The predominant influences of Cuban music are African and Spanish music. Other influences include European, Latin American, and American pop and jazz.
Dance music is very important in Cuban culture. Son is a type of dance music from the Oriente province, and mambo was popularized in the 1940s and 1950s; both styles are precursors to salsa.
Timba is the latest musical craze to come out of Cuba. It has similarities to salsa, though it has evolved differently and has a much faster beat and wilder dance style.
Jazz has been an important style of music in Cuba for nearly as long as it has been in the United States. Recordings and shows were often shared between America and Cuba, creating fusions that continue to exist today.
Musical theater has been an important part of Cuba, with the first theater opening in 1776 and the first opera theater in 1807. Many famous Cuban musicians got their start in the country's musical theater scene.