THE DNA OF OUR LATIN MUSIC by Edward Morales

Do you know what the black race, the Egypt pyramids and the music represented by the drum have in common? They have a mother in common, a DNA or an identical genetic inheritance and without a doubt her name is AFRICA. Yes, when we think of it is to think about our Latin music or musical heritage. When the Spanish colonizers brought black slaves from Africa, there were also Chinese who brought their own music through wind instruments like the Chinese bugle. These were spreading throughout Europe, then Brazil on many islands in the Caribbean, but we can say and meet the eldest son, namely the island of Cuba. His DNA or his inheritance is INDISPUTABLE, it is in Cuba where there is a creation, an evolution of what was going to be part of a Musical Cultural Revolution and the musicians themselves had any idea of ​​what would happen next .

Let's talk about some figures that I am sure that if you are a follower of Latin music you have heard of these legends. Let's start with a well-known figure in Cuba and then in New York and throughout the world, this was the legendary singer Graciela Perez Gutierrez known as Graciela, adopted sister of the famous Frank "Machito" Grillo. This was the pioneer in the Afro-jazz movement in Cuba and then the United States and the world wherever it appeared, in fact she opened the doors for other figures that we will mention and nicknamed "The Queen of Latin Jazz" and it should be noted in that tremendous voice also sang Romantic Boleros.

We also want to highlight another who was nicknamed the Queen of Soul "namely Lupe Victoria Yoli Raymond known as La Lupe, we also have Olga Guillot," The Queen of the Bolero "and of course the largest the most legendary of all THE QUEEN OF MUNDO, LA GUARACHERA DE CUBA Celia Cruz In other articles I will be writing more details about these legends mentioned here and note that I have mentioned responsible women who have contributed to the expansion of our musical cultural heritage.

Now let's talk a little about the authentic rhythms originated in Cuba, such as LA RUMBA, EL SON MONTUNO, LA PACHANGA, EL MAMBO, LA CHARANGA, AND DANZON AND LOS BOLEROS. We can say with certainty that it was and continues to be the part of musical, religious cultural expression and a way of expressing joy and feelings in oneself and others. Of course we mention in the introduction that this DNA is represented by the DRUM, and it is here that this inheritance is identified and that in fact we can say what is known as PERCUSSION. And for those who may not be familiar with these terms Drum or Timba today Congas is called but the correct term is a tumbler also in another article I will explain in detail the evolution of the drums and their inventors. But returning to the subject, here are some of the most prominent responsible for publicizing this inheritance or DNA throughout the United States and abroad. We have the following these are: Mario Bauza "the father or founder of what is known as Afro-Cuban Jazz", Damaso Perez Prado, for many the King of Mambo although that title was granted to Tito Puente, but before they were others like Damaso, also Machito, Beny More, Arsenio Rodriguez, percussionists, directors and arrangers like Chano Pozo who contributed a lot in American jazz like Dizzy Gilespie with the subject Manteca and Tin-Tin-Deo and as an interesting fact that although not He spoke but no English was communicated through making sounds for arrangements. and it should be noted that Arsenio was blind and played guitar and was one of the greatest influences.

Other percussionists were also Armando Peraza, Carlos Patato Valdez, Tata Guines, Fransisco Aguabella among others.
As time went by and by the time of the 60s, Rock and Roll, and other rhythms were booming in the United States, and the fact that both politics and rhythms such as boogaloo, pachanga and charanga were losing popularity, now missing a change in our heritage and well that there was a transendental change. A change that caused even controversy but it was a tremendous evolution that would create an extensive culture but without losing the original DNA or nucleus, and on that subject will also be the second part of this topic our MUSICAL DNA.

Note: I also if you notice wrote this article originally in Spanish.