Bachata - Bolero Music

Bachata-bolero, the early bachata music of the Dominican Republic, was a crossover of bolero to a more modern sound. Spanning the 1960s through
the 1970s, bachata-bolero borrowed the bolero's traditional stylings and utilized basic instruments which usually consisted of two guitars, bass, bongo
and maracas. Occasionally, other instruments such as clarinets, saxophones and other wind instruments were included in the mix. For the most part,
though, the instruments were basic. It was this baseness and simplicity that lent the bachata-bolero its romantic beauty.

Unlike the later forms of bachata, such as the cabaret bachata and the doble entendre, this form of bachata was not thought to be obscene or sexual in
nature. In fact, many of the songs were old bolero remakes. The lyrics to these bachata-boleros were sung in the traditional, formal Spanish, making
them very romantic. It was not until later that sexual innuendos and bawdry references were brought into the mix. Even then this only added to the
bachata's colorful personality.

The slow tempo of the bachata-bolero brought to life the romantic words and sentimental style. However, most of these songs were not original. They
were, in fact, remakes of classic boleros and valses. In these early days, bachata did not contain the slang terms and references to Dominican lifestyles
that later bachata contained. It was because of this lack of what was later well known "bachata flavor" that the bachata-bolero was more publicly
accepted. This was also due to the fact that the bachateros were just singing songs that were already popular. This would later change as bachata
music would slowly shift into the cabaret period - which offered original, and rather colorful, lyrics.

The pioneers of the bachata-bolero period include Fabio Sanabia, Inocencio Cruz, Rafael Encarnacion and Luis Segura. Segura moved on from bachata
-bolero and continued his success, recording even beyond the period. Leonardo Paniagua is another artist that offered strong influence on the period and
style. These artists moved the bachata while moving audiences with a sound that lifted your spirit and words that moved your heart.

The spice and romance of the Dominican bachata-bolero lends itself to a time when bachata was young. This style has survived changing eras and
evolved to meet those changes with a flavor all its own. This particular, however, when bachata was in its infancy, is especially poignant as it marks the
beginning of a delightful journey that has yet to end.