Pe'rez Prado in Mexico and Machito in New York City popularized the mambo in their big bands. The son-montuno started as a couples dance in Oriente, a Cuban province. As it moved westward to Havana, the music and dance styles grew and evolved with more percussion, especially in the final montuno section. It became very popular in the 1930s, often mistakenly called the rumba. Its Spanish and African musical elements form the basis of today's salsa as well as urban dance music around the world, including French-speaking areas of West and Central Africa and the Caribbean, and Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador.
Salsa has many roots, but the style that gave rise to and shaped it more than any other is the son.
The son is the most important and influential music to have evolved in 20th Century Cuba. As the Africans moved to Havana, the son became a popular music style of the working class. By the 1920's, son was the most popular music and dance for Cubans at all levels of society. By synthesizing African and Spanish music styles and appealing to all Cubans, son essentially became Cuba's national music. After World War I, many wealthy tourists and white upper class Cubans flocked to Havana, creating a demand for night life.