Cuba’s Musical Roots

Agustin Gurza’s assertion that “Cubans owe their [musical] chops, at least in part, to the socialist educational system,” is so ignorant it’s hard to imagine where he got that information (“Uneasy Lies Latin Music’s Crown,” Aug. 24).

Music has been in the fabric of Cuban society since slaves were first brought over from Africa, in the 16th century. Cuba has produced a huge number of great singers and composers and contributed new rhythms and forms of musical expression to the musical heritage of the world, much before the Castro dictatorship.

Before making such a false statement, Gurza ought to read Alejo Carpentier’s “Music in Cuba,” published in 1940, 19 years before Castro came to power.

ALEXIS I. TORRES

Burbank

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I’m a first-generation Cuban American. The fact that differing opinions on the Latin Grammys (from writers Agustin Gurza and Maria Elena Fernandez) both shared your pages illustrates why my parents came to this country. Not everyone in my community uses their free speech wisely, but we all take it very seriously.

Maybe that’s why we’re so loud.

JUAN CARLOS COTO

Oak Park

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I enjoyed Gurza’s essay relating the hubris of Miami’s gusano community and the fitting transposition of a musical awards show to L.A. In the same edition comes coverage of the former L.A. Philharmonic director, an immigrant from a Scandinavian country (“It’s Goodbye, Without Any Regrets,” by Diane Haithman, Aug. 24).

With The Times’ increasing coverage of immigration issues, I’m led to ask about Willem Wijnbergen’s status. Didn’t you report that the musician was hired by the Phil under special visa provisions for uniquely talented or skilled workers? When he lost his job, he remained in the United States. Now he has taken another U.S. job and looks to have made a permanent move to these shores.

Given that Wijnbergen didn’t have to cross a hot desert guiled by coyotes--indeed, he SAS’d across the Atlantic in first class--does this make his type of immigration immune to Times analysis?

MICHAEL SEDANO

Pasadena