The first bachata music was recorded in 1961 by Jose Manuel Calderone after the fall of Trujillo government that censored the music. It is inspired by Peruvian, Mexican, Ecuadorian, and Puerto Rican music.
Bachata music lost popularity in the 1970s but saw a resurgence of popularity in the 1980s.
The modern era of bachata was born in 1987 with the use of the electric guitar incorporated into the music. Popular musicians Luis Vargas, Raulín Rodriguez, Antony Santos, and Juan Bautista helped define modern bachata.
In the 1990s, bachata music gained a "pop" music feel, with artists Luis Vargas and Antony Santos. In 1992, Juan Luis Guerra won a Grammy for his release Bachata Rose.
Bachata music and dance are now wildly popular with the Latino population in the United States.
The music inspired a type of Latin dance that consists of a four-step walk with a popping Cuban hop motion. The style of dance is similar to the merengue.