Chapter 10: Cuba’s Incredible Music Scene - Havana Before Castro

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# Havana Before Castro by Peter Moruzzi

### When Cuba Was a Tropical Playground

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- Previous Chapter: Life as a Habanero
- Table of Contents
- Next Chapters: Havana and the Mob

#### Chapter 10

## Cuba’s Incredible Music Scene

The influence of Cuban music on American popular culture has been enormous. Musical evangelists such as Xavier Cugat, Miguelito Valdez, Jose Curbelo, Desi Arnaz, Perez Prado, and later Tito Puente and Celia Cruz introduced the rumba, mambo, cha-cha-cha, and salsa to the United States. In more recent years, the Buena Vista Social Club reenergized Cuba’s worldwide musical presence. Of the country’s native stars, it was Beny More, who died prematurely in 1963, who was the greatest singer of popular music that Cuba ever produced.

(We've added a "links & resources" page with Cuban music recommendations)