Nuyorican Soul

Nuyorican stands for Puerto Rican people from New York. This term was used around 1960 which means after The Cold War. Many Nuyoricans are second-and third-generation Puerto Rican Americans whose parents or grandparents arrived in the New York metropolitan area during the Great Migration.

The music style of Nuyorican soul is often Latin, Salsa, and sometimes also has an element of R&B and Jazz.

As one of examples Ray Baretto contributed to a fusion of many kinds of music such as R&B, Rock, Salsa and Jazz. He is a conga player and well known for his performance of unique style.

Tito Puente (1923-2000) is credited as “El Rey de los Timbales” (the king of timbales) and “the king of Latin music” as he pioneered the Mambo and Salsa sound which kept his career going for 50 years. He was from New York and he was gifted with his great talent of music. He played timbales, vibraphone, keyboard, and contributed to the development of Latin Jazz and Salsa music. The song called “Oye Como Va” and the album “Dance Mania” is well known as one of his biggest hits of all time.

The main record labels of Nuyorican soul are Fania, Tico, and Salsoul. They are all New York based record labels. Ray Barreto and Tito Puente had contracts with Tico.