If you're ready to shake off the rust and let loose some forbidden moves for Día Nacional de la Zalsa, here are a few key facts about the genre to get you going and share with others:
🕺🏻Some moments in salsa's history in Puerto Rico
1954 – Cortijo forms his Combo
Before salsa was salsa, the young Santurce percussionist Rafael Cortijo put together his now-celebrated band Cortijo y su Combo to entertain guests at Club La Riviera, in Puerta de Tierra.
Three years later, he released his first record with his lifelong collaborator Ismael Rivera, el Sonero Mayor, an artistic partnership that propelled both of them to stardom over the next 30 years.
1963 – Fania is founded
Salsa as a musical genre emerged as a blend of various Caribbean styles, including guaguancó, mambo and son montuno, which also shaped the way the music is danced.
As this new sound grew in popularity, the man now known as the "Godfather of Salsa," Johnny Pacheco, and attorney Jerry Masucci founded Fania Records to promote New York and Latin American talent, alongside Mayagüez-born graphic artist Izzy Sanabria. Sanabria is credited with popularizing the term "salsa" as a label for the genre.
1973 – Fania All Stars at the Clemente
Ten years after founding their label, the members of the supergroup Fania All Stars had become some of the most recognized names in salsa around the world, among them Willie Colón, Hector Lavoe, Ray Barretto, Andy Montañez and Roberto Roena, to name a few.
One of the high points of their success on the Island was the landmark concert San Juan '73, their first local appearance, held at the newly opened coliseo Roberto Clemente.
2002 – Rubén Blades at the Bithorn
With more than 40,000 in attendance, the Hiram Bithorn was nearly bursting during the performance by Panamanian sonero Rubén Blades at the #26 Día Nacional de la Zalsa, where reports had people finding seats on the stadium roof just to get a good view of the stage.
Here you can read more curious facts about this salsa celebration.
2012 – Fifty years singing and celebrating
In 2012, "la Universidad de la Salsa," el Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, marked 50 years on Puerto Rican and international stages.
Founded in 1962 and led for decades by pianist Rafael Ithier, the Combo remains active today as a standard-bearer for Puerto Rican salsa around the world, with a new roster of young musicians performing hits such as "Brujería," "Ojos chinos" and "Un verano en Nueva York."
Salsa today
Even as more modern genres like reggaeton and Latin trap have displaced salsa's popularity across Latin America, emerging artists on the Island continue to generate plenty of attention.
On your way to the Hiram Bithorn this Sunday, take a look at the new generation of Puerto Rican salseros, including Luis Vázquez, Moa Rivera and Merari Rivera.
Photo: San Juan, Puerto Rico. Cita Rodriguez performs at the Fania All Stars concert on Oct. 18, 2013. (by GV Cruz/WireImage/Getty)
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
