Musica!: The Rhythm of Latin America - Salsa, Rumba, Merengue, and More [Paperback] Review

It is hard to imagine that "Hall of Famer" Willie Colon, who wrote the foreword to this book, actually read it and gave it anendorsement.He writes, "...this book has helped put a face on someof my heroes".What Mr. Colon should have written was that this bookhas helped to distort the truth and put a mask on some of hisheroes.
Musica is a book full of misinformation.Someexamples:
Musician turned dance promoter Federico Pagani was not italian,he was Puertorican.Chick Webb did not die in 1932, he died on June 6,1939."Hall of Famer" Mario Bauza and Dizzy Gillespie did notmove together into Cab Calloway's orchestra, nor did they played withCalloway in 1932.It was in 1938 that Bauza joined Calloway's band. Pretending to be sick, and without warning to Calloway, he sent Gillespieto play in his place...that is how the great Gillespie got into Calloway'sband.
On page 41 a huge blunder is committed.Here it is stated that"Hall of Famer" Maria Teresa Vera was the first Cuban woman onrecord.Her suppose debut recording was in New York with Sexteto Habaneroin 1918.Nothing could be further from the truth.The facts are that thefirst Cuban singer on record was "Hall of Famer" Rosalia"Chalia" Herrera Diaz. Not only was she the first singer of Latinorigen on record, she is also the very first to record a"habanera".She manages to do all this with the famous"Habanera Tu" in New York in 1901!
I doubt very much that MariaTeresa Vera did any recordings with the Sexteto Habanero in 1918...first,this is the year in which the Sexteto Habanero was formed and secondly,those who have done their research indicate that the Sexteto Habanero'sfirst recording was realized on October 29, 1925 with a tune titled"Maldita Timidez"...Maria Teresa Vera was not part of thisrecording.However, Maria Teresa Vera was probably the first female todirect a group in Cuba and probably in South America.She did this withthe famous Sexteto Occidente that did recordings for Columbia Recordsaround 1925 in New York.She also recorded for the Brunswick and Odeonlabels.She later sold the group to "Hall of Famer" IgnacioPineiro who renamed the group Sexteto Nacional.
The book goes on and onwith countless errors.It is a shame, Because Sue Steward is a very goodwriter and the book has a great colorful layout, with dozens of greatphotos.It also has a good amount of solid information.But how is thereader suppose to decipher fact from fiction?You can see the confusion bythe reviews written on this book.People who have no knowledge about thehistory of Latin music gave this book good reviews...they assumedeverything was true and they enjoyed and believed that its content wasaccurate.That's the sad part of this book...people are going to read itand be persuaded that it is accurate and perpetuate the misinformation onto others.
I do believe that all is not lost...perhaps Sue Steward wouldtake the responsible high-road and issue a revised accurate edition. Careful and meticulous research can make this book a winner.In themeantime I would hope that Sue Steward does not attempt to produce atelevision program based on the information in this book...that would be agreat diservice to those who contributed so much to this great music and tothose who work so hard at researching the truth.

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Product Description:
Salsa, the irresistible dance music of the Spanish-speaking world, has made its way into the lives of millions around the globe. But salsa is only one of many popular Latin rhythms. The first comprehensive guide to the music, its history, and its legends, Musica! charts the vast territory of this lively Latin heritage, which began in Cuba and spread throughout the Caribbean and into North and South America. Illustrated with contemporary and vintage photos, Musica! features a gallery of legendary musical performers, plus sections on the musical styles and dances including the rumba, mambo, cha-cha, and merengue. A discography and bibliography complete this comprehensive story of Latin America's extraordinary rhythmic tradition.

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