From PRX.

I'm Kurt Anderson, and this is the Studio 360 podcast.

Over the years, Studio 360's American Icon series has explored deeply dozens of important and influential works of literature, film, television, architecture, design, music, and visual art. We have done segments on cultural touchstones like The Muppets and the Andy Warhol

soup can paintings and full hours on the Disney theme parks and Monticello, the Great Gatsby,

Native Sun, and many more. We present them as the works of art and entertainment that have

shaped who we are and how we see ourselves as Americans.

Now at Studio 360, we are turning to our hometown, New York, for a new batch of icons.

Stories about works of art that took shape in the city, but have shaped people everywhere.

When it came out in 1978, people who love salsa thought that the album Sienbra was commercially doomed.

It was by Ruben Blades and Willie Cologne, but the songs were too long.

They bashed American consumerism and pushed for social change.

Instead, Sienbara became the first Salsa record ever to sell more than a million copies.

It's still probably the bestseller in the genre.

On this edition of New York icons, Giselli Regatow explains why Siambra was so successful,

commercially and creatively,

and how it also fostered a colossal fight.

How do you make a salsa hit?

First, you use a British opera from the 18th century about a beggar.

Then you add the German take on it from 1928. My heron, Meigs a little bit of gangs from Panama,

a black sneaker, a golden tooth, a prostitute,

a thief.

And you have Pedro Navaj, or Peter the Blade,

...