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Salsa gorda is a music genre, a kind of salsa music also known as salsa dura. Salsa gorda means 'fat' salsa, salsa dura means 'hard' salsa. Both terms are used to describe salsa that retains the basic characteristics of classic salsa: driving rhythms, call and response, 'montuno' sections and socially conscious lyrics.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Early History and Origins of Salsa dura 1.2 The birth of the Salsa Dura Bands 1.2.1 Africa 1.2.2 Colombia 1.2.3 New York City 2 Why Salsa Dura and not just Salsa? 3 Lyrics and Themes 3.1 Lyrics 3.2 Arrangements 4 Rise to popularity 4.1 The Young Generation Returns 4.2 The Rise of the Tribute bands 4.3 Publications 5 A Change for Salsa Dura 5.1 The fall of Salsa Monga 5.2 The fall of Reggaeton 6 References

Salsa dura was a phrase that was first coined in the late 70's in New York City. Salsa dura is a reference to the classic salsa of the 70s and its origins are the same. Although salsa dura was being heard and performed through the 1980's in Colombia, the name salsa dura has been associated with a movement in salsa music starting in the 1990’s in New York City. The salsa dura movement focuses on bringing back the classic salsa characteristics to salsa music. Salsa dura bands tend to record long, flowing tunes tailored to the dancer, and not necessarily for commercial radio. The dance community has responded by catering almost exclusively to playing salsa dura at events world wide such as a salsa congress.

In Africa, most of the salsa dura bands have formed in Senegal. Noted bands are Africando.

In Colombia most of the salsa dura bands formed in the cities of Santiago de Cali, Barranquilla, and Medellín. Colombia has claimed itself the "Salsa dura capital of the world". Noted bands are Grupo Niche, Sonora Carruseles, Joe Arroyo and Fruko y sus Tesos.

In New York City most of the bands formed in Spanish Harlem, and in the Bronx also known as "El Condado de la Salsa". Noted bands are Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Jimmy Bosch, Wayne Gorbea, and La Excelencia.

Due to the popularity of commercial artist playing salsa monga (also known as salsa romantica) which is more for listening, the term salsa dura would help identify danceable salsa. Classic salsa refers to artist such as Sonora Ponceña, Fania All Stars, Eddie Palmeri, Tito Puente, and many more.

Salsa Dura lyrics are about what's going on in the Barrio, they can be informative, funny, sad, festive, or even romantic without being salsa monga.

Salsa Dura arrangements have a stong percussion feel and gridy brass section. The arrangements can be written for a conjuto, sonora, or orchestra with or without saxophones (Note: Saxes are usually used in mambo arrangements).

2007 has been the year that salsa dura has gained widespread popularity around the world. "El Cantante", a movie about famous salsa vocalist Hector Lavoe, and the Broadway musical of Celia Cruz, "Celia: A Musical Journey", have already brought much interest to the salsa dura sound. Projects like these are setting the table for bigger things to come.

The young Latino communities in major cities like New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles are identifying more with salsa dura. The increase of the new generation of fans has brought live bands back on the club scene and on the radio.

Today many tribute bands have begun to form all over the world, as well as cover bands popularizing themselves by remaking salsa tunes that have been forgotten and/or hits and selling albums with these tracks. Many of vocalist in these bands also tend to imitate soneros of yester years salseros.

Latin Beat Magazine is one of the forces behind the salsa dura scene. The magazine has help salsa fans to be introduced to salsa musicians, DJ's, radio stations, and many types of wholesalers and vendors. LaVoz Magazine is another publication that has been pushing the salsa dura scene. Most of their issues feature worthy salsa artist and dancers alike.

Due to the popularity of salsa dura, in the clubs and on the dance floor, salsa monga has begun to decline. Dancers find salsa dura the most popular at dance socials.

Even amongst the popularity of reggaeton, salsa dura has overcome the movement, and soneros are being heard once again. Salsa dura is the original hip-hop of the Latinos. The young Latino communities have begun to embrace salsa dura due to its lyrics about social issues, culture, political views, and injustices.

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