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Rumba, Mambo and Cha Cha Cha
| Meet the Blogger | More Posts by Dan Storper
THE CONTEST IS NOW OVER AND WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER SHORTLY. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS!
Read on to enter to win a 12-CD set from Putumayo’s Latin Collection. Dan Storper is the CEO and Founder of Putumayo World Music.
As a young kid growing up in the 1950s, I remember watching my parents and their friends dancing the mambo and cha cha cha. While these weren’t styles they’d grown up with, it was easy to see the joy the music brought them. By the time Desi Arnaz aka “Rickie Ricardo” of I Love Lucy fame arrived on TV, these styles had become global phenomena and were being danced in every corner of the world. Fast forward to today and they’ve made a powerful comeback on TV dance shows and in dance studios and night clubs from Austin to Aberdeen.
Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, Putumayo’s new release, Rumba, Mambo and Cha Cha Cha, demonstrates the universal and lasting appeal of this retro-flavored music. And, since it provided the mellower underpinnings of the salsa boom that occurred a couple of decades later, it has similar appeal that brought global acclaim to the Buena Vista Social Club artists. As an indication of the music’s global popularity, this collection not only features several groups from Cuba, but also Latin bands from Scotland, Belgium, France and Russia.
Rumba, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha is now available in many Whole Foods Market stores along with other Putumayo Latin and international CD collections.
So, what’s your favorite Latin music style? Leave a comment below by May 4th for a chance to win a 12-CD collection from our Latin series.
THE CONTEST IS NOW OVER AND WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER SHORTLY. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS!
815 Comments
Comments
I grew up in a family where social dancing started with my parents and aunts and uncles in the 1920's. They all embraced the Latin music and dances, mainly from Cuba, of the 40's and 50's, with my cousins carrying on the tradition. At the end of the 1950's I began studying marimba, taking lessons from the wonderful marimba player in Xavier Cugat's orchestra. I cannot hear Cuban music without smiling at those pleasant memories.
04/27/2011 6:41:44 PM CDT
I love Mariachi music and especially a Mariachi Herencia out of Tucson, AZ. They performed the church music at my wedding and I love putting on their CD and let the memories flow.
To bring it a generation I love the vibe of Ozomatli! San Jose's Mariachi festival is a great stop to listen to traditional and new Latin music. I look forward to it every year.
Winning the 12-CD collection would be add zest to our summer nights.
04/27/2011 6:42:02 PM CDT
I like brazilian music: Samba, Bossa Nova and Batucada. I can dance Salsa, Merengue, Cha Cha Cha, Bachata, and I can dance some Samba. These are the latin music that I like and can dance to.
04/27/2011 6:42:33 PM CDT
have seen folks dancing the cumbia in huatulco oaxaca mexico & loved it!! Can figure out how to get my backside doing what it's supposed to do for the dance though....
04/27/2011 6:43:28 PM CDT
Rumba is sensual, smoky, high drama. It's like a mating dance.
04/27/2011 6:43:47 PM CDT
i *love* Putomayo too! would be delighted to give these CD's a good home...!
04/27/2011 6:44:02 PM CDT
I LOVE the mambo! Viva Latin music!!
04/27/2011 6:44:36 PM CDT
it's a tie between cha cha and salsa
04/27/2011 6:44:48 PM CDT
This is a toughie but I would have to say Cha Cha! My husband and I had a ball learning it when we took dance class before our wedding day. It takes me back to the joys of planning our wedding and it reminds me of pure celebration! I would love to win this contest!!! :)
04/27/2011 6:44:52 PM CDT
I love Putomayo's Latin Collection! My favorite CD is "Latin Lounge". I have checked it out from the library many times and would love to own it along with all the others. I also really enjoy mambo and samba. Hooray for Putomayo!!!
04/27/2011 6:47:10 PM CDT
I like Shakira and Latin Pop/rock music.
Any fun moving music to make myself move and groove.
04/27/2011 6:47:15 PM CDT
Although i personally have never done the cha-cha-cha, I love watching the pros do it. It's so lively, happy and sexy!
04/27/2011 6:48:40 PM CDT
cuban salsa all the way!!! can't get enough of it!
04/27/2011 6:49:23 PM CDT
Putamayo Label puts out some great music. Something for everyone. The Latin music is sure to get you out of your seat and on to the dance floor. Just to see how huge collection there is available you can Google the label and find websites where you can sample some of the tracks. This is a must-have collection!
04/27/2011 6:50:29 PM CDT
Love, Love, Love the Rumba!
04/27/2011 6:52:06 PM CDT
My husband and I are having a great time learning how to rumba and dance these other Latin dances. Wish we'd started years ago!
04/27/2011 6:52:38 PM CDT
I adore Latin music, it is truly amazing in every aspect. Would love to listen to!
04/27/2011 6:53:52 PM CDT
The complexity of the rhythms and the varied heritages are so replete with the life force that you can't sit still. I love everything from Borinquen's bomba and plena to Chile's cueca. Punta, bachata, samba, reggaeton, mambo, bolero, rumba, chachacha, guajira, tango, ranchera, cumbia, tejano, son, banda, conga, guaguanco, and on and on...but not salsa--Tito Puente used to say, "NEVER call it salsa; that's something you eat; it's latin jazz." It can be fast-fast or slooooow, traditionally choreographed folkdances or improvised street style with the latest moves. It's all a celebration, like Celia Cruz said, "La vida es un carnaval!" Que viva la musica latina!
04/27/2011 6:54:05 PM CDT
I didn't grow up with this kind of music, but having started taking classes and later becoming a Zumba instructor had given me a great love for all the Latin music styles.
04/27/2011 6:54:08 PM CDT
My family loves the Latin grooves. Would be great to celebrate the warming temps with some rumba rhythm.
04/27/2011 6:54:59 PM CDT
My favorite Latin music is Alt Latino. It combines various styles of Latin music in interesting ways and it's fun! I also enjoy Putumayo and its collections -- one of my favorite radio shows is the Putumayo Radio Hour that I hear on WEXT via the Internet.
04/27/2011 6:55:10 PM CDT
The MAMBO! It's uplifting and you can't help yourself from moving to the joyful music.
04/27/2011 6:56:55 PM CDT
Gotta love the Mambo! Nothing beats doing housework, than doing the Mambo with the vacuum Cleaner! Serious,folks, its the best way to get the blood moving, and makes you feel so HAPPY!!!! "Everybody,Mambo!!!"
04/27/2011 6:57:06 PM CDT
I like salsa, merengue, bachata, cha cha. Love the music of Gloria Estefan and also Christina Aguilera when she sings in Spanish.
04/27/2011 6:58:40 PM CDT
As someone who loves to dance, I especially like good salsa music. But all Latin music is wonderful and makes me want to move! I could go for some old-style Cumbia right now...
04/27/2011 6:58:59 PM CDT