Salsa music is a popular style of Latin American music. Because most of the basic musical components predate the labeling of salsa, there have been many controversies regarding its origin. Most songs considered as salsa are primarily based on son montuno,[5] with elements of mambo, Latin jazz, bomba, plena and guaracha.[6] All of these elements are adapted to fit the basic son montuno template when performed within the context of salsa.[7]
Originally the name salsa was used to label commercially several styles of Latin dance music, but nowadays it is considered a musical style on its own and one of the staples of Latin American culture.[8][9]
The first self-identified salsa bands were predominantly assembled by Cuban and Puerto Rican musicians in New York City in the ’70s. The music style was based on the late son montuno of Arsenio Rodríguez, Conjunto Chappottín and Roberto Faz. These musicians included Celia Cruz, Rubén Blades, Johnny Pacheco, Machito and Héctor Lavoe.[10][11] During the same period a parallel modernization of Cuban son was being developed by Los Van Van, Irakere, NG La Banda, Charanga Habanera and other artists in Cuba under the name of songo and timba, styles that at present are also labelled as salsa. Though limited by an embargo, the continuous cultural exchange between salsa-related musicians inside and outside of Cuba is undeniable.[12]