The basic success of the conga came from ...that basic principle of African music and dance: everybody participates. The conga eradicated the… — Ned Sublette Copy Share Image
Music is so essential to the Cuban character that you can't disentangle it from the history of the nation. the history of Cuban music… — Ned Sublette Copy Share Image
One often reads that the 1950s was the golden age of Cuban music, but it was really one long phase, from 1937 to 1958,… — Ned Sublette Copy Share Image
Black musicians rhythmicized the contredanse, creating musical styles which evolved into the habanera (also known as the tango) and, later, ragtime, as well as… — Ned Sublette Copy Share Image
A laborer might last ten years or so before expiring. But individual workers in the death camp of sugar were survived by their culture,… — Ned Sublette Copy Share Image
In 1942 Cachao wrote a tune for Arcao, 'Rareza de Melitn,' with a memorable catchy tumbao. In 1957 Arcao recorded a reworking of it… — Ned Sublette Copy Share Image
The general disinclination of Spain to accept slaves from Islamicized regions of Africa during the formative years of Hispano-American society had enormous consequences for… — Ned Sublette Copy Share Image
New Orleans is of such key importance to American music because historical factors combined to make it the strongest center of African musical practice… — Ned Sublette Copy Share Image
Miguelito, liberated from having to sing with Cugat, sounds like he just got out of jail and is letting it rip. — Ned Sublette Copy Share Image
A second line is in effect a civil rights demonstration. Literally, demonstrating the civil right of the community to assemble in the street for… — Ned Sublette Copy Share Image
The two biggest hits (by Machito)... were about that enduring Cuban song topic-food: 'Sopa de pichn' [pigeon soup] and 'Paella'. If you think that… — Ned Sublette Copy Share Image
Every farm with slaves was a slave-breeding farm. Raising slaves was mostly a cottage industry... — Ned Sublette Copy Share Image
Up through and including Lincoln, American politicians nursed a fantasy of repatriating blacks to Africa. — Ned Sublette Copy Share Image
