In many respects, American music was greatly influenced by Latin Americans. As Cubans and Puerto Ricans moved to New York, they brought island sounds with them. There are several iconic Latin songs such as “La Bamba.” Latin rhythms can be heard in popular themes such as that of Mission Impossible. As Latin inspired music grew, we saw other cultural shifts such as the mambo craze. This is another great example of how displacement of people leads to innovation in music.

I thought that this section was interesting because we are seeing a surge in Latin music being played on popular radio stations today. Artists like Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, and Cardi B have helped to bridge a gap between American and Latin pop music. Other songs like “Despacito” with Justin Bieber, Luis Fonsi, and Daddy Yankee have also popularized Latin music.