Music Bibliography

Note: A large part of this list (including the resp. comments) I received from Chuck Hermann - many thanks, Chuck! Furthermore, Petra Dürr provided many items listed here.

Frank M. Figueroa: Encyclopedia of Latin American Music in New York. English, 237 pages, hardcover, Pillar Publications 1994. Pillar Publications, P.O. Box 10866, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
a little superficial, Puertorican/New York point of view
Paul Austerlitz: Dominican Music and Dominican Identity. English, 195 pages, paperback, Temple University Press Philadelphia 1996
with pictures and music examples, history of the Dominican Republic
Antonio Mora Ayora: De Orilla a Orilla (Sabor a Salsa). Spanish, 159 pages, paperback, 1992
Diputacion Foral de Alva, Departamento de Cultura, Virtoria-Gasteiz, Spain
history and most important artists from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia
Discos Fuentes: Musica Tropical y Salsa en Colombia. Spanish, 291 pages, paperback, 1992
Discos Fuentes, Carrera 51, No. 13-223, Medellin, Colombia
Salsa, Cumbia, Vallenato, etc.
N.N.: World Music (The Rough Guide). English, 700 pages, paperback, 1994
Rough Guides Ltd., 1 Mercer St., London WC2 H9Q7, UK (also: Penguin)
Salsa to Soukous, Cajun to Calypso
Fernando Ortiz: La Musica Afrocubana. Spanish, 340 pages, paperback, 1975
Ediciones Jugar, Madrid 29, Spain
Written by a Cuban music professor; African influence on Cuban music and Salsa
Karl and Olga ??? de Wagenheim: The Puerto Ricans (A Documentary History). English, 335 pages, paperback, 1990
Markus Wiener Publishers, Princeton, USA
History, politics, society of Puerto Rico from the Indians till today
Rebeca Mauleon: Salsa Guidebook. English, 260 pages, paperback, 1993
Sher Music, P.O. Box 445, ? California 94953, USA
for musicians and fans- many sheet music examples, rhythms, most important phrases. The Good Book.
Charley Gerard, Marty Sheller: Salsa (The Rhythm of Latin Music). English, 137 pages, paperback, 1989
White Cliffs Media Company
for musicians and fans, many sheet music examples. New York point of view. very professional.
Deborah Pacini Hernandez: Bachata (A Social History of a Dominican Popular Music). English, 267 pages, paperback, 1995
Temple University Press, Philadelphia 19122, USA
comprehensive book on Bachata (and Merengue). History and society, discography
Vernon Boggs: Salsiology (Afro Cuban Music and the Evolution of Salsa in New York City). English, 386 pages, hardcover
Descarga, New York, USA
Cubop, Bugaloo, Salsa
Bobby Collazo: La Ultima Noche que Pase Contigo. Spanish, 470 pages, paperback, 1987
A chronological travel through Cuban night and music life from the 20s to the 50s (who performed where?)
Otto Werner: the Latin Influence on Jazz. English, 85 pages, paperback, 1992
Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 2460 Kerper Blvd., Dubuque (?), Iowa 52004-0539, USA
Written by an American music professor. Very North American view. Latin Jazz, Afro Cuban, Brazil; sheet music examples
Angel Mendez: Swing Latino (La Biblia de la Salsa). Spanish, 213 pages, paperback, 1987
El Palacio de la Musica, Caracas, Venezuela
Biography of the most important salseros. Venezolan view.
Peter Manuel: Caribban Currents (Caribbean Music from Rumba to Reggae). English, 272 pages, 1995
Temple University Press, Philadelphia, USA
About music from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Martinique, Jamaica, Trinidad, Surinam, ...
Claus Schreiner: Musica Latina (Folklore zwischen Kua und Feuerland). German, 426 pages, 1982
Fischer-Verlag, Frankfurt, Germany
very acribic, folklore and instruments. but nothing about salsa!
Steven Loza: Barrio Rhythm (Mexican American Music in Los Angeles). English, 320 pages, University of Illinois Press
History of Mexican music in LA; Chicano, Latin Rock, Latin Jazz
Raul Canizares: Walking with the Night (The Afro Cuban World of Santeria). English, 148 pages, 1993
Destin Books, Rochester, Vermont, USA
rituals, rhythms, history of the Afro Cuban Santeria religion from the point of view of a Cuban santero.
