The general disinclination of Spain to accept slaves from Islamicized regions of Africa during the formative years of Hispano-American society had en…

- Ned Sublette

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 al…

- Ned Sublette

One often reads that the 1950s was the golden age of Cuban music, but it was really one long phase, from 1937 to 1958, each year with its own splendo…

- Ned Sublette

Miguelito, liberated from having to sing with Cugat, sounds like he just got out of jail and is letting it rip.

- Ned Sublette

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 is one of cultu…

- Ned Sublette

In 1942 Cachao wrote a tune for Arcao, 'Rareza de Melitn,' with a memorable catchy tumbao. In 1957 Arcao recorded a reworking of it under the name 'C…

- Ned Sublette

A laborer might last ten years or so before expiring. But individual workers in the death camp of sugar were survived by their culture, which was con…

- Ned Sublette

The basic success of the conga came from ...that basic principle of African music and dance: everybody participates. The conga eradicated the distinc…

- Ned Sublette

Like slaves on the sugar plantations of the Antilles, ...the sugar slaves of southern Louisiana had negative birthrates for as long as slavery lasted.

- Ned Sublette