Book of Salsa - (Latin America in Translation/En Traducción/Em Tradução) by César Miguel Rondón (Paperback)

About the Book

Book of Salsa: A Chronicle of Urban Music from the Caribbean to New York City

Book Synopsis

Salsa is one of the most popular types of music listened to and danced to in the United States. Until now, the single comprehensive history of the music -- and the industry that grew up around it, including musicians, performances, styles, movements, and production -- was available only in Spanish. This lively translation provides for English-reading and music-loving fans the chance to enjoy César Miguel Rondón's celebrated El libro de la salsa.

Rondón tells the engaging story of salsa's roots in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela, and of its emergence and development in the 1960s as a distinct musical movement in New York. Rondón presents salsa as a truly pan-Caribbean phenomenon, emerging in the migrations and interactions, the celebrations and conflicts that marked the region. Although salsa is rooted in urban culture, Rondón explains, it is also a commercial product produced and shaped by professional musicians, record producers, and the music industry. For this first English-language edition, Rondón has added a new chapter to bring the story of salsa up to the present.

Review Quotes

"[An] excellent treatise on music. . . . The English translation of Rondon's original Spanish text is truly outstanding. . . . An encyclopedia of accurate details and an elegant example of well-grounded generalizations about the salsa story. It belongs in the library of anyone wishing to learn about the history of U.S. Latinos and their music." -- American Studies

"[A] wonderful chronicle of . . . Latin urban music. . . . [A] gem. . . . One of the best single comprehensive chronicles of this music and its industry, the musicians and their performances, styles, movements and productions." -- Latin Beat

"[The] bible for salsa lovers." -- Hispanic

"[This] welcome translation . . . provides English-speaking audiences access to one of the most referenced texts in Latin music. . . . An invaluable resource for fans of Latin music, as well as journalists, ethnomusicologists, and cultural critics." -- Centro

"A must-have for all salsa aficionados." -- The Descarga Review

"A powerful and enduring testimony. For decades now, Rondón has been the most fervent guide to the ways in which salsa inspires feverish devotion around the world. For salsa lovers, the book is required reading." -- New West Indian Guide

"An excellent English translation. . . . . The classic narrative of the origins and trajectory of salsa, which has informed the best academic writing on the subject for years, is now at the disposal of readers of English." -- Hispanic American Research Review

"Crossing continents, from New York City and Puerto Rico to Venezuela, Rondón examines salsa's working-class origins . . . and relates the difficulties of marginalized barrio life to the music's international appeal. Along with insightful analyses of styles, music, movements, performances, production and marketing, [The Book of Salsa] offers detailed coverage of such highly influential talents as Willie Colón, Eddie Palmieri and Ray Barretto. The concluding 'Basic Discography' serves as a great collecting guide." -- Publishers Weekly

"Possibly the best broad portrait of the artistic and commercial development of the music. . . . A landmark text in popular music and an early example of musical globalization literature . . . an essential read." -- Journal of American History

"Rondón's rich description of the development of salsa, his understanding of the scene, his discussion of sabor, and his recognition of the importance of the barrio make this work a must-read for all those interested in the history of salsa and Latin/Latin American popular music." -- Journal of Folklore Research