Music of immigrant communities in the United States

The vast majority of the inhabitants of the United States are immigrants or descendents of immigrants. This article will focus on the music of these communities and discuss its roots in countries across Central and South America, Africa, Europe and Asia, excluding only Native American music, indigenous Latin and Puerto Rican music, Hawaiian music and African American music.

Armenia

See: Music of Armenia

Following the 1915 massacres of ethnic Armenians by the Young Turk government in Turkey, large numbers of Armenians settled in the Central California area, especially around Fresno. Of the second- and third-generation musicians from this community, Richard Hagopian became a minor star in the Armenian-American community.

Eastern European Jews

See: Jewish music, Eastern European music

Early in the 20th century, Eastern European immigrants settled across the United States. Many were Ashkenazi Jews, who brought with them their swift, eminently dance-able klezmer music. Harry Kandel, a clarinetist, stood out in the field, alongside Abe Schwartz, Naftule Brandwein and Dave Tarras.

Later, in the 1980s, a new generation of klezmer roots revivalists made innovative fusions of klezmer with punk rock and other influences. These bands include the Flying Klezmer Bulgar Band and The Klezmatics.

Italy

See: Music of Italy

Italian-Americans are concentrated on the Eastern Seaboard, especially in New York City. Their music includes square dances, tarantellas, mazurkas, waltzes and polkas, and music for mandolin, banjo, guitar and accordion.

Italian folk traditions have had a lasting influence of barbershop singing and doo wop.

Mexico

See: Music of Mexico

Mariachi music has long been the most popular music for Mexican Americans, especially in California. The late 1970s and 80s saw a mariachi roots revival among Mexicans in Texas, California and elsewhere, a movement that country musician Lucinda Williams became involved in.

New York City Pan-Latin Melting Pot

See: Latin American music, Music of New York, Salsa music

The first few decades of the 20th century saw immigrants from Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Argentina, Haiti, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, Puerto Rico and Brazil interspersed with each other in parts of New York City. The result was an often-politically charged fusion of Latin and Carribean music called salsa. Tito Puente led the first wave of stars, who achieved success in the Latino community in the United States and abroad, especially in Cuba, which soon became the capital of salsa.

Slovenia

See: Music of Slovenia

Slovenian-American polka musician Frankie Yankovich is by far the most famous musician of that genre. He began his career in the 1930s, beginning with some regional hits in the Detroit and Cleveland areas, followed by mainstream success in the later 1940s.

Ukraine

See: Music of Ukraine

Ukrainian-Americans in the Cleveland and Detroit area have kept a folk scene alive, also producing a minor crossover star in the 1920s and 30s, Pawlo Humeniuk, the King of the Ukrainian Fiddlers.