Ok. All here need to take a breather and relax. Let's not get so emotional about this and clear the air. Facts are facts. The music labeled today as Salsa is an umbrella term that was created in the seventies for marketing purposes to describe Afro-Cuban and other Latin music rhythms to non latin audiences abroad and at home. Rhythms such Rumba, Mambo, Guaracha, Son, Danzon, Guaguanco, Bomba, Plena, even boleros to some extent, are all hoarded under this "Salsa" label. Salsa is a concept but does not exist as a Latin Musical Genre. People, this is not a secret and is common knowledge to all so I don't understand the animosity between y'all on this matter. Its certainly worth discussion. The musical contributions made to Afro-Cuban rhythms by New York City musicians of Puerto Rican decent and of those who migrated here (NYC) from Puerto Rico are undeniable and should not be questioned. I believe it led to the music's longevity and somewhat a rebirth after the Cuban musicians where expelled from the latin music scene in NYC due to Politics. Nuyorican musicians such as Ray Barretto, Eddie Palmieri, Charlie Palmieri, Ricardo Ray, Bobby Cruz, Willie Colon & Hector Lavoe. They added their own elements to the rhythms therefore extending its popularity particularly within the fast growing migrating Puerto Rican community in NYC. Lets not forget Johnny Pacheco, who is Dominican born, and the role he played in this music world wide popularity. I believe that those musicians have been credited with doing so and should be proud of their contribution. That being said, Cubans have been developing this music since before the beginning of the 20th century and have reinvented it 20 times over before anybody considered naming it by another name. They came to NYC (Machito, Mario Bauza, Arsenio Rodriguez, Chano Pozo) and together with other local musicians from el barrio and the Bronx continued experimenting with the music, adding Jazz elements to it and enhancing it even more thus creating Latin Jazz or Afro-Cuban Jazz in the process. Perez Prado took Mambo to Mexico and made it popular world wide. So All should get credited for their contributions to the Music. But in the words of Tito Puente, a New Yorker of Puerto Rican decent and considered the Mambo King by those who followed the music well…"Salsa is what I put on my food, I play Cuban Music." A sentiment shared by all those musicians and Max Salazar, also a new yorker of puerto rican decent, born in El Barrio and considered the Up Most Authority and Master Latin Music Historian. In other words, you should be given your credit. Yes. but don't cut out those that were came before you. Because its a far stretch to claim credit for contributing to something to then claim that that something is your creation. My words are not meant to discredit or minimize Puerto Ricans role in the music. Not my intention at all. But to give credit where credit is due and nothing more. Just think about it. If Cubans had completely cut out African heritage from the equation just to stroke their ego and just simply called it Cuban music? They knew it wouldnt fly but also that it was inaccurate to do so. Izzy Sanabria did not coin the term Salsa because others had used it many times before him But he was successful in exploiting it by publishing magazines about it, staging live musical shows where he would Emcee to the crowd about this music. He gave interviews and put this music back on the map. Much Respect to him for doing so because what he did was regain the NYC dancing crowd scene interest back into this music which was going through a musical drought by this era. Just like Federico Pagani did in the 40s, 50s. Anyway, theres plenty of credit to go around to be fighting over who did what and by whom. The only certainty is about who originated this music. Theres absolutely no debate about that. :) Manny Rey
The old timers know what's up. It's the upstart kids that want to talk all the shit. You mention it briefly, but it political reason was the main reason why it was called salsa. You couldn't sell a cuban style of music in that era of fidel castro and Che guevara. For the sake of cubans and puerto ricans trying to sell records and get attention they had to put distance between the music and cuba. During times of war we've altered names of everyday food stuff because they had a name that referenced a country we weren't on good terms with.
There is NO such MUSICAL GENRE called "salsa" It is either Mambo or Son. You can even call it what it is - "AFRO-CUBAN dance music." The term "salsa" was a marketing term because most NON-MUSICIANS can't tell the difference so they simplified it for people and in doing that they "shot themselves in the foot" because people commonly call it "salsa" which means SAUCE. As the great musician TITO PUENTE said, "I am NOT a chef and I don't play "salsa," I am a musician and I play AFRO-CUBAN dance music. AND the ESTRELLAS de AREITO from CUBA came out with an album called "LOS HEROES" and they have a song where the chorus says, "Si te hablan de la "salsa," Mentira se llama Son." That should say it all. AND the MAMBO dance instructors should stress that it is called Mambo/Son NOT "salsa." If you want "salsa" then GO TO THE KITCHEN or take a CULINARY class.
The word "Salsa" actually originated in a radio station in Venezuela. It was during an interview with Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz that the DJ asked them what they played, and they answered "Salsa, una mezcla de ritmos y sonidos" While is was instrumental in the evolution of the music genre, the word had a different origin that you state here.
Saw Izzy at the Albert Torres Salsa Fest in LA , he kicked off the Fania Legends reunion, awesome to be part of the history behind Salsa, long live Salsa
Excellent work! thank you very much. I am working in a unit plan to teach salsa to high school students and how music is alive and constantly developing. Keep up the good work!
This is an amazing and fun documentary. Kudos to the producer(s)! I like the fact that it is short and fun. So many interesting information and as such it would be impossible to include them all...This is excellent 5 star production! Thank you for making and sharing these awesome video. Gave me a tool to study and research this fun topic even more! :)
When I went to college at Pratt, I dated a beautiful Chinese girl living at 13th St. So I used the Union Square Subway Station a lot. There were very loud Latin music playing in that station in those days. One day after class, I went back to my apartment in Brooklyn, the neighbor had opened the door for my girl friend and her Puerto Rican girl friend up to my floor already.Those were the crazy happy days I lived. They are long gone now. Nothing but the wonderful memories.George Wu, AIA 2012-8-22
That was the Dominican Johnny Pacheco with Fania in 1966 that started calling ALL Tropical Rhythms "SALSA" to promote them better instead of using so many diferent names of Ritmos.. He made millions selling "SALSA MUSIC". Many PR's musicians hated the name due they were calling PR Plena, Bomba and Seis like SALSA instead of the PR name. There is a video of him saying that in YT. Is here. Learn that Pipiprick.See Johnny Pacheco says what is Salsa.
I wish I knew. According to the description it's from a program called "Bravísimo". You might be able to find some similar footage from "Our Latin Thing" which you can find online or on DVD.
MrLoko405: Cuban Mambo is ON 2 ,invented in 1930, Cuba ; Puerto Rican Salsa is ON 1, copied from Mambo in 1960, New York the14th Street ( Did you say you lived on the13th street and went to the YMCA once before?) Let me ask a question: If you see someone stealing the pocket book from an old lady on street, would you pretend that you had seen nothing and go dancing happily or would you do something about it ? George Wu, Registered Architect, A.I.A. 2013-4-30
im proud to say i have attended these dances with my father Cristobal Colon...today people think they know it ,listen and lern....EWIN torres was the real mambo king...
Was it also Eddie Torres who also made names for the Casino style (or "rueda", or "wheel") salsa patterns and moves, such as... "dile que no" - cross body lead "pisen!" - all stamp together "con bulla!" - all shout together "enchufla" - plug "adios" - good-bye; leave the original partner, and end going to the new partner with a "dile que no" (cross body lead).... ....all that?
Eddie Torres, a New York Puerto Rican, who learned the Mambo in the fifities and danced for Tito when Tito was still alive years ago, was called the King of Mambo somtimes, compared to Perez, a Cuban went to Mexico and Hollywood even before Xavior Cugat who stormed Hong Kong in 1954.Even today Torres still teaching Mambo ON 2 everywhere. His ON 2 has the pause( hesitation) in every measure, where a Salsa world champion Adrian had lost the pause ( hesitation) on UA-cam here ( UA-cam Salsa ) !
i keep hearing afrocuban, but afroboricua rhythms i feel also had an influence in salsa... Has anyone ever listened to plena? sounds very similar doesnt it? also puertorican jibaro music might have influenced it. Hector Lavoe said that inspired the way he sang it... pero anyways, salsa is like the perfect blend of instruments and music.. its like super evolution lol!
