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What Salsa Means to Me

 Why I'm Here


My name is Hunter Newcomb. I'm originally from Portland, Oregon and I'm a marketing major. I'm currently finishing up my third year of college and my first year at ASU (previous two years at University of Oregon). 

To be quite blunt, Salsa was not something that had crossed my mind much in the past. If anything it was merely some type of exciting dance that I had heard of a few times here and there but really nothing more. I originally signed up for this class to check a few boxes for my major, and because a class about Salsa dancing just sounds fun. Coming into this class I was relatively excited to learn about a dance and a culture I was previously very unfamiliar with, and this first week of material only got me more excited. I have noticed that even after a few videos, I'm realizing that salsa means more to me than just some type of fast-paced dancing.


History, Culture and Community

The first video assigned this week with Lin-Manuel Miranda started off with a great quote about salsa that I feel like encapsulates Salsa well, "The art is in our blood". This quote is talking about how the art of Salsa has cultural and rhythmical significance that we can see and feel. 

Salsa has roots that trace across the Atlantic Ocean to Africa. The beats produced on the drums we hear when salsa music is playing was referred to as "skin on wood", and while it has roots in Africa, salsa was noted as being the Latin soul by musician Izzy Zanabria.

Salsa earliest American influence can be traced to the 1950's from a form of Afro-Cuban jazz that had originated in Puerto Rico. This music began to gain popularity in New York City and remained relatively popular until 1965 when the song "Muneca" by artist La Perfecta came out. This was the first step to the salsa we know today to be popularized in the United States.

Salsa Boogaloo - song by El Sexteto Miramar | Spotify

The cultural impact of Salsa music was starting to be seen as the song "Boogaloo" was being played in both Black and Puerto Rican bars. This was the first time we see the Black and Puerto Rican communities begin to mix. They began creating music together, living together and starting families. This was an example of how Salsa connected communities and brought people together. Franky Lymon was one of the first musicians to inspire other Puerto Rican and Black artists to further this Salsa movement. 

Larry Fania, a Jewish man, started Fania Records. Fania Records began to cultural and social movement that allowed many to take this music seriously. William Hector was the first big star at Fania, and he helped others finally embrace Latin music in the U.S. To put into perspective how big Fania records was for Latin music and the Salsa movement, they rented out Yankee Stadium in New York for $280,000 for the night and had their biggest stars perform. They had nearly 50,000 show out. 

Fania Records 1964-1980: The Original Sound of Latin New York Album Review | Pitchfork

Fania Records also helped find and support one of the most renowned female salsa vocalists in Celia Cruz. She was very important as she gave Fania records more of an image of class and respect. 

My favorite lyric from the night Fania Records performed at Yankee stadium was stated as, "but because I am one of you, I invite you to rejoice". This line fully entails what salsa does. It brings people together and invites them to each share in on this experience that makes them move and feel good. It inspires and breaks down barriers. 


Rhythms and Performances

One of my favorite parts about watching these documentaries on salsa was just hearing the music. Salsa music makes one feel alive. Like you just want to jump out of your skin and start moving. I first noticed I felt this way when I heard clave in a song. The rhythmic beat that goes 3-2 or 2-3. You can't help but to move your body along to the various drums, trumpets and piano involved in the music. 

I really enjoyed watching and listening to the video from Izzy Zanabria. Listening to the music come alive as he queued in the drums, and trumpets was fun to watch, but nothing compares to the dancing. The dance performed by Raul Valenzuela and Delia Madea was my favorite. Seeing their bodies intertwine and move to each beat of the sing was amazing and inspiring. It reminded me that Salsa brings people together

Salsa Festival at Riverside Miami - World Red Eye | World Red Eye

Overall this first unit got me very excited for this class. It showed me the depths of salsa and it's huge impact on history, culture and communities we see today. Salsa is something we should all rejoice in and enjoy while we can. 

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