European musical influence also extends north along the coast of Peru and beyond with Trujillo s Marinera and the Ecuadorian Pasillo . Serenata , Port. Traditional Afro-American music can be found in isolated pockets along the Caribbean coast of Central America, the Pacific coast of Colombia extending into northern Ecuador, hidden in the warm valleys of Bolivia or along the coast of Peru, and especially in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Both Colombia and Brazil have avidly embraced more modern Afro-Caribbean styles such as Reggae and the African influence in Latin American music as a whole continues to grow through such innovations as Bahia s Ax Music , which has just begun to cross the linguistic barrier into the continent s Spanish speaking countries. Latin America has been the birthplace of important musical styles of which Mexico s Mariachi , Rio de Janeiro s Samba and Buenos Aires Tango are but the most outstanding examples.
Brazilian music is an entire world unto itself, briefly described below.
Very many different types of music are part of today s Latin American scene, ranging from light opera to heavy metal, all continuously evolving and influencing one another in one of the most dynamic musical environments in the world. It was born in the city s bordellos but rapidly achieved international fame and respectability. Its instrument is the accordion, its theme is betrayed love, and its greatest hero is the singer Carlos Gardel, unrivalled since his death in 1935. The international fame of the Tango has been so great that it overshadowed other significant trends in Argentine music, such as folk singer Mercedes Sosa, an important voice of protest during the 1970s dictatorships . The legacy of the gaucho is expressed in lively dances such as the Chacarrera and Malambo which retain a following throughout rural Argentina.