In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Recorded Sound Archives is exploring music through portraits. Enjoy the first of four videos created in celebration of Hispanic/Latino artists. This week discover and learn more about Cuban composer and pianist – Ernesto Lecuona and Lecuona’s Cuban Boys in the video below.
During the Prohibition Era (1920-1933), Havana, Cuba was a popular tourist destination for Americans seeking fun and excitement. One of the pleasures they discovered there was the rhumba. Popularized by performers such as Spanish-Cuban bandleader Xavier Cugat and Desi Arnaz, Latin ballroom dances and rhythms became a common staple of American entertainment for decades.
Riding this wave of popularity Sav-way produced several Latin-themed recordings and a series of recorded rhumba ballroom dance lessons. By today’s standards the music seems somewhat watered down and mild. Nevertheless, these recordings give us a true representation of Americanized Latin music as it actually was during the mid-20th century.
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cuban composer, cuban pianist, Ernesto Lecuona, hispanic heritage month, Latin American, Latin American Music, Latin Artists, Latin music, Latin Rhythms, Latino Musician, Lecuona sound recordings, Lecuona's Cuban boys 
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