Fania Records... Rising from the Ashes

If you haven't heard of Fania records, you aren't really a salsa dancer yet. This pivotal label was responsible for the career of some of the biggest salsa music artists in history.

In fact, the label cemented its place in salsa music history to many by being called "The Motown Of Salsa". Describing Fania's relationship with salsa, Pulse writer Ernesto Lechner says:

How many record companies can claim helping to define an entire genre? The Fania label did that and much more. It brought the word salsa, a late 20's Cuban import, to the mainstream. It launched the careers of Ruben Blades and Ray Barretto. It made Celia Cruz popular again. And through its many imprints and label acquisitions, it has given the world of the Afro-Cuban music more than a thousand albums of addictively spicy dance music.

Well, since eMusic started re-rerelasing the catalog, sales have started to pick up again. Could this lead to a resurgence of old school salsa? We can only hope! But it is gratifying that the people re-releasing these Fania albums understand their roles:

"We take our responsibility very seriously," said Giora Breil, partner and senior vice president of marketing for Emusica. "Fania is an American manifestation of the Latin cultural contribution. It goes beyond something good to listen to. This music was a cultural force that resounded around the world."

Amen to that!