Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! In celebration, let’s look into the history of Latin music and its influence within the industry, particularly in America.
Like many genres, Latin music (in its entirety) has never stopped evolving. It only continues to innovate, paving the way for new sub-genres with eclectic compositions. Let’s start off our history lesson in the late 1800s, when Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean music was being performed in salon band ensembles. Initially, these acts were primarily done in cultural celebrations, but were soon being performed in a variety of spaces including New York ballrooms. In the 1930s, the music made its way into mainstream American pop culture as it started to be commercially distributed. From then on, these compositions only grew in popularity, introducing a new era of music into the States (Smithsonian.)
Eric Jones, Professor of Music History at Savannah State University says “They (Latinx musicians) have always been a part of pop culture, especially in the 60s, but it goes back to 1942 and Dizzy Gillespie’s fusion of Latin and jazz music in ‘A Night in Tunisia'" (Savannah Now.) Another pioneer of Latin jazz was Carlos Santana, one of the most influential guitarists to ever live. His music became popular in the late ‘60s, continuing to influence the genre decades later. Latin jazz is one of the most notable forms of music that has influenced American music. The Smithsonian explains that it gives more time for improvisation and features more experimental instrumentation, revitalizing classic jazz performance (Smithsonian.)
The complexity of Latin music has made its way into other genres, especially house music. The genre found its roots within the Latin Freestyle movement, which was popularized in the ‘80s by artists such as The Cover Girls, The Latin Rascals, Denise Lopez, and Judy Torres. The music initially featured Latin-influenced drums and bass but began incorporating elements of house music in the late ‘80s. These elements included syncopated percussion, congas, timbales, woodblocks, cowbells and bongos that were part of traditional Latin music (Beatportal.) Plenty of these styles found their way into other genres, like the conga drums, which have also been influential in disco and funk music (Smithsonian.)
By the ‘90s, Latin music was booming around the world. It just wouldn’t be right to write an article on this topic without mentioning worldwide sweetheart Selena, master of Cumbia and Bossa Nova, and the first Latinx artist with four number-one singles in 1994. She was also the first Latinx artist with a No. 1 album, which was partially sung in Spanish. After her tragic passing, Latin music continued to evolve. Luis Miguel, known as the “Latin Frank Sinatra” collaborated with Frank Sinatra himself to produce “Come Fly with Me”, a new development within jazz. In 1998, Ricky Martin gained the media’s attention with the release of “La Copa de la Vida.” In 1999, he released his first English album which included hit single “Livin’ la Vida Loca.” This release gained worldwide popularity, reaching number one in the United States, with number two being his song “She’s All I Ever Had." In '99 Jennifer Lopez released her debut album On the 6, which quickly made its way up to Billboard’s Top 10 albums. With Latin music becoming more and more popular, the American Music Awards created a new category for the genre (Wikipedia.)
The start of a new millennium encouraged more Latin-American crossover. Shakira was already established and loved within the Latin world, now starting to win the hearts of American audiences with her album Laundry Service. The album gained massive attention, going triple-platinum within six months of its release. To this day, the album is still her most popular release, but her influence continued on with her 2005 album Oral Fixation Vol. 2. This album featured “Hips Don’t Lie” featuring Wyclef Jean, which became the highest-selling single in the 21st century. Mexican pop star Paulina Rubio also made her way into the American industry with her Spanish-English crossover album Border Girl. Her pieces sung in English have Spanish-spoken alternates, and vice versa, further connecting Latin music to the American industry (Wikipedia.)
The world’s love for Latin music has only grown in the last decade. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's "Despacito" become a major hit in 2017, becoming YouTube’s most viewed video within a year of its release. It also tied the record for the longest duration that a song has remained in the Billboard Hot 100’s No. 1 spot (University of Pittsburgh.) Singer Leslie Grace explains “Songs like ‘Despacito’ or ‘I Like It Like That,’ by Tito Nieves, these are the songs that changed the trajectory of music. People have become more curious to ask, ‘What does this word mean?’ or ‘How do I dance this style?’ In pop culture today, there’s more inclusion. We’re using tropical sounds and even different percussive instruments that are very common in Latin music because of artists that have been able to bridge certain gaps" (Cosmopolitan.)
In the past few years, Latin Trap, or trapeton, has made its way into the mainstream. It’s a sub-genre that draws influence from Latin hip-hop and Reggaeton for some lively, danceable tunes. Bad Bunny has been a trapeton pioneer, beginning his musical career in 2016 and attaining large success since then. His song “I Like It” with Cardi B and J. Balvin was the first Latin trap song to reach Billboard’s No. 1 spot. Ozuna, another trapeton star, was Billboard’s Top Latin Artist and YouTube’s most watched artist in 2018. 2018 also brought more room for women in Latin music, including Natti Natasha and Becky G whose collaboration "Sin Pajamas” became one of the top-ten most viewed music uploads worldwide (Wikipedia.) These successes are huge, especially when noting that only a few Spanish songs would reach Billboard status in every decade since the '60s (The University of Pittsburgh.)
The impact of Latin music is huge, both in America and across the world. While it's always had influence in the industry, this influence has increased massively. In coming years, it will likely continue to intrigue more listeners. I hope that this article will foster some more appreciation toward Latinx artists and awareness to their impact in the States. To conclude this little lesson, here’s a quote from actress-singer Sofia Carlson that wraps everything up beautifully:
"It’s been so fascinating to have been in the music industry the last few years, as we’ve watched the business transform into an industry where Hispanic music and artists are literally some of the biggest artists in the world. Where the power and the beauty of the Hispanic music is now celebrated and adored in the U.S. It’s been extraordinary to feel that speaking Spanish and being both American and Hispanic has now become an incredible and respected part of who I am" (Cosmopolitan.)
Information gathered from:
Photo from Music Gateway