The Missing Links: Cuban Music, Rock, Soul and Jazz

Why is it that so many North Americans and Europeans, raised on rock, soul and jazz -- in many cases unable to understand a word of Spanish -- become so utterly obsessed with Cuban music? The answer is that over the the last 500 years, Cuban music has provided a huge part of the underpinning of these, and most other English-language genres. As Ned Sublette points out, the ubiquitous rock anthem, Louie Louie, is based almost entirely on René Touzet's El loco cha cha; ragtime's basic rhythm cell is based on contradanza; and  the early R&B hits of Dave Bartholomew and Fats Domino were based on Cuban basslines. It goes on and on - The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Brown, The Doors, even Irish rocker Van Morrison. Here's a link to a great Ned Sublette radio show with non-stop revelations over a perfectly-paced soundtrack. For more info, click here. 

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