Celia Cruz was one of Latin music's most respected vocalists. A ten-time Grammy nominee, Cruz, who sang only in her native Spanish language, received a Smithsonian Lifetime Achievement award, a National Medal of the Arts, and honorary doctorates from Yale University and the University of Miami. A street in Miami was even renamed in her honor,... [+] Read More

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Born into poverty in Puerto Rico, Daniel Santos became one of the most influential singers and songwriters in Latin and South America during the middle of the century. From the pen of Pedro Flores, his early love-lost lyrics -- a series of aching, mostly one-word hits such as "Despedida," "Obsesión," "Irresistible," "Perdón," "Venganza" --... [+] Read More

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An Ecuadoran national hero whose records still fill the jukeboxes in his native Guayaquil, Julio Jaramillo recorded thousands of songs -- boleros, valses, pasillos, tangos, even rancheras -- during his (relatively brief) 20-year career. Born in Guayaquil in 1935, Jaramillo learned to play the guitar at an early age, formed a trio with friends,... [+] Read More

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Emulating American doo wop groups such as the Platters and Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers while incorporating bossa nova and calypso rhythms proved a unique and successful combination for the Cuban quartet los Zafiros. Recording between 1962 and 1967, los Zafiros (translated as "the Sapphires") gained relative fame in Cuba and in Europe, once... [+] Read More

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Universally known as the King of the Mambo, Pérez Prado was the single most important musician involved in the hugely popular Latin dance craze. Whether he actually created the rhythm is somewhat disputed, but it's abundantly clear that Prado developed it into a bright, swinging style with massive appeal for dancers of all backgrounds and... [+] Read More

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While Ray Barretto's congas have graced more recording sessions than virtually any other conguero of his time, he has also led some refreshingly progressive Latin jazz bands over the decades. His records often have a more tense, more adventurously eclectic edge than those of most conventional salsa groups, unafraid to use electronics and novel... [+] Read More

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At the beginning of the 20th century, three Cuban musicians formed Trio Oriental to perform the folk music that hailed from the west of the island. The trio later added members, changed their name to Sexteto Habañero, and became the first and most influential performers of son, a vivid Afro-Spanish fusion of musical styles. Son consists of two... [+] Read More

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By virtue of his warm, flamboyant stage manner, longevity, constant touring, and appearances in the mass media, Tito Puente is probably the most beloved symbol of Latin jazz. But more than that, Puente managed to keep his music remarkably fresh over the decades; as a timbales virtuoso, he combined mastery over every rhythmic nuance with... [+] Read More

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One of the most popular and influential Cuban groups of the '20s and '30s, Trio Matamoros was formed in 1925 by Miguel Matamoros, along with percussionist Siro Rodriguez and guitar player Rafael Cueto. The band performed from 1925 until it disbanded in 1969, hitting several creative peaks along the way. From the beginning, the trio made an... [+] Read More

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