I'm PR but I don't think Eddie Torres explained that M on 2 too well or i didn't get all info maybe. The On 2 is only for Slow Salsa I noticed, like Guaracha. On the faster ones you don't really pause on the 4 and 8. I don't know if he was refering to the slower Guaracha when he did the videos about 123, 567. Just know not to pause on the faster Salsa.
salsa is the final result of this fantastic sound, borned in Cuba and developed in Latino America,it was danced from latinos that lived in USA,and so beatiful and captivating that the american people(black and white)fell in love,and tried to take the control of his sources Cubans and Latinos It is not country music, not rock and roll,no swing or fox trot... salsa is salsa and is for all the peoples of the World.And salseros please speak Latinos!
If checking Tito Puente in Google, we know a lot about this musician, his life and his music. Tito Puente was a New York born Puerto Rican in 1923 and died in 2000. Most of his life was playing the beautiful Cuban Latin music. One can get to some of his recordings in UA-cam here. There was a big confusion of the Latin dancing BREAK ON 2 or BREAK ON 1 in New York around 1995, and the Puerto Ricans stole the Cuban Mambo and changed the name to Salsa around 1970's.... George Wu, AIA 2012-8-11
The mambo dancing style was created by Cuban Pete, NOT Perez Prado. Peres Prado adopted the name to the music afterward. The people, especially Americans liked the name now to the music too and "Mambo Music" was listened again in mid 1950's after not been played in USA radios for years. But the Dancing style is from Cuban Pete, He was A Puerto Rican living in NYC (Pedro Aguilar) he died in 2008 in Puerto Rico. google it. Pete created over a hundred distinctive steps for his "Mambo Dancing". We still use them most all over the world. The Cuban dancing style is mostly separated and Free Style Dancing of that music. He was called Cuban Pete due he was dancing mostly to 1940's Cuban style music. Puerto Ricans created many songs but later on. Anyway, Cuban Pete sounds better than Puerto Rican Pete, lol.. The name was changed to "Salsa Dancing" in the 1960's. Mambo style is the dancing style most used in the world and championships since the 1950's Cuban Pete/PR Pete.
The dancing style was not created by Cuban Pete or anyone else in the 1950s. Cuban Pete danced like Cuban Pete. Mambo dancing in the 1950s is derived from Guaracha/Son style dancing. They were doing the same motions in the 1930s and '40s. Those motions come out of Cuba. Mambo is the brand name of uptempo Afro Cuban music. The Media and Record labels applied the name. Just as the term "Salsa" wound up becoming disseminated. Prior to "Mambo," anything that was uptempo Afro-Cuban was singled out as "Rumba" or "Rhumba." Musicians only ever began utilizing these terms once the public began identifying it with such terms. There is no "big bang" when it comes to dance expression. Culture evolves over time. Again, nobody in the 1950s invented any dancing method or approach to Afro Cuban music. We in the present are the ones who grant the dancers of the past these accolades and, for the sake of relevancy, those dancers will either oblige and play along or will be honest and provide their own experience. Which is how one determines history. On a case by case basis. Not a simple linear trajectory and giving credit to single individuals. No matter who is narrating. For the record, Cuban Pete was a Black Puerto Rican raised in NYC, moved out to the West Coast during the 1960s, came back to NYC later on and wound up in the state of Florida by the late 1980s or early 1990s, where he remained for the rest of his life and passed away in Florida. He also did not create over a hundred distinctive steps. That is a claim made by his promoter and sponsor, the late Barbara Craddock. For the sake of argument, let's just say that he did. That he created 500 distinctive steps. The fact is that NOBODY danced the way Cuban Pete did. And I don't mean that as a credit to Pete but as a distinction from everyone else. Pete was "theatrical" in his stage performance, as well as socially. Because he knew people were watching so he would give them a show. But film archives and oral history tell the story that none of the dancers whom are celebrated as "Palladium dancers" managed to impact in the same manner that someone like an Eddie Torres managed to in this era. Today, anyone who dances On2 is rooted in the Eddie Torres method. No one in the 1950s and certainly no one today danced the way Cuban Pete did. One idea is to learn about people's personal history before making any declarations about someone being a "creator" or "godfather." Because much of the latter isn't really the case. Popularizing, innovating and creating are three distinct terms. One is only an innovator if it catches on and becomes "popular."
In 1960, every time I went to the NYC Union square subway station Because I was dating some one on 13th street then, I heard this loud Latin music playing underground. That was supposed to be the music the Puerto Ricans liked. the beat was exactly the Cuban Mambo , 2341, 2341,2341. Only until in 1990, when I went to Vancouver, people there started teaching the stolen Mambo, Salsa dancing everywhere. 1965 was already FIVE years behind the stealing of Mambo into Salsa ! George Wu, AIA 2012-6-7
And Eddie Torres is a Puerto Rican from Harlem. He was called the King of Mambo some times. Because that was the way Eddie Torres had learned the Mambo from, On 2 . Salsa, ( ON1, but it dies not work ! Because the pause or the hesitation is missing after three minutes later. ) is a name given after 1960,. Because Cuba became revolutionized by Castro. In order to promote the sale of the Mambo music, Salsa was invented for that purpose only ! George Wu, Registered Architect, A.I.A. 2013-4-27
THIS MUSIC NEEDED A NAME VERY MUCH LIKE THE NAMES GIVEN TO ROCK& Roll & Jazz thats all it is.The concept Salsa was created in NYC by mostly Puerto Ricans.lt was they who kept alive and spread it all over the world making it a pan american sound.
I know most except Tango, which I took only 2 lessons. Don't like Quickstep either. But know Bachata (Ritmico Rhythm) and some 70's Freestyle and Hip Hop steps so they say I'm Silver Level. And have created about 5 steps myself that others are using. One guy told me recently "I was his hero" due he learned most from me, not his teacher. Besides been a musician since 12 years old. So I'm no fool, focky, focky. Salsa is Cuban, but P. Rican too. There was a big PR migration to Cuba in the 1910's
If the Puerto Ricans are so "good" as you claimed. Then why didn't the Puerto Ricans invent their own dance? Why did the puerto Ricans steal the Cuban Mambo and renamed it Salsa ? Answer me just THIS VERY question please? George Wu, AIA 2012-8-20
I am international latin even producer. I manage all the Latin artists and musicians that come around Asia. I lived in the Americas for a long time, and studied under great masters, PRs included. And they all in agreement that Salsa is derived, from the Cuban Son. What do you do other than troll and curse people off?
Eddie Torres is a Puerto Rucan from Harlem,just like Tito was.They played and danced the Cuban Mambo most of their lives. Salsa came along just because Castro took over Cuba in 1959. in order to promote the sale of Latin music.Salsa copied Mambo in the 1960's. One can do the research from Google. ON 1 was the only thing that the Puerto Ricans invented, but they found out that they had to follow Eddie Torres to do the ON 2 in order to dance with the PAUSE (hesitation), the Mambo way !
FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY ARE EXPERTS ON THE ORGINS OF THIS MUSIC.I SAY ITS AFRICAN MUSIC PERIOD.NOT CUBAN PUERTO RICAN ETC. ITS AFRICAN FROM TOP TO BOTTOM NO ONE CAN DISPUTE THAT.
When the Salsa people stole the Cuban Mambo in 1960s, they changed the counting from BREAK ON 2 ( 234,234 ) to BREAK ON 1 ( 123,567 ) for QUICK , QUICK, SLOW. Now, the Salsa people wanted to steal the BREAK ON 2 from the Cuban Mambo also ! George Wu, AIA 2012-9-18
It is amusing to see how the Salsa community struggling to "evolve" after stealing Mambo from the Cubans. Mambo never had any problem counting 234,234 for years, even the New York born Puerto Rican Eddie Torres learned his dancing BREAK ON 2 back in his Palladium days. Today, Salsa had stolen Mambo and called it a new name Salsa and struggling ON 1 & ON 2. As for me, I just keep on enjoying myself with the authentic Mambo counting 234,234 forever until the day I die. George Wu, AIA 2012-8-24
Apology accepted Mr. Wu. I used to live at 13th St. and 2nd Ave in NYC in the 1980's and used Union Square station a lot. Actually most of Ismael Rivera hits (for example) are slow Bomba, not Salsa which is faster. Thats why La Perla, "Traigo La Salsa" hits, etc, cannot be danced like Cuban Salsa due CubanSalsa is a bit faster than Bomba. It was Fania and Pacheco that named that ALL TROPICAL RHYTHMS "SALSA". Puente did a lot of Latin Jazz and was credited as Salsa too, which he hated the name.
