The influence of Latin music in the United States didn’t begin with “Despacito,” nor with the success of reguetoneros like Bad Bunny, it has been shaping U.S. popular culture for more than a century. From early 20th-century dance crazes like the rumba and mambo, to the Afro-Caribbean rhythms woven into jazz, rock, funk, and hip-hop, Latin musical sensibilities have long circulated through American soundscapes. In this lesson, we’ll explore how Latin music has always been part of the United States’ cultural fabric, not an imported trend but an ongoing conversation — one whose rhythms, instruments, and aesthetics quietly underpin much of the popular music you hear on a daily basis.

Watch

The United States has a long history of cultural exchange with Puerto Rico and countries of the Caribbean. Learn about this rich and complicated history with the video below, courtesy of TeachRock:

Read

Complement what you learned from the video reading the resource below, also from TeachRock, and reflect on the ongoing legacy of Latin music in the United States.

Read

How did “salsa” ignite a Latino cultural revolution in New York? What was the role of Fania Records in spreading this lively music form throughout the U.S? Read the resource below and reflect on this vibrant moment in music history through its greatest icons.