The major type of music coming out of Puerto Rico is Salsa, the rhythm of the islands. Its name literally translated as the “sauce” that makes parties happen. Originally developed within the Puerto Rican community of New York, it draws heavily from the musical roots of the Cuban and the African-Caribbean experience. Highly danceable, its rhythms are hot, urban, rhythmically sophisticated, and compelling. Today, the center of Salsa has probable shifted from New York back to Puerto Rico.

Making its way to New York City in the 1970’s, Salsa is now a popular music genre all across the United States. The first well-known Salsa bands were “Nuyorican”, New Yorkers of Puerto Rican descent. Producer and pianist Sergio George helped to revive Salsa’s commercial success in the 1990s by mixing salsa with contemporary pop styles with artists like Tito Nieves, La India, and Marc Anthony.

No one quite agrees about who is the king of Salsa today, but Willie Colón, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, and Hector Lavoe are on everyone’s list as the “Grand Masters of today’s Salsa beat.” You determine who you think is the true king of Salsa.

Make yourself a rum cocktail, relax and let the beat move your feet to some of today’s hottest Salsa beats. Check out these pop-style Salsa artists to experience the most popular Salsa beats today: Marc Anthony, Tito Puente and Celia Cruz.

To purchase a compilation of Puerto Rican music, covering bomba y plena, merengue and salsa:

Puerto Rico Music CD

This article was written by Captain Tim and the Crew of Caribbean Trading Company.

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