As of 2016, he still lives in Valrico, Florida, to the east of Tampa. He has some cool merchandise from the Latin NY Magazine days. I still have a bunch of the original magazines up in my attic. He is a graphic artist and some of his 70s art has captured the times and music.
I went to Google for Johnny Pacheco, a Dominican came to NY at the age of 11 in 1940. He went to Julliard school of music for percussion, and formed his own band in 1959. He experimented the music from Cuba, Dominica and Puerto Rico into Salsa around the time I often went to 14th Street Union Square subway station in exactly the year of 1960. My apology to you that the Puerto Ricans did not steal the Cuban Mambo, a Dominican Johnny Pacheco did the actual stealing ! George Wu, AIA 2012-8-20
Go find Roberto Faz Pintate Los Labious Maria video on youtube. The classic version video. It was 1963, wayyyy before this drug infested punk in this video with bell bottom started calling it salsa. And if that's not salsa.. well.. you be the judge. Btw i wrote 80% of the Salsa Dance info on Wikiepedia for the last 3 years and it still stands. Even the NY salsa part of two eras, was written by me. Let me see what you can do.
@SuperTimbero (3rd part) ....But just because a kid in the S, Bronx didn't have access to Cuban music,... doesn't mean that was the case for the rest of the world...for Cuban music...from the early 1900's to the present, it has been business as usual globally. Why should we debate about NY and PR Salsa when it just around the tip of a very large musical iceberg? Sure you can focus on the tip above the water level, but you'll care how large it really is if your ship hits it....
Remember that Cuban Mambo is ON 2 ( Eddie Torres the Puerto Rican does only ON 2 ! That was the way he grew up with and learned Mambo from Harlem. In those days, there was no such a thing called Salsa in Harlem in 1940s ! ) ; Salsa the copy cat is ON 1. George Wu, Architect, .A.I.A. 2013-4-29
Your last sentence "Cuba still has Salsa..." No sir, Cuba already has their own Mambo ! They never had Salsa before until the Puerto Ricans stole their Mambo away ! and changed the name Mambo into Salsa !!! George Wu, AIA 2012-5-25
hi pleasure to meet another lover of salsa i noted salsa as caribbean as its an art found on the islands of the cariibbean meaning cuba. How can salsa be latino when african slaves brought it to the island. Latino is a language not dance form.
There is one big problem when the Puerto Ricans stole the Cuban Mambo but did not steal the counting system 234,234, Instead the Puerto Ricans invented 123,567. So called break on 2 and break on 1 created a confusion back in the 1980's and 1990's. For years I just gave up dancing Mambo because the Salsa people tried to promote the Salsa market so much that you were being asked to do " Break in 2 or Break on 1 " before every single dance ! Why don't they just do Q,Q,S ! George Wu, AIA 2012-8-9
That explained why after all the stealing of Mambo by the Puerto Rucan people in the past 50 years or so, people like Torres would realize that of the Puerto Ricans did not also steal the counting 234, which he tried to preserve the beauty of having the Pause ( the hesitation ) , doing the Puerto Rican counting BREAK ON ONE, one of these days there us no more authentic Latin dancing any more ! Why ? the PAUSE( hesitation) is missing ! George Wu, A.I.A., Architect, 2013-3-26
oh, and how about Colombia? that country has at least 2 distinct salsa styles of it's own... but that isn't mentioned, eh? and about Mexico, it's good that you mention that Perez Prado popularized Mambo there after departing from Cuba, but you forgot another thing - the Vasquez Brothers, the dudes who invented the "LA style salsa" are Mexican...
Learned something from your fellow Puerto Rican Eddie Torres from New York. His ON 2 was the authentic Cuban Mambo 234, 234; NOT the Puerto Rican Salsa 123,567 ! Good Luck ! Learn the basic from Torres then enjoy ! George Wu, Architect, A.I.A 2013-4-29
Salsa isnt a rythem it is indeed a concept. Of course cuban music is at the center of it all.However, the music took a slight turn when it came to new york.The music became pan american when they began to add other musical elements into the mix.Such as Jazz, Rock, brazilian samba, Puerto Rican folk music -- bomba plena etc...
Also how can you have a history of Salsa without mentioning Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela? While this is a great video it lacks major elements that served to create the Salsa that we know now. Eddie Palmieri introduced the 2nd brass to a sextette, Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe, Ruben Blades, El Gran Combo, Apollo Sound, Sonora Ponceña! Where are they on this so called history?
When salsa is danced " break On 1 " instead of the Cuban Mambo, " Break on 2 ", the consequence is devastating ! Because the slow step of quick,quick,slow is eliminated ! Without the pause, Salsa is nothing but a Lindy ! NO PAUSE WHATSOEVER ! Therefore, as an admirer of the Cuban Latin music and the Latin dance, I strongly protested that the Puerto Ricans stole the Cuban Mambo and changed the name into Salsa and BREAK ON 1 OR ON 2 , STILL COUNTING 123,567. George Wu, AIA 2012-8-9
I have seen the New York Puerto Rucan Eddie Torres dancing Mambo ON 2 many times, but I don't think you are famous enough to dance as Eddie Torres yet. But Eddie has the Cuban Motion most Salsa dancers do not have. I bet you probably do not have the Cuban motion like Eddie does, because after two minutes later you forgot you were ON 3 or On 7, when Eddie, A Mambo dancer, just did the 234,234. the PAUSE( hesitation) are there for you to see very clearly ! George Wu,Architect, A.I.A. 2013-4-29
Looks like Salsa Grandparents came from Africa to cuba, the Parents came from Cuba and moved to Puerto Rico and have Grandkids Puerto Rican famous bands. The Grandkids turned to be the most famous of them all. Better education in general. Bilingual Technitians/Musicians. Latest success-Song named "Despacito". Biggest hit on internet music ever. Puerto Ricans. The little giant of music and dancing. They will pay the debt with music, they say. They are recovering from the hurricane. Despacito, but well.
Real origins are African but the Cubans and Puerto Ricans are the ones that mixed in what the modern Salsa is. Statistics show most Salsa international hits since the 1970's are from Puerto Rican musicians. Anyone wants to bet?
From your post, I see you are learning from the world's best Latin dancer Slavik whose Cuban Motion is about the best I have ever seen. But please don't change the name Cuban Motion into Puerto Rican Motion please ? George Wu, AIA 2012-6-6
If Salsa was invented after 1960; then for those who learned dancing 234,234 ( BREAK ON 2, like Eddie Torres is teaching currently ! ) from the Cuban Mambo, have to change to 123,567( BREAK ON 1 ). It is confusing ! Unless Salsa dancers would not use the name Salsa for Mambo , use Mambo the same way Eddie Torres does even today, and BREAK ON 2 ! George Wu, Registered Architect, A.I.A. 2013-4-27
Now explain how you do your Cuban Motion your own way and the way your fellow Puerto Rican Eddie Torres from Harlem did. Or do you have the Cuban motion in your Salsa at all ? Do you have the hip movement of the Cuban Motion that Eddie has or you think Cuban Motion Hip movements are not important in Salsa because the rhythms are so fast. therefore you do not need the PAUSE ( hesitation) as Eddie Torres did ! I doubt that you have Cuban Motion. Show me that you do ! George Wu, Architect, A.I.A.
That is why you see all the poor dancers, even the so called Salsa champions, when I looked closely, he did not even have the pause in his dancing, taking advantage of the fast rhythms, he simply twisted the partners arms,making her to keep on turning, so called champions !!!! WHAT A CHAMPION ! George Wu, AIA 2012-11-17
All I want to say is very simple ! If the Puerto Ricans are as good as they claimed that they are, then the Puerto Ricans should not steal the Cuban Mambo and renamed it into Salsa ! That is all ! Any questions ? George Wu, AIA 2012-8-20
@CFITOMAHAWK2 Offcourse because you forget when Castro took over Cuba, Americans banned all import and exports "Especially Music" and Cuban Musicians couldnot come over either because of the embargo. Since Puerto Ricans are "Already Americans" and can come over by the boat and plane loads they easilly took over the "Salsa" market that Afro Cubans left! Do you want to bet on those Facts???
