Latin American Music

The music of Latin America refers to music originating from Latin America, namely the Romance-speaking countries and territories of the Americas and the Caribbean south of the United States.  Latin American music also incorporates African music from slaves who were transported to the Americas by European settlers as well as music from the indigenous peoples of the Americas.   Latin American music encompasses a wide variety of styles, including Cha-Cha, Son, Mambo, Rumba, Merengue, Salsa, Bossa-nova, and Samba.

During the 17th century millions of slaves were taken from Africa to Europe and the Americas to work the plantations for the new White Owners. They brought their culture, music and instruments with them which over time mixed with indigenous American Music as well as the white European music traditions.  This mixture spawned new music genres such as Bossanova, Cha-Cha and Mambo and Salsa.

Mambo and Cha-Cha has their roots in Cuba.
Samba and Bossa-nova are from Brazil.