salsa
what it is
Salsa is used as a general moniker for various forms of latin dance music like Mambo, Cha cha cha, Pachanga and Son. It however also refers to a fusion of these musical styles with Jazz and RnB and Soul pioneered by mainly Cuban and Puerto Rican musicians in New York in the 60s and 70s and which has grown to become a musical genre in its own right.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 1 · mainstream
the pop everyone knows
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make salsa a playlist
turn these 35 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is salsa?
Salsa is used as a general moniker for various forms of latin dance music like Mambo, Cha cha cha, Pachanga and Son. It however also refers to a fusion of these musical styles with Jazz and RnB and Soul pioneered by mainly Cuban and Puerto Rican musicians in New York in the 60s and 70s and which has grown to become a musical genre in its own right.
What are good salsa albums to start with?
Try Todo A Su Tiempo by Marc Anthony, Cara de Niño by Jerry Rivera, Mi Tierra by Gloria Estefan, and Nacimiento Y Recuerdos by Frankie Ruiz.
Who are some women making salsa?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/salsa/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making salsa, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20