This is very good, you just left out one important element, the Cuban Son. My mom taught me the steps of what we call Salsa. She knew it as dancing Son. But the steps were the same as shown in your video. Good job though.
Because This Salsa male dancer is so confused that he forgot he was ON 1 or ON 2, after twisting the woman around ten spins ! I have been watching all those so called World Salsa champions, all the instructors here in UA-cam. After a while they forgot what count he was on, simply gave up the Pause step after the two quick steps, just moving his feet regularly, quick,quick,quick,quick,quick,quick,... But we all know Latin dancing is quick,quick,slow,quick,quick,slow ! George Wu, AIA 2012-8-24
Nice work... but you have completely overlooked an important part of the evolution of Salsa; the events that happened in Cuba since the late 50's. what about Casino style salsa, and Rueda de Casino?! why did you not say a single word about son montuno, charanga, changui, songo, and ultimately, timba?! how can you ignore such important musicians as Elio Reve, Juan Formel, Jose Luis Cortes, and many more? this is just unfair of you. if you want this video to be educational, don't discriminate!
When cuba had the crisis in 1950s and 1960s, the Puerto Ricans stole the Cuban Mambo and changed the name from Mambo into Salsa. Several comments in UA-cam three years ago claimed that the Puerto Ricans invented Salsa in NY & LA. Mambo is a fast version of Rumba which is still intact untouched by the Puerto Ricans. Therefore I suggested that the Puerto Ricans might as well steal the Cuban Rumba also and call it Rumsa ! What the fuck ?! George Wu, AIA 2012-6-7
scattered between them thats why mambo was different back than until PR made the changed and if my land would've been Cuba size men the rivalry would be even worse i think the credits goes out to Africa as well thats the real root. course Thats why world around relates PR with that music so bad ha.Speak the Truth and for you barwana the fact is that you can't tell where this rythems was born but the don't
Anyone who likes Slavik and the shipping containers for building housing cannot be vicious. That is what my conclusion about you, sir. George Wu, AIA 2012-6-6
The Puerto Ricans stole the Cuban Mambo into Salsa,but not be able to steal Rumba yet. One of these days. do not be surprised the Puerto Ricans also invented a slow version od Mambo called " RUMSA " ! George Wu, AIA 2012-8-9
MrLoko405: When you see someone stealing the pocketbook from an old lady on street, do you pretend to have seen nothing or do something about it ? That is my question to you ? George Wu, Registered Architect, A.I.A. 2013-4-30
anything Salsa wants to do, ON 1 , ON 2 , ON 3, On 4, On 5,6,7,8 Is alright , even On 9 or ON 10..... ! since the rhythms are so fast that anyone can dance as long as he keeps on moving his feet. That is why Salsa is so attractive to the beginners. Anyone can camouflage his steps and no one can tell whether he is on 9 or ON 11 ?! But one problem ,as far as I am concerned, is this dancer ever want to improve his dancing, He does not have a Chinaman's chance ! ! ! ! ! ! George Wu, AIA 2012-8-24
That JackSun3 of "Salsa on 2" removing my posts and lying about my comments is another example how low the Salsa dancers could be. They have stolen the Cuban Mambo and claimed that they had invented the Salsa.JackSun3 is another thief stealing Cuban Mambo and renamed it Salsa. George Wu, AIA 2012-11-24
The Japanese used to be very imperialistic up to WW2 when they got bombed into humility and creativity instead of aggression. They changed from agressors to creators after WW2. They create now the best electronics, cars and other things, even if they didn't make the first TV's, Cameras etc, they make the best now. Same with Puerto Ricans. They create many music styles from others that are too involved in the past. That is not stealing. Cuba still has Salsa but they sayPuertoRico lo hace mejor.
There is NO such MUSICAL GENRE called "salsa" It is either Mambo or Son. You can even call it what it is - "AFRO-CUBAN dance music." The term "salsa" was a marketing term because most NON-MUSICIANS can't tell the difference so they simplified it for people and in doing that they "shot themselves in the foot" because people commonly call it "salsa" which means SAUCE. As the great musician TITO PUENTE said, "I am NOT a chef and I don't play "salsa," I am a musician and I play AFRO-CUBAN dance music. AND the ESTRELLAS de AREITO from CUBA came out with an album called "LOS HEROES" and they have a song where the chorus says, "Si te hablan de la "salsa," Mentira se llama Son." That should say it all. AND the MAMBO dance instructors should stress that it is called Mambo/Son NOT "salsa." If you want "salsa" then GO TO THE KITCHEN or take a CULINARY class.
Look ! One cannot dance ON 2 at the same time ON 1.You cannot say just do it as you like.Because in the social dance situation, you can dance either ON 2 or On 1. You just cannot do both at the same time! Luckily the rhythms are so fast,nobody can tell you are ON 2 or On1 anyway!That is why all the years a Salsa dancer can get away with murder,unless he wanted to improve himself like Eddie Torres, He must dance ON 2 like a Cuban Mambo dancer does! George Wu, Registered Architect, A.I.A.2013-4-27
The inventor or creater was the great Isreal Lopez-- Cachao and his brother Orestes Lopez.Salsa isnt a rhythem its a concept infused with other elements such afro caribe music and american jazz rock pop etc...
Before you post another comment, please compare your "dancing" at home with Eddie Torres ON 2 before your Bah bah bah ? George Wu, Architect, A.I.A. 2013-4-29
Perez Prado had beautiful Mambo with phasing & pauses, very musical &very sexy. But the Salsa, the imitators, did not have good musicians to arrange the rhythm, therefore the Salsa today is very fast & non stop, & no pause,& no rest,no beginning & no ending ! It is the product of the Puerto Ricans who are not as talented as the Cubans as far as the Latin music is concerned. Because of the Cuban crisis,they have lost their Mambo to the Puerto Ricans because Puerto Rico is an American colony !
To NY salsa101, the editor of this video, " ...This third video talks about HOW MAMBO EVENTUALLY CAME TO BE CALLED SALSA...." If you were a Cuban, would you let the Puerto Ricans steal your Mambo away and claimed in UA-cam years ago that the Puerto Ricans had INVENTED Salsa in LA and in NY? Of course not ! Stealing is disgraceful ! George Wu, AIA 2012-5-21
@SuperTimbero Furthermore you can go ahead and explain to these people, terms like: montuno, tumbao, cascara, jaleo, martillo,. And please not that whenever we musicians play off of sheet music, it never says Salsa....it'll usually say Guaracha, Son Montuno, Guanguanco, etc. Try speaking from a musical standpoint, because the commercial standpoint never accounts for the plagiarism that was advantageoulsy taking place. But just because a kid in the S, Bronx didn't have access to Cuban music,...
wow, i love how the band transition from just the conga to the whole sound of mambo/salsa. i was feelin it! haha. nice video.
The best genre worlwide!!! Te amo salsa!!
