- Hardcover: 168 pages
- Publisher: Praeger (April 30, 2001)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0275966828
- ISBN-13: 978-0275966829
Studies of Latin American music often overlook its
Cuban roots and the political policies that brought the musicians to the
United States. This work rectifies that omission by examining the
Afro-Cuban influence upon Latin American music and its various idioms. A
brief history of Afro-Cuban musicians in the United States provides the
background and context for the study. Influential pre-revolutionary
Afro-Cuban immigrant musicians, such as Mongo SantamarÍa, Jesus Caunedo,
Charanga and Pup Legarreta, Juan Carlos Formell, and Alfredo Chocolate
Armenteros, discuss both their music and their attitudes toward the
political policies that led them to flee Cuba. Speaking from firsthand
experience, founding figures of Latin music in the United States present
unique insights into the Afro-Cuban experience within the Latin musical
community.
Adding to the musicians' stories, Gerard provides a history of relations between Cubans, African Americans, and Puerto Ricans in the Latin music community. He also discusses the impact of the mass emigration in the 1980s that brought many more Cubans to the States. This multicultural approach to Latin American music will appeal to music and Latin American history scholars and to jazz and Latin music enthusiasts. An appendix includes album listings for the musicians interviewed.
Adding to the musicians' stories, Gerard provides a history of relations between Cubans, African Americans, and Puerto Ricans in the Latin music community. He also discusses the impact of the mass emigration in the 1980s that brought many more Cubans to the States. This multicultural approach to Latin American music will appeal to music and Latin American history scholars and to jazz and Latin music enthusiasts. An appendix includes album listings for the musicians interviewed.
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