Peter ?: Essays on Cuban Music (North American and Cuban Perspectives). English, 327 pages, hardcover, University Press of America, 1991
Cuban music and society in Cuba and USA, before and after the revolution
The Argentine Tango as Social History, 1880-1955: The Soul of the People. E Mellen Press, Lewiston, USA 1991
Jaime Rico Salazar: Cien Anos de Boleros. Centro De Estudios Musicales, Bogota, Colombia.
Is considered the authority on the subject, begins by tracing the historical roots of the bolero and its spread through Latin America. He also provides biographies of the composers and performers and finally the compilation of lyrics and music.
Nestor Leal: Boleros - La Cancion romantica del Caribe (1930-1960). Grijalbo S.A. de Venezuela, 1992. ISBN: 980-293-148-9 or 980-239-149-7.
Helio Orovio: 300 Boleros de Oro. La Habana, Cuba 1991: ISBN: 968-29-3740-x.
Helio Orovio: Música por el Caribe. Spanish, 178 pages, Editorial Oriente, Santiago de Cuba, 1994 History and rhythms of various Caribbean music styles including salsa
Peter Bloch: La-Le-Lo-Lai: Puerto Rican Music and its Performers. Plus Ultra Educational Publishers, New York, 1973.
Peter Manuel (editor): Essays on Cuban Music - North American and Cuban Perspectives. University Press of America, Maryland 1991.
Donald Clarke: Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music. English, 1378 pages, paperback, 1990
Penguin Books Ltd., 27 Wrights Lane, London W85 TZ, UK
several thousand biographies of Pop, Rock, Jazz, Folklore, and Latin American artists; many well-known Salsa/Latin Jazz/Merengue artists mentioned
Hernando Calvo Ospina: Salsa. (German) Schmetterlingverlag, Stuttgart 1997. 29 DM
Comment that reached me: "In diesem leider etwas holprig uebersetzten Buch rollt der kolumbianische Autor die Geschichte der Salsa auf, angefangen von den afrikanischen Wurzeln ueber Kuba, die USA, Lateinamerika rauf und runter und wieder zurueck. Das ist schon sehr interessant, vor allem, weil er es immer im sozialen und politischen Zusammenhang bringt. Mit diesem Anspruch kriegen dann neuere Trends wie etwa die Salsa Romantica ziemlich ihr Fett weg als kommerziell und flach. Gut zu lesen, aber Vorsicht: nicht mit dem Buch vor der Nase auf die Tanzflaeche!"
Rumor reached me: "Guillermo Cespedes, musical director, pianist and tres player from Conjunto Cespedes has put together a wonderful guide for the tres. He is in Spain, Chile and the U.S."
Hakim Ludin: Bongos & Congas. English and German, 76 pages, paperback, Musikverlag Burger & Müller, Karlsruhe, Germany, 1991 technique of playing bongos and congas, many exercises
Stephen Williams: Cuba - The Land, The History, The People, The Culture. English, 144 pages, hardcover, Prion, 1994, Multimedia Books Limited, 32-34 Gordon House Road, London NW 5 1 LP, UK ISBN 1-85375-158-8
Dr. Olavo Alén Rodríguez: De lo afrocubano a la salsa. Spanish, 107 pages, Ediciones Artex S.A., La Habana, Cuba 1994
history, instruments and rhythms of all cuban music styles, bibliography
Natalia Bolívar Aróstegui: Los Orishas en Cuba. Spanish, 193 pages, Ediciones Unión, La Habana, Cuba, 1990
Afro-Cuban religion, Santería, very professional and detailed, bibliography
Ramón Fajardo: Rita Montaner. Spanish, 107 pages, Editorial Letras Cubanas, La Habana, Cuba, 1993
Biography of the Cuban singer Rita Montaner, many lyrics and sheet music examples
Dulcila Cañizares: La Trova Tradicional Cubana. Spanish, 128 pages, Editorial Letras Cubanas, La Habana, Cuba, 1992
Famous musicians and troubadours, lyrics and sheet music examples, many old photos!

CD material:

Collection of compact discs "Cuba - I Am Time", Blue Jackel Entertainment Inc., 322 Hicksville Road, Bethpage, NY 11714, USA, 1997
Four compact discs and extensive booklet (English, 112 pages) about Afro-Cuban religion, history and development of various dance styles
Collection of compact discs "Las Leyendas de la Música Cubana", Tumi Music, 8/9 New Bond Street Place, Bath, BA1 1BH, UK, 1997
Four compact discs (Bolero, Danzón, Chachachá, Guaracha-son) and booklet with extensive description of the four music styles (English, 20 pages)