THE INFLUENCE OF PUERTO RICAN MUSIC IN THE UNITED STATES Guest Speaker: Dr. Raymond Torres-Santos

RAM RAMIREZ´ THE LOVER MAN AND BILLIE HOLIDAY

I think it´s important to note that Juan Tizol exemplifies one of the first Puerto Ricans to immigrate to the United States and note how he was immediately hired by an American orchestra just with his preparation that he earned from Puerto Rico. His family, his father, actually, was the director of the municipal band in San Juan so he really comes from a musical background. Another composer from Puerto Rico who was influential in the development of Jazz was Ram Ramirez whose The Lover Man was a big hit by the great singer Billie Holiday in the late forties. So with these two gentlemen we clearly see the initial influence of Puerto Ricans in particular in the development of Jazz.

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