, it wasn’t uncommon to find another percussionist on the band that played the maracas.
The tunes then continued to evolve and with the orchestras of the time came the big band era. With so many brass players and percussionists, it became much easier to add a bit of this flavor. This was a very popular practice and the youngsters of that time demanded more. Some of the more complex dances were simplified to make them more accessible to more audiences. One of the dance crazes of that time was conga. The gimmicky steps remain popular up to this day.
After a few decades, rock and roll dominated the radio waves, but it wasn’t the end of the Hispanic touch. Indeed, the Spanish tinge was still very much in style and it found its way into many popular rock songs.
In the middle of the last century, rock and roll was just starting to rise, but that didn’t stop the Spanish tinge from still hitting the airwaves. Some of the rock songs then also had some Spanish influences.
Today, a number of top artists owe their success to their Spanish roots. Indeed, they have subtly included these type of tunes into many of their songs while still making them accessible to most people.
Don’t be surprised to find Latin Music still very much alive today. It might not be in the form that you expect, but that beat is unmistakable.
Learn more about msica. Stop by Veronica Mendez’s site where you can find out all about latin musicians and what they can do for you.
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