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Danzón
Cuba's elegant national dance, ancestor of mambo and cha-cha-chá.
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Cultural context
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Etymology and naming
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History
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Musical anatomy
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Origins
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Overview
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Pioneers
Antonio Arcaño: The Danzón’s Road to the Mambo
The flautist whose charanga, with the López brothers, forged the danzón de nuevo ritmo
2 min read
Arcaño y sus Maravillas: The Cradle of the Mambo
The danzón charanga where the López brothers invented the "nuevo ritmo"
1 min read
Barbarito Diez: The Golden Voice of the Danzón
The singer whose pure, elegant voice gave the danzón its definitive vocal sound
2 min read
Israel "Cachao" López: Father of the Mambo, Master of the Descarga
The Havana bassist who gave the danzón its new rhythm and Cuban music its jam session
3 min read
Miguel Faílde
The Matanzas bandleader credited with founding the danzón
4 min read
Orestes López: Co-Creator of the Mambo
The Arcaño cellist whose 1938 danzón "Mambo" gave a new rhythm its name
1 min read
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