Ok. All here need to take a breather and relax. Let's not get so emotional about this and clear the air. Facts are facts. The music labeled today as Salsa is an umbrella term that was created in the seventies for marketing purposes to describe Afro-Cuban and other Latin music rhythms to non latin audiences abroad and at home. Rhythms such Rumba, Mambo, Guaracha, Son, Danzon, Guaguanco, Bomba, Plena, even boleros to some extent, are all hoarded under this "Salsa" label. Salsa is a concept but does not exist as a Latin Musical Genre. People, this is not a secret and is common knowledge to all so I don't understand the animosity between y'all on this matter. Its certainly worth discussion. The musical contributions made to Afro-Cuban rhythms by New York City musicians of Puerto Rican decent and of those who migrated here (NYC) from Puerto Rico are undeniable and should not be questioned. I believe it led to the music's longevity and somewhat a rebirth after the Cuban musicians where expelled from the latin music scene in NYC due to Politics. Nuyorican musicians such as Ray Barretto, Eddie Palmieri, Charlie Palmieri, Ricardo Ray, Bobby Cruz, Willie Colon & Hector Lavoe. They added their own elements to the rhythms therefore extending its popularity particularly within the fast growing migrating Puerto Rican community in NYC. Lets not forget Johnny Pacheco, who is Dominican born, and the role he played in this music world wide popularity. I believe that those musicians have been credited with doing so and should be proud of their contribution. That being said, Cubans have been developing this music since before the beginning of the 20th century and have reinvented it 20 times over before anybody considered naming it by another name. They came to NYC (Machito, Mario Bauza, Arsenio Rodriguez, Chano Pozo) and together with other local musicians from el barrio and the Bronx continued experimenting with the music, adding Jazz elements to it and enhancing it even more thus creating Latin Jazz or Afro-Cuban Jazz in the process. Perez Prado took Mambo to Mexico and made it popular world wide. So All should get credited for their contributions to the Music. But in the words of Tito Puente, a New Yorker of Puerto Rican decent and considered the Mambo King by those who followed the music well…"Salsa is what I put on my food, I play Cuban Music." A sentiment shared by all those musicians and Max Salazar, also a new yorker of puerto rican decent, born in El Barrio and considered the Up Most Authority and Master Latin Music Historian. In other words, you should be given your credit. Yes. but don't cut out those that were came before you. Because its a far stretch to claim credit for contributing to something to then claim that that something is your creation. My words are not meant to discredit or minimize Puerto Ricans role in the music. Not my intention at all. But to give credit where credit is due and nothing more. Just think about it. If Cubans had completely cut out African heritage from the equation just to stroke their ego and just simply called it Cuban music? They knew it wouldnt fly but also that it was inaccurate to do so. Izzy Sanabria did not coin the term Salsa because others had used it many times before him But he was successful in exploiting it by publishing magazines about it, staging live musical shows where he would Emcee to the crowd about this music. He gave interviews and put this music back on the map. Much Respect to him for doing so because what he did was regain the NYC dancing crowd scene interest back into this music which was going through a musical drought by this era. Just like Federico Pagani did in the 40s, 50s.
Anyway, theres plenty of credit to go around to be fighting over who did what and by whom. The only certainty is about who originated this music. Theres absolutely no debate about that. :)
Manny Rey
The old timers know what's up. It's the upstart kids that want to talk all the shit.
You mention it briefly, but it political reason was the main reason why it was called salsa.
You couldn't sell a cuban style of music in that era of fidel castro and Che guevara. For the sake of cubans and puerto ricans trying to sell records and get attention they had to put distance between the music and cuba.
During times of war we've altered names of everyday food stuff because they had a name that referenced a country we weren't on good terms with.
Manny Rey a hundred percent agree what you say
is Arsenio or Cachao credited for creating mambo?
There is NO such MUSICAL GENRE called "salsa" It is either Mambo or Son. You can even call it what it is - "AFRO-CUBAN dance music." The term "salsa" was a marketing term because most NON-MUSICIANS can't tell the difference so they simplified it for people and in doing that they "shot themselves in the foot" because people commonly call it "salsa" which means SAUCE.
As the great musician TITO PUENTE said, "I am NOT a chef and I don't play "salsa," I am a musician and I play AFRO-CUBAN dance music. AND the ESTRELLAS de AREITO from CUBA came out with an album called "LOS HEROES" and they have a song where the chorus says, "Si te hablan de la "salsa," Mentira se llama Son." That should say it all. AND the MAMBO dance instructors should stress that it is called Mambo/Son NOT "salsa." If you want "salsa" then GO TO THE KITCHEN or take a CULINARY class.
Manny Rey its on point brother
Super well done! Thank for making and sharing these awesome videos! I learned mucho! :)
The word "Salsa" actually originated in a radio station in Venezuela. It was during an interview with Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz that the DJ asked them what they played, and they answered "Salsa, una mezcla de ritmos y sonidos" While is was instrumental in the evolution of the music genre, the word had a different origin that you state here.
Saw Izzy at the Albert Torres Salsa Fest in LA , he kicked off the Fania Legends reunion, awesome to be part of the history behind Salsa, long live Salsa
Ha! Awesome! Funny cool and educational:) can’t believe this video is 12 years old 😂
Excellent work! thank you very much. I am working in a unit plan to teach salsa to high school students and how music is alive and constantly developing. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for this series man! I plan to use it in my high school music appreciation class for my students.
That reverb on the “incredible” is tremendous 🤣😂
This is an amazing and fun documentary. Kudos to the producer(s)! I like the fact that it is short and fun. So many interesting information and as such it would be impossible to include them all...This is excellent 5 star production! Thank you for making and sharing these awesome video. Gave me a tool to study and research this fun topic even more! :)
Whew! Loved it! Great education. :) Spiced Salsa moves.
When I went to college at Pratt, I dated a beautiful Chinese girl living at 13th St. So I used the Union Square Subway Station a lot. There were very loud Latin music playing in that station in those days. One day after class, I went back to my apartment in Brooklyn, the neighbor had opened the door for my girl friend and her Puerto Rican girl friend up to my floor already.Those were the crazy happy days I lived. They are long gone now. Nothing but the wonderful memories.George Wu, AIA 2012-8-22
can someone point me to the concert where this "musical" explanation was made? I'd like to show it to my students
This Video and all the comments are very educational.
That was the Dominican Johnny Pacheco with Fania in 1966 that started calling ALL Tropical Rhythms "SALSA" to promote them better instead of using so many diferent names of Ritmos.. He made millions selling "SALSA MUSIC". Many PR's musicians hated the name due they were calling PR Plena, Bomba and Seis like SALSA instead of the PR name. There is a video of him saying that in YT. Is here. Learn that Pipiprick.See Johnny Pacheco says what is Salsa.
very well done, thank you
thanks a lot. it's amazing. i'm looking for it.
I wish I knew. According to the description it's from a program called "Bravísimo". You might be able to find some similar footage from "Our Latin Thing" which you can find online or on DVD.
Great. From UK
wow so love my caribbean heritage
MrLoko405: Cuban Mambo is ON 2 ,invented in 1930, Cuba ; Puerto Rican Salsa is ON 1, copied from Mambo in 1960, New York the14th Street ( Did you say you lived on the13th street and went to the YMCA once before?) Let me ask a question: If you see someone stealing the pocket book from an old lady on street, would you pretend that you had seen nothing and go dancing happily or would you do something about it ? George Wu, Registered Architect, A.I.A. 2013-4-30
Please watch all 3 parts of the video. I clearly talk about the influence of Cuban Son in part 1.
that's awesome... people dancing this Latin dance all over the world :)
Thanks for sharing !!!
im proud to say i have attended these dances with my father Cristobal Colon...today people think they know it ,listen and lern....EWIN torres was the real mambo king...
That is Izzy Sanabria of the Fania All Stars. Do a search for his name and the video your looking for should be the first result.
Was it also Eddie Torres who also made names for the Casino style (or "rueda", or "wheel") salsa patterns and moves, such as...
"dile que no" - cross body lead
"pisen!" - all stamp together
"con bulla!" - all shout together
"enchufla" - plug
"adios" - good-bye; leave the original partner, and end going to the new partner with a "dile que no" (cross body lead)....
....all that?
LOVED IT!!!
Eddie Torres, a New York Puerto Rican, who learned the Mambo in the fifities and danced for Tito when Tito was still alive years ago, was called the King of Mambo somtimes, compared to Perez, a Cuban went to Mexico and Hollywood even before Xavior Cugat who stormed Hong Kong in 1954.Even today Torres still teaching Mambo ON 2 everywhere. His ON 2 has the pause( hesitation) in every measure, where a Salsa world champion Adrian had lost the pause ( hesitation) on UA-cam here ( UA-cam Salsa ) !
awesome video!!!
love it!!!
i keep hearing afrocuban, but afroboricua rhythms i feel also had an influence in salsa... Has anyone ever listened to plena? sounds very similar doesnt it? also puertorican jibaro music might have influenced it. Hector Lavoe said that inspired the way he sang it... pero anyways, salsa is like the perfect blend of instruments and music.. its like super evolution lol!
