Latino Heritage month is an annual celebration in the United States in honor of the achievements of the Latinos within the nation and abroad.  It is celebrated from September 15 – October 15 each year.  The dates of mid-September to October was selected as an anniversary of the independence of Latin American countries such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.  Also the month chooses to recognize the liberation of Mexico which took place on September 16 and Chile, on September 18.

In honor of Latino Heritage month, cocktailmolly, would like to honor the achievement of Israel “Cachao” Lopez.  Born Israel Lopez Valdez in Cuba, on September 14, 1918.  He was an innovative and influential musician, mastering the charanga bass, was the co-creator of the Mambo, and a descarga (Improvised Cuban jam sessions) specialist. Together Cachao and his brother Oreste, a pianist and cellist, transformed the rhythm and style of Cuban music but wrote more than a thousand songs.  Cahao died in 2008, in Florida, at the age of 89.