With its Spanish and African origins, call-and-response format, and infectious percussion beats, the musical genre Son Cubano was a major influence on many other styles, from mambo and salsa to jazz and cha-cha-chá. But you can’t talk about Son Cubano without talking about Kiki Valera. Born the oldest son in the famous multigenerational musical family, Valera quite literally grew up living and breathing the deep-rooted musical traditions of eastern Cuba and is known as one of the world’s greatest players of the Cuban cuatro, a mid-size, eight-stringed guitar.
