The Sounds Of Cuba, In Exile And At Home
Pianist Chucho Valdes, founding member of the Cuban band Irakere, poses before a concert in Madrid in 2005. Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Pianist Chucho Valdes, founding member of the Cuban band Irakere, poses before a concert in Madrid in 2005.
Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP/Getty ImagesCuba is back in the news this week with the death of Fidel Castro, the leader of the island nation's government for almost 60 years. All eyes have been on southern Florida as the Cuban-American community there celebrates closure for a disruption to their lives that started after Castro took power in 1959.
However, the fact that Castro was also heralded on the island and in other parts of the world illustrates a divide that dominates not only Cuba's politics, but also its music.
This week, Beat Latino's Catalina Maria Johnson joins Alt.Latino to help us take a closer listen to both musicians who stayed in Cuba and those who left — and how both realities, residency versus exile, are reflected in their music.
Hear The Songs
Various Artists, Cuba Va!: Songs of the New Generation of Revolutionary Cuba Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Grupo De Experimentación Sonora
- Song: Cuba Va!
- from Cuba Va!: Songs of the New Generation of Revolutionary Cuba
Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz Eterna Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Celia Cruz
- Song: Cuando Salí de Cuba
- from Celia Cruz Eterna
Los Van Van, Llego...Van Van Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Los Van Van
- Song: Somos Cubanos
- from Llego... Van Van
Irakere, Cuba Libre Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Irakere
- Song: Cuba Libre
- from Cuba Libre
Willy Chirino, Cuba Libre Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Willy Chirino
- Song: Cuba Libre
- from Cuba Libre
Orishas, A Lo Cubano Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Orishas
- Song: 537 C.U.B.A.
- from A Lo Cubano