Salsa, the irresistible dance music of the Spanish-speaking world, has made its way into the lives of millions around the globe. But salsa is only one of many popular Latin rhythms. The first comprehensive guide to the music, its history, and its legends, Musica! charts the vast territory of this lively Latin heritage, which began in Cuba and spread throughout the Caribbean and into North and South America. Illustrated with contemporary and vintage photos, Musica! features a gallery of legendary musical performers, plus sections on the musical styles and dances including the rumba, mambo, cha-cha, and merengue. A discography and bibliography complete this comprehensive story of Latin America's extraordinary rhythmic tradition.
Obviously, the major criticism I have of this otherwise amazing introduction to afrolatin music is that it has nothing, zero, nada, nihil, nichts, to say about Mexico's contributions, even if they are many (and some reached international fame). There are chapters about Cumbia and Bolero, but only from Colombia and Cuba respectively, which is weird to say the least.