The birth of salsa

Rebecca is joined by ethnomusicologist Chris Washburne, author of Sounding Salsa: Performing Latin Music in New York City, and professor at Columbia University. As a professional trombonist, he played with Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, Ruben Blades, La India, and many others.  We discuss the influence of Cuban music in New York in the first half of the 20th century, the controversy around the term "salsa," and the way Puerto Rican and other Latinos built on this foundation to create a new musical style. 

Songs played:
I Like It Like That, Pete Rodriguez
Mi Gente, Hector Lavoe
Calle Luna, Calle Sol, Hector Lavoe and Willie Colon