I'm PR but I don't think Eddie Torres explained that M on 2 too well or i didn't get all info maybe. The On 2 is only for Slow Salsa I noticed, like Guaracha. On the faster ones you don't really pause on the 4 and 8. I don't know if he was refering to the slower Guaracha when he did the videos about 123, 567. Just know not to pause on the faster Salsa.
salsa is the final result of this fantastic sound, borned in Cuba and developed in Latino America,it was danced from latinos that lived in USA,and so beatiful and captivating that the american people(black and white)fell in love,and tried to take the control of his sources Cubans and Latinos
It is not country music, not rock and roll,no swing or
fox trot... salsa is salsa and is for all the peoples of the World.And salseros please speak Latinos!
Latinos made it legendary and famous. It was born in Africa
could someone pleasw tell me the name of the guy talking in the beginning of the video? thanks in advance
If checking Tito Puente in Google, we know a lot about this musician, his life and his music. Tito Puente was a New York born Puerto Rican in 1923 and died in 2000. Most of his life was playing the beautiful Cuban Latin music. One can get to some of his recordings in UA-cam here. There was a big confusion of the Latin dancing BREAK ON 2 or BREAK ON 1 in New York around 1995, and the Puerto Ricans stole the Cuban Mambo and changed the name to Salsa around 1970's.... George Wu, AIA 2012-8-11
The mambo dancing style was created by Cuban Pete, NOT Perez Prado. Peres Prado adopted the name to the music afterward. The people, especially Americans liked the name now to the music too and "Mambo Music" was listened again in mid 1950's after not been played in USA radios for years. But the Dancing style is from Cuban Pete, He was A Puerto Rican living in NYC (Pedro Aguilar) he died in 2008 in Puerto Rico. google it.
Pete created over a hundred distinctive steps for his "Mambo Dancing". We still use them most all over the world. The Cuban dancing style is mostly separated and Free Style Dancing of that music. He was called Cuban Pete due he was dancing mostly to 1940's Cuban style music. Puerto Ricans created many songs but later on. Anyway, Cuban Pete sounds better than Puerto Rican Pete, lol.. The name was changed to "Salsa Dancing" in the 1960's. Mambo style is the dancing style most used in the world and championships since the 1950's Cuban Pete/PR Pete.
The dancing style was not created by Cuban Pete or anyone else in the 1950s. Cuban Pete danced like Cuban Pete. Mambo dancing in the 1950s is derived from Guaracha/Son style dancing. They were doing the same motions in the 1930s and '40s. Those motions come out of Cuba. Mambo is the brand name of uptempo Afro Cuban music. The Media and Record labels applied the name. Just as the term "Salsa" wound up becoming disseminated. Prior to "Mambo," anything that was uptempo Afro-Cuban was singled out as "Rumba" or "Rhumba." Musicians only ever began utilizing these terms once the public began identifying it with such terms. There is no "big bang" when it comes to dance expression. Culture evolves over time. Again, nobody in the 1950s invented any dancing method or approach to Afro Cuban music. We in the present are the ones who grant the dancers of the past these accolades and, for the sake of relevancy, those dancers will either oblige and play along or will be honest and provide their own experience. Which is how one determines history. On a case by case basis. Not a simple linear trajectory and giving credit to single individuals. No matter who is narrating. For the record, Cuban Pete was a Black Puerto Rican raised in NYC, moved out to the West Coast during the 1960s, came back to NYC later on and wound up in the state of Florida by the late 1980s or early 1990s, where he remained for the rest of his life and passed away in Florida. He also did not create over a hundred distinctive steps. That is a claim made by his promoter and sponsor, the late Barbara Craddock. For the sake of argument, let's just say that he did. That he created 500 distinctive steps. The fact is that NOBODY danced the way Cuban Pete did. And I don't mean that as a credit to Pete but as a distinction from everyone else. Pete was "theatrical" in his stage performance, as well as socially. Because he knew people were watching so he would give them a show. But film archives and oral history tell the story that none of the dancers whom are celebrated as "Palladium dancers" managed to impact in the same manner that someone like an Eddie Torres managed to in this era. Today, anyone who dances On2 is rooted in the Eddie Torres method. No one in the 1950s and certainly no one today danced the way Cuban Pete did.
One idea is to learn about people's personal history before making any declarations about someone being a "creator" or "godfather." Because much of the latter isn't really the case. Popularizing, innovating and creating are three distinct terms. One is only an innovator if it catches on and becomes "popular."
In 1960, every time I went to the NYC Union square subway station Because I was dating some one on 13th street then, I heard this loud Latin music playing underground. That was supposed to be the music the Puerto Ricans liked. the beat was exactly the Cuban Mambo , 2341, 2341,2341. Only until in 1990, when I went to Vancouver, people there started teaching the stolen Mambo, Salsa dancing everywhere. 1965 was already FIVE years behind the stealing of Mambo into Salsa ! George Wu, AIA 2012-6-7
And Eddie Torres is a Puerto Rican from Harlem. He was called the King of Mambo some times. Because that was the way Eddie Torres had learned the Mambo from, On 2 . Salsa, ( ON1, but it dies not work ! Because the pause or the hesitation is missing after three minutes later. ) is a name given after 1960,. Because Cuba became revolutionized by Castro. In order to promote the sale of the Mambo music, Salsa was invented for that purpose only ! George Wu, Registered Architect, A.I.A. 2013-4-27
THIS MUSIC NEEDED A NAME VERY MUCH LIKE THE NAMES GIVEN TO ROCK& Roll & Jazz thats all it is.The concept Salsa was created in NYC by mostly Puerto Ricans.lt was they who kept alive and spread it all over the world making it a pan american sound.
I noticed that you liked Slavik and shipping containers a week a go on your post which tells me a lot about you. George Wu, AIA 2012-6-6
I know most except Tango, which I took only 2 lessons. Don't like Quickstep either. But know Bachata (Ritmico Rhythm) and some 70's Freestyle and Hip Hop steps so they say I'm Silver Level. And have created about 5 steps myself that others are using. One guy told me recently "I was his hero" due he learned most from me, not his teacher. Besides been a musician since 12 years old. So I'm no fool, focky, focky. Salsa is Cuban, but P. Rican too. There was a big PR migration to Cuba in the 1910's
Where can I find the clip at the beginning ??
nice
If the Puerto Ricans are so "good" as you claimed. Then why didn't the Puerto Ricans invent their own dance? Why did the puerto Ricans steal the Cuban Mambo and renamed it Salsa ? Answer me just THIS VERY question please? George Wu, AIA 2012-8-20
I am international latin even producer. I manage all the Latin artists and musicians that come around Asia. I lived in the Americas for a long time, and studied under great masters, PRs included. And they all in agreement that Salsa is derived, from the Cuban Son. What do you do other than troll and curse people off?
Eddie Torres is a Puerto Rucan from Harlem,just like Tito was.They played and danced the Cuban Mambo most of their lives. Salsa came along just because Castro took over Cuba in 1959. in order to promote the sale of Latin music.Salsa copied Mambo in the 1960's. One can do the research from Google. ON 1 was the only thing that the Puerto Ricans invented, but they found out that they had to follow Eddie Torres to do the ON 2 in order to dance with the PAUSE (hesitation), the Mambo way !
err i tot we ended this discussions about a year ago?
FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY ARE EXPERTS ON THE ORGINS OF THIS MUSIC.I SAY ITS AFRICAN MUSIC PERIOD.NOT CUBAN PUERTO RICAN ETC. ITS AFRICAN FROM TOP TO BOTTOM NO ONE CAN DISPUTE THAT.
Africans didnt create it. They were Cubans and Puerto Ricans using mostly European instruments.
@@CFITOMAHAWK2 Yeah...that's not true at all...lol, denial is crazy.
