What's Bolero music?
You have probably heard this music, yet you might not know it's called Bolero or how significant its cultural and historical value is.​​
Bolero is a unique romantic music genre with high poetry and a delicate and cadences tempo in Latin American music.
Bolero originated and flourished between Cuba and Mexico and spread to other Latin American countries. Its lyrics about love and heartbreak accompany rhythmic percussion, guitars, basses, pianos, winds, and its characteristic Mexican requinto.
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In Latin American culture, Bolero music brings people together, creating a sense of identity, community, and shared experience. Many generations of lovers have fallen in love with these songs, and we could say it is already part of Latin culture's DNA.
Many would agree that no couple hasn´t dedicated a Bolero song to each other.
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Although English Music audiences in the U.S. are relatively unknown, Bolero Music is not new to New York or Hispanic communities in the United States. Many Latin singers have performed this music in New York and American cities. The famous Mexican-Puerto Rican trio "Los Panchos" started in New York City, and their career boosted its popularity in Mexico.
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Composers and interpreters of Bolero have come to live in the U.S. The famous Bolero Queen, Olga Guillot, made Miami her home until her death. Great Bolero exponents such as Rafael Rodriguez from Puerto Rico and Maria Grever from Mexico lived in New York till their last days.
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The Bolero represents a cultural heritage of Cuba and Mexico transmitted within families and communities through oral tradition and imitation. It is a living heritage that continues developing new compositions and interpretations in both urban and rural scenes, serving as an inspiration in various moments of the lives of its followers and bearers.
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One of the most famous boleros is "Bésame Mucho" by Consuelo Velázquez. La canción ha sido interpretada por muchos artistas, incluyendo los Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross, Sara Montiel, Plácido Domingo y Luis Miguel y traducida a varios idiomas.
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Bolero music has significantly influenced other Latin genres, such as Salsa and Latin jazz. ​​
My Story with Bolero Music
As an American singer, I didn't stumble on Bolero at home. This music found me and captivated my heart with its emotional depth.
I approached this music out of curiosity about culture; I have always been drawn to the passion and intensity of Mexican music. There's something about Mariachi's deep, intense vocal performances and romantic melody that speaks to my soul and ignites a fire within me.
So, I discovered some of those songs were traditional Boleros, such as Sabor A Mi by Alvaro Carrillo.
While living in South Florida, I learned many bolero pieces, which connected me with Latin audiences. Thus, I learned to sing in Spanish even if I wasn't fluent, but my passion for this music made me connect with and understand the lyrics.
Whenever I perform Bolero, I feel transported to a romantic scene from a different era, where romance, glamour, and deep lyrics put a pause on the world for a moment... This sentiment speaks about tradition, unique musicianship, and unforgettable love stories. I can't quite describe the feeling, but I cherish it. I hope to share it with others through my performances.
This music is perhaps the equivalent of the American Songbook for Latin culture, and I´m honored that Latin audiences have embraced my performance of music that is so close to their culture.
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