The Bronx is Music

As we test and tweak the new website during our soft launch, one page that's gotten a lot of attention is our Spotify page. Email comments range from, "Why the hell do you have a Spotify page?" to "I love this. These playlists take me back!" And that's just from 2 different people! :) 

So why the hell do we have a Spotify page? It's simple! We started From The Bronx with a mission to improve the image of The Bronx and share our rich culture and history with the world. Similar to most cities, our borough's growth and development is reflected in our art and culture. Unlike most cities, The Bronx's contributions to art and culture have reached every corner of the Earth and have had an undeniable effect on the world.                          

In the early 1900's, The Bronx was home to 63 piano factories, earning it the title of Piano Capital of The United States.

In the 1960's and 1970's, salsa music took hold of the borough. The young Latino community living in The Bronx began to create their own sound, a fusion of their parents' mambo music with African-American R&B and Afro-Cuban music. At this time The Bronx took on a new moniker, El Condado de la Salsa, aka The Salsa Borough.

In 1973, Clive Campbell, aka DJ Kool Herc, threw a birthday party for his sister Cindy at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in The Bronx. The party put him in front of the biggest crowd he had ever performed for and he introduced them all to his signature "break beat". The success of that party was just the beginning of Hip Hop, a new musical genre destined to take the world by storm. DJ Kool Herc is the Godfather of Hip Hop and Cindy's Party was its birthplace, making The Bronx The Birthplace of Hip Hop.

Wooooooooo. How's that for an incredibly quick musical tour? I didn't even mention the Doo Wop groups of Arthur Avenue, world renowned stars like Jennifer Lopez and KISS' Ace Frehley. I could do this all day! But I won't.

In conclusion, we have a Spotify page because music is one of the most powerful ways in which The Bronx has contributed to culture. And because we want to make it as easy as possible for you to DJ your next BBQ!

Got a playlist to share? Add us on Spotify and/or email us at hello@fromthebronx.com

Want to learn more about The Bronx's rich musical history? Visit The Bronx Music Heritage Center online at ThisIsBronxMusic.org