When the Salsa people stole the Cuban Mambo in 1960s, they changed the counting from BREAK ON 2 ( 234,234 ) to BREAK ON 1 ( 123,567 ) for QUICK , QUICK, SLOW. Now, the Salsa people wanted to steal the BREAK ON 2 from the Cuban Mambo also ! George Wu, AIA 2012-9-18
It is amusing to see how the Salsa community struggling to "evolve" after stealing Mambo from the Cubans. Mambo never had any problem counting 234,234 for years, even the New York born Puerto Rican Eddie Torres learned his dancing BREAK ON 2 back in his Palladium days. Today, Salsa had stolen Mambo and called it a new name Salsa and struggling ON 1 & ON 2. As for me, I just keep on enjoying myself with the authentic Mambo counting 234,234 forever until the day I die. George Wu, AIA 2012-8-24
Apology accepted Mr. Wu. I used to live at 13th St. and 2nd Ave in NYC in the 1980's and used Union Square station a lot. Actually most of Ismael Rivera hits (for example) are slow Bomba, not Salsa which is faster. Thats why La Perla, "Traigo La Salsa" hits, etc, cannot be danced like Cuban Salsa due CubanSalsa is a bit faster than Bomba. It was Fania and Pacheco that named that ALL TROPICAL RHYTHMS "SALSA". Puente did a lot of Latin Jazz and was credited as Salsa too, which he hated the name.
artoffocialjv: I agree with you 100%. George Wu, AIA 2012-7-26
Wepppaaaa 🎉❤ 🇵🇷
Someone know the name of speaker introducing the instruments on stage ? thx
Izzy Sanabria
As of 2016, he still lives in Valrico, Florida, to the east of Tampa. He has some cool merchandise from the Latin NY Magazine days. I still have a bunch of the original magazines up in my attic. He is a graphic artist and some of his 70s art has captured the times and music.
I went to Google for Johnny Pacheco, a Dominican came to NY at the age of 11 in 1940. He went to Julliard school of music for percussion, and formed his own band in 1959. He experimented the music from Cuba, Dominica and Puerto Rico into Salsa around the time I often went to 14th Street Union Square subway station in exactly the year of 1960. My apology to you that the Puerto Ricans did not steal the Cuban Mambo, a Dominican Johnny Pacheco did the actual stealing ! George Wu, AIA 2012-8-20
Go find Roberto Faz Pintate Los Labious Maria video on youtube. The classic version video. It was 1963, wayyyy before this drug infested punk in this video with bell bottom started calling it salsa. And if that's not salsa.. well.. you be the judge.
Btw i wrote 80% of the Salsa Dance info on Wikiepedia for the last 3 years and it still stands. Even the NY salsa part of two eras, was written by me. Let me see what you can do.
@SuperTimbero (3rd part) ....But just because a kid in the S, Bronx didn't have access to Cuban music,... doesn't mean that was the case for the rest of the world...for Cuban music...from the early 1900's to the present, it has been business as usual globally. Why should we debate about NY and PR Salsa when it just around the tip of a very large musical iceberg? Sure you can focus on the tip above the water level, but you'll care how large it really is if your ship hits it....
Remember that Cuban Mambo is ON 2 ( Eddie Torres the Puerto Rican does only ON 2 ! That was the way he grew up with and learned Mambo from Harlem. In those days, there was no such a thing called Salsa in Harlem in 1940s ! ) ; Salsa the copy cat is ON 1. George Wu, Architect, .A.I.A. 2013-4-29
I agree with you until the last three sentences. George Wu, AIA 2012-5-21
Your last sentence "Cuba still has Salsa..." No sir, Cuba already has their own Mambo ! They never had Salsa before until the Puerto Ricans stole their Mambo away ! and changed the name Mambo into Salsa !!! George Wu, AIA 2012-5-25
hi pleasure to meet another lover of salsa i noted salsa as caribbean as its an art found on the islands of the cariibbean meaning cuba. How can salsa be latino when african slaves brought it to the island. Latino is a language not dance form.
There is one big problem when the Puerto Ricans stole the Cuban Mambo but did not steal the counting system 234,234, Instead the Puerto Ricans invented 123,567. So called break on 2 and break on 1 created a confusion back in the 1980's and 1990's. For years I just gave up dancing Mambo because the Salsa people tried to promote the Salsa market so much that you were being asked to do " Break in 2 or Break on 1 " before every single dance ! Why don't they just do Q,Q,S ! George Wu, AIA 2012-8-9
That explained why after all the stealing of Mambo by the Puerto Rucan people in the past 50 years or so, people like Torres would realize that of the Puerto Ricans did not also steal the counting 234, which he tried to preserve the beauty of having the Pause ( the hesitation ) , doing the Puerto Rican counting BREAK ON ONE, one of these days there us no more authentic Latin dancing any more ! Why ? the PAUSE( hesitation) is missing ! George Wu, A.I.A., Architect, 2013-3-26
oh, and how about Colombia?
that country has at least 2 distinct salsa styles of it's own...
but that isn't mentioned, eh?
and about Mexico, it's good that you mention that Perez Prado popularized Mambo there after departing from Cuba, but you forgot another thing - the Vasquez Brothers, the dudes who invented the "LA style salsa" are Mexican...
Learned something from your fellow Puerto Rican Eddie Torres from New York. His ON 2 was the authentic Cuban Mambo 234, 234; NOT the Puerto Rican Salsa 123,567 ! Good Luck ! Learn the basic from Torres then enjoy ! George Wu, Architect, A.I.A 2013-4-29
Salsa isnt a rythem it is indeed a concept. Of course cuban music is at the center of it all.However, the music took a slight turn when it came to new york.The music became pan american when they began to add other musical elements into the mix.Such as Jazz, Rock, brazilian samba, Puerto Rican folk music -- bomba plena etc...
Also how can you have a history of Salsa without mentioning Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela? While this is a great video it lacks major elements that served to create the Salsa that we know now. Eddie Palmieri introduced the 2nd brass to a sextette, Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe, Ruben Blades, El Gran Combo, Apollo Sound, Sonora Ponceña! Where are they on this so called history?
When salsa is danced " break On 1 " instead of the Cuban Mambo, " Break on 2 ", the consequence is devastating ! Because the slow step of quick,quick,slow is eliminated ! Without the pause, Salsa is nothing but a Lindy ! NO PAUSE WHATSOEVER ! Therefore, as an admirer of the Cuban Latin music and the Latin dance, I strongly protested that the Puerto Ricans stole the Cuban Mambo and changed the name into Salsa and BREAK ON 1 OR ON 2 , STILL COUNTING 123,567. George Wu, AIA 2012-8-9
I have seen the New York Puerto Rucan Eddie Torres dancing Mambo ON 2 many times, but I don't think you are famous enough to dance as Eddie Torres yet. But Eddie has the Cuban Motion most Salsa dancers do not have. I bet you probably do not have the Cuban motion like Eddie does, because after two minutes later you forgot you were ON 3 or On 7, when Eddie, A Mambo dancer, just did the 234,234. the PAUSE( hesitation) are there for you to see very clearly ! George Wu,Architect, A.I.A. 2013-4-29
Looks like Salsa Grandparents came from Africa to cuba, the Parents came from Cuba and moved to Puerto Rico and have Grandkids Puerto Rican famous bands. The Grandkids turned to be the most famous of them all. Better education in general. Bilingual Technitians/Musicians. Latest success-Song named "Despacito". Biggest hit on internet music ever. Puerto Ricans. The little giant of music and dancing. They will pay the debt with music, they say. They are recovering from the hurricane. Despacito, but well.
Real origins are African but the Cubans and Puerto Ricans are the ones that mixed in what the modern Salsa is. Statistics show most Salsa international hits since the 1970's are from Puerto Rican musicians. Anyone wants to bet?
From your post, I see you are learning from the world's best Latin dancer Slavik whose Cuban Motion is about the best I have ever seen. But please don't change the name Cuban Motion into Puerto Rican Motion please ? George Wu, AIA 2012-6-6
If Salsa was invented after 1960; then for those who learned dancing 234,234 ( BREAK ON 2, like Eddie Torres is teaching currently ! ) from the Cuban Mambo, have to change to 123,567( BREAK ON 1 ). It is confusing ! Unless Salsa dancers would not use the name Salsa for Mambo , use Mambo the same way Eddie Torres does even today, and BREAK ON 2 ! George Wu, Registered Architect, A.I.A. 2013-4-27
Now explain how you do your Cuban Motion your own way and the way your fellow Puerto Rican Eddie Torres from Harlem did. Or do you have the Cuban motion in your Salsa at all ? Do you have the hip movement of the Cuban Motion that Eddie has or you think Cuban Motion Hip movements are not important in Salsa because the rhythms are so fast. therefore you do not need the PAUSE ( hesitation) as Eddie Torres did ! I doubt that you have Cuban Motion. Show me that you do ! George Wu, Architect, A.I.A.
