Dominican Republic
Like many “rags to riches” stories we’ve come to admire,
the history and evolution of Bachata represents the power of an
individual culture, and the impact it can have on the human experience.
Woven into the fabric of the Dominican Republic, Bachata reflects
the depth, the strength, and the creative magic of its people.
A History as Storied as Its Songs
as it was outlawed by then national president and dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina. Despite its unfavorable reputation and the active censoring for airplay, Bachata continued to grow in popularity. Earlier recordings spoke of melancholy and heart-wrenching love stories. Reminiscent of American Blues music, these recordings mastered the art of storytelling through song. Jose Manuel Calderon, one of Bachata’s pioneers, is heralded as the first Dominican Bachata artist to produce original recordings. Transitioning from traditional to modern Bachata in the late 1980s and 1990s, the genre saw a significant change in its reception as well as in its popularity. Artists like Antony Santos rose to stardom with the incorporation of modern instruments and musical arrangements. In 1992, Juan-Luis Guerra garnered a Grammy for the album Bachata Rosa which helped propel the genre’s international success. Now into the 21st century, and with several versions (or stylings) in tow, Bachata remains authentic and powerful, still working as a beacon of emotional expression for the Dominican people and its adoring fans around the world.
What’s recently become a popular and celebrated style of music and dance dates back more than 60 years. The birth of Bachata occurred in the early 1960s in the Dominican Republic. Its musical stylings began as a combination of Bolero and Son, both derivatives from Cuba to the west of Hispaniola. From its inception, Bachata was founded in fusion; its sound represents a blending of cultures and musical styles. Culturally, Bachata is a three-strand chord, with roots tied to the indigenous Taino, Africa’s Sub-Saharan region, and the southern provinces of Spain. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Bachata was deemed undesirable, boorish, and even crude. At one point it was even censored from regular public consumption in the Dominican Republic. The genre became associated with only the lowest class of local society. Patrons could only experience Bachata in seedy clubs and venues,
6
Powered by FlippingBook