The Word: SALSA!!
The use of the word salsa originated in the 1960's in New York where music labels took the spicy cultural connotation of the word which also means hot sauce to market various Latino music genres/variety of music from several countries of Hispanic influence: Rumba, Són montuno, Guaracha, Mambo, Cha Cha, Cha, Danzón, Són, Guaguanco, Cubop, Guajira, Charanga, Cumbia, Plena, Bomba, Festejo, Merengue, among others. Many of these have maintained their individuality & many were mixed creating Salsa.
Izzy Sanabria who worked as a graphic designer at Fania Records (which was then regarded as the Latin Motown MC'd for the Fania All Stars Band & produced the influential Latin NY Magazine chose the word Salsa to group together/capture the imagination of the various Latin sensations whilst developing an easier to sell concept/make marketing easier.
http://www.izzysanabria.com
Prior to this, words like "Candela" (Fire), "Salsa" (Sauce), "Sabroso" (Tasty), "Azucar" (Sugar) had existed as music metaphors/exclamations used to cue in the changing phases in the music especially in the 'montuno' (more rhythmic/percussive phase /section highest in rhythm and energy). Salsa was and remains an expression of greater energy and excitement.
Izzy's idea worked & through his efforts, Latin music experienced a revival; that is until the Fania All Stars performed at the Cheetah Club in Manhattan which was filmed as "Nuestra Cosa Latina - Our Latin Thing”. The revival became a boom, culminating in the now famous concert at the Yankee stadium to 20,000 people in 1973.
However, the roots of Salsa music & dance reaches further into history than this, to the times when the Cuban slaves from Nigeria still lived in Africa.
www.salsa-merengue.co.uk