That is why you see all the poor dancers, even the so called Salsa champions, when I looked closely, he did not even have the pause in his dancing, taking advantage of the fast rhythms, he simply twisted the partners arms,making her to keep on turning, so called champions !!!! WHAT A CHAMPION ! George Wu, AIA 2012-11-17
que descaro tan grande
for those of you who think you know music ....here is some[ educasion] lo que es salsa
All I want to say is very simple ! If the Puerto Ricans are as good as they claimed that they are, then the Puerto Ricans should not steal the Cuban Mambo and renamed it into Salsa ! That is all ! Any questions ? George Wu, AIA 2012-8-20
@CFITOMAHAWK2 Offcourse because you forget when Castro took over Cuba, Americans banned all import and exports "Especially Music" and Cuban Musicians couldnot come over either because of the embargo. Since Puerto Ricans are "Already Americans" and can come over by the boat and plane loads they easilly took over the "Salsa" market that Afro Cubans left! Do you want to bet on those Facts???
This is very good, you just left out one important element, the Cuban Son. My mom taught me the steps of what we call Salsa. She knew it as dancing Son. But the steps were the same as shown in your video. Good job though.
Because This Salsa male dancer is so confused that he forgot he was ON 1 or ON 2, after twisting the woman around ten spins ! I have been watching all those so called World Salsa champions, all the instructors here in UA-cam. After a while they forgot what count he was on, simply gave up the Pause step after the two quick steps, just moving his feet regularly, quick,quick,quick,quick,quick,quick,... But we all know Latin dancing is quick,quick,slow,quick,quick,slow ! George Wu, AIA 2012-8-24
Nice work...
but you have completely overlooked an important part of the evolution of Salsa; the events that happened in Cuba since the late 50's.
what about Casino style salsa, and Rueda de Casino?!
why did you not say a single word about son montuno, charanga, changui, songo, and ultimately, timba?!
how can you ignore such important musicians as Elio Reve, Juan Formel, Jose Luis Cortes, and many more?
this is just unfair of you.
if you want this video to be educational, don't discriminate!
When cuba had the crisis in 1950s and 1960s, the Puerto Ricans stole the Cuban Mambo and changed the name from Mambo into Salsa. Several comments in UA-cam three years ago claimed that the Puerto Ricans invented Salsa in NY & LA. Mambo is a fast version of Rumba which is still intact untouched by the Puerto Ricans. Therefore I suggested that the Puerto Ricans might as well steal the Cuban Rumba also and call it Rumsa ! What the fuck ?! George Wu, AIA 2012-6-7
scattered between them thats why mambo was different back than until PR made the changed and if my land would've been Cuba size men the rivalry would be even worse i think the credits goes out to Africa as well thats the real root. course Thats why world around relates PR with that music so bad ha.Speak the Truth and for you barwana the fact is that you can't tell where this rythems was born but the don't
Anyone who likes Slavik and the shipping containers for building housing cannot be vicious. That is what my conclusion about you, sir. George Wu, AIA 2012-6-6
The Puerto Ricans stole the Cuban Mambo into Salsa,but not be able to steal Rumba yet. One of these days. do not be surprised the Puerto Ricans also invented a slow version od Mambo called " RUMSA " ! George Wu, AIA 2012-8-9
MrLoko405: When you see someone stealing the pocketbook from an old lady on street, do you pretend to have seen nothing or do something about it ? That is my question to you ? George Wu, Registered Architect, A.I.A. 2013-4-30
anything Salsa wants to do, ON 1 , ON 2 , ON 3, On 4, On 5,6,7,8 Is alright , even On 9 or ON 10..... ! since the rhythms are so fast that anyone can dance as long as he keeps on moving his feet. That is why Salsa is so attractive to the beginners. Anyone can camouflage his steps and no one can tell whether he is on 9 or ON 11 ?! But one problem ,as far as I am concerned, is this dancer ever want to improve his dancing, He does not have a Chinaman's chance ! ! ! ! ! ! George Wu, AIA 2012-8-24
That JackSun3 of "Salsa on 2" removing my posts and lying about my comments is another example how low the Salsa dancers could be. They have stolen the Cuban Mambo and claimed that they had invented the Salsa.JackSun3 is another thief stealing Cuban Mambo and renamed it Salsa. George Wu, AIA 2012-11-24
The Japanese used to be very imperialistic up to WW2 when they got bombed into humility and creativity instead of aggression. They changed from agressors to creators after WW2. They create now the best electronics, cars and other things, even if they didn't make the first TV's, Cameras etc, they make the best now. Same with Puerto Ricans. They create many music styles from others that are too involved in the past. That is not stealing. Cuba still has Salsa but they sayPuertoRico lo hace mejor.
There is NO such MUSICAL GENRE called "salsa" It is either Mambo or Son. You can even call it what it is - "AFRO-CUBAN dance music." The term "salsa" was a marketing term because most NON-MUSICIANS can't tell the difference so they simplified it for people and in doing that they "shot themselves in the foot" because people commonly call it "salsa" which means SAUCE.
As the great musician TITO PUENTE said, "I am NOT a chef and I don't play "salsa," I am a musician and I play AFRO-CUBAN dance music. AND the ESTRELLAS de AREITO from CUBA came out with an album called "LOS HEROES" and they have a song where the chorus says, "Si te hablan de la "salsa," Mentira se llama Son." That should say it all. AND the MAMBO dance instructors should stress that it is called Mambo/Son NOT "salsa." If you want "salsa" then GO TO THE KITCHEN or take a CULINARY class.
Look ! One cannot dance ON 2 at the same time ON 1.You cannot say just do it as you like.Because in the social dance situation, you can dance either ON 2 or On 1. You just cannot do both at the same time! Luckily the rhythms are so fast,nobody can tell you are ON 2 or On1 anyway!That is why all the years a Salsa dancer can get away with murder,unless he wanted to improve himself like Eddie Torres, He must dance ON 2 like a Cuban Mambo dancer does! George Wu, Registered Architect, A.I.A.2013-4-27
The inventor or creater was the great Isreal Lopez-- Cachao and his brother Orestes Lopez.Salsa isnt a rhythem its a concept infused with other elements such afro caribe music and american jazz rock pop etc...
Before you post another comment, please compare your "dancing" at home with Eddie Torres ON 2 before your Bah bah bah ? George Wu, Architect, A.I.A. 2013-4-29
JackSun3 changed his name to Jai Catalano in"Salsa On 2 ", the Same clown ! George Wu, AIA 2012-11-24
Perez Prado had beautiful Mambo with phasing & pauses, very musical &very sexy. But the Salsa, the imitators, did not have good musicians to arrange the rhythm, therefore the Salsa today is very fast & non stop, & no pause,& no rest,no beginning & no ending ! It is the product of the Puerto Ricans who are not as talented as the Cubans as far as the Latin music is concerned. Because of the Cuban crisis,they have lost their Mambo to the Puerto Ricans because Puerto Rico is an American colony !
Very true
To NY salsa101, the editor of this video, " ...This third video talks about HOW MAMBO EVENTUALLY CAME TO BE CALLED SALSA...." If you were a Cuban, would you let the Puerto Ricans steal your Mambo away and claimed in UA-cam years ago that the Puerto Ricans had INVENTED Salsa in LA and in NY? Of course not ! Stealing is disgraceful ! George Wu, AIA 2012-5-21
@SuperTimbero Furthermore you can go ahead and explain to these people, terms like: montuno, tumbao, cascara, jaleo, martillo,. And please not that whenever we musicians play off of sheet music, it never says Salsa....it'll usually say Guaracha, Son Montuno, Guanguanco, etc. Try speaking from a musical standpoint, because the commercial standpoint never accounts for the plagiarism that was advantageoulsy taking place. But just because a kid in the S, Bronx didn't have access to Cuban music,...