Salsa | Definition, Dance, History, & Facts | Britannica

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• Introduction & Top Questions
• Roots of salsa
• Development of salsa and significant artists
• Salsa music in the 21st century

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External Websites

• National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Salsa Rhythms and Soul Connections
• LiveAbout - What Is Salsa Music and What Is Its Origin?
• National Park Service - Salsa Music and Social Movements: The Young Lords, Nuyoricans, and Salsa for Political Activism
• AllMusic - Salsa
• United States Patent and Trademark Office - Inventing salsa
• NPR - On Fania Records and the Music That Made It Matter
• Communications of the ACM - Understanding Salsa: How Computing Is Defining Latin Music
• University of Southern California - Alliance for Networking Visual Culture - Salsa

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• salsa - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

salsa music Ask Anything Homework Help Written by Susan V. Cashion Senior Lecturer in Dance, Stanford University. Susan V. Cashion Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Mar. 9, 2026 •History Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything Top Questions

What is salsa music?

Salsa is a hybrid musical form based on Afro-Cuban music that incorporates elements from other Latin American styles. It developed largely in New York City in the 1940s and ’50s and was labeled salsa (Spanish: “sauce”) in the 1960s.

Who are some significant salsa musicians?

Significant salsa musicians who developed the style include Eddie Palmieri, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine, Rubén Blades, and Marc Anthony.

What are the roots of salsa music?

The roots of salsa are in the son, which combines elements of the Spanish guitar-playing tradition with African rhythmic complexity and call-and-response vocal tradition. Son originated in rural eastern Cuba and spread to Havana in the early 20th century.

How did salsa music develop in New York City?

Salsa music developed in New York City starting in the 1940s with contributions from Cuban émigré Machito, who blended Afro-Cuban styles with jazz and big band approaches. It evolved with smaller ensembles and contributions from Puerto Rican musicians.

How has salsa music evolved in the 21st century?

In the 21st century, salsa retained a large audience with top-selling artists mixing Latin music styles with genres such as pop and hip-hop, including Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, Shakira, and Jennifer Lopez.

News •

Urban salsa music pioneer Willie Colón remembered at New York funeral • Mar. 9, 2026, 9:58 PM ET (AP) Show less

salsa, hybrid musical form based on Afro-Cuban music but incorporating elements from other Latin American styles. It developed largely in New York City beginning in the 1940s and ’50s, though it was not labeled salsa until the 1960s; it peaked in popularity in the 1970s in conjunction with the spread of Hispanic cultural identity but attracted new audiences in the 21st century. Among the musicians who have been important innovators of salsa and blended its style with other genres such as pop and jazz are Eddie Palmieri, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine, Rubén Blades, and Marc Anthony. The term salsa also refers to a dance that is associated with the music.

Roots of salsa

The roots of salsa (Spanish: “sauce”) are in the son. Combining elements of the Spanish guitar-playing tradition with the rhythmic complexity and call-and-response vocal tradition of African musical sources, the son originated in rural eastern Cuba and spread to Havana in the first decades of the 20th century. Highly syncopated, it employs an “anticipated” rhythm structure wherein the bass line precedes the downbeat by a half-beat, creating a distinctive pulse. Pioneered by bandleader Arsenio Rodríguez, the son became the framework on which was hung a wide variety of dance-oriented Afro-Cuban musical styles, from the bolero to the conga and from the rumba to the mambo.

Development of salsa and significant artists

Afro-Cuban music spread throughout Latin America, notably to Mexico. However, New York City became the forge for its transformation into salsa, beginning in the 1940s with the contributions of the orchestra led by Cuban émigré Machito (Frank Grillo), which blended Afro-Cuban styles with jazz and big band approaches. Another Cuban émigré, Celia Cruz, became the reigning diva of Afro-Cuban dance music in the 1960s, as it evolved into salsa with smaller ensembles comprising rhythm and horn sections and through huge contributions by a number of musicians of Puerto Rican heritage, most notably bandleaders Tito Rodríguez, Tito Puente (a virtuoso timbale player and vibraphonist), and Eddie Palmieri (a pianist who brought progressive jazz influences into the mix).

Britannica Quiz Sound Check: Musical Vocabulary Quiz

Frequently but not always up-tempo, or “hot,” salsa grew to incorporate increasingly diverse influences and performers—from Panamanian activist-singer-songwriter Rubén Blades to Mexican American rocker Carlos Santana. Pop music acts such as Cuban American singer Gloria Estefan and her band, Miami Sound Machine, blended salsa into their songs, bringing Latin music to Top 40 radio in the 1980s and ’90s.

Key People: Rubén Blades Celia Cruz Eddie Palmieri Willie Colón (Show more) Related Topics: jazz swing conga cha-cha mambo (Show more) See all related content

Salsa music in the 21st century

Although its international popularity crested in the 1970s, salsa retained a large audience into the 21st century. Top-selling artists and singers, many of whom notably mix Latin styles with genres such as hip-hop, include Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, Shakira, and Jennifer Lopez.