Salsa

Episode image for Salsa

Episode 2 of 4

The second in a four-part series revealing the deep musical and social impact of Latin music in the USA.

Filmed in Cuba, Puerto Rico and New York City, it reveals the untold story of salsa music, which burst onto the New York scene in the late 1960s. It first evolved in the clubs of Havana, Cuba and soon became the vibrant sound of the New York barrios, where Puerto Ricans and Cubans settled amid poverty and discrimination.

Yet out of adversity came a thrilling and innovative dance music that became the voice and spirit of the Latin people in the 70s. From rebellious Latin Boogaloo to the shadowy empire of Fania Records, the story unfolds through the intimate memories of the Fania Family - the greatest salsa musicians of their generation and the purveyors of a music that lives on today.

Featuring Ruben Blades, Willie Colon, Eddie Palmieri, Johnny Pacheco and the Fania All-Stars.

  • Learn Spanish

    Learn Spanish

    Learn Spanish with the Bafta-winning course for beginners, Mi Vida Loca.

    BBC: Learn Spanish - Mi Vida Loca
  • Latin Music USA - Salsa

    Sorry, you must enable Javascript to display media content

    Watch a preview of the second installment of Latin Music USA which tells how Salsa burst onto the scene in New York in the 1960s.

    Watch more video from Latin Music USA

Broadcasts

BBC © 2012 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.