5. Follow up with your Latin band as often as you need to. Don't be shy about making sure your band knows exactly what type of Latin music (salsa, merengue, etc) you want!

Where are you looking to hire a Latin Band?

The music known today as 'Latin music' had its beginnings in Cuba in the 1800s. Latin music influences, however, did not begin to enter mainstream American popular music until the 1930's. During the 1950's and 1960's these influences became particularly strong, with Latin music and Latin dances such as the mambo, cha-cha-cha, samba, and the bossa nova becoming extremely popular. Without question, the king of the Latin music genre is Tito Puente (also known as "El Rey"). He came to to epitomize the Latin experience in his music throughout the United States and the world. Latin bands of today are large, and can sometimes have as many as twenty-five pieces! Modern Latin bands include brass and wind instruments, piano, an upright bass, 'trap drums', four or five saxophones, three or four trumpets, and one or more trombones. A wide variety of Latin percussion instruments also flavor the music. Conga drums, claves, and maracas are the best known percusssion instrumets of a Latin band. Keep in mind, you do not have to hire a full Latin band. You can choose from quartets, quintets, sextets, septets, 'conjuntos' (combos). A typical Latin band plays all types of Latin music - everything from a mix of Afro-Cuban music, salsa, and Latin jazz music. The most popular genres of Latin music today are salsa music and merengue. So go mucho caliente and hire a Latin Band!