Son is one of the most important music and dance styles from Cuba. It's a result of combining Spanish and African influences. It's a style that became popular in the second half of the 19th century in the eastern province of Oriente.

The oldest know son is "Son de la Ma Teodora", from about 1570 in Santiago de Cuba. It was played by small bands, using guitar or tres (guitar-type), maracas, guiro, claves, bongo, a marimbula and a botija. It combines the structure and elements of Spanish cancion and guitar with African rhythms and percussion instruments of Bantu and Arara origin.

In the 1940's Arsenio Rodriguez became the most influential player of son, creating the modern Afro-Cuban sound, the son montuno. He was especially influential incorporating improvised solos, toques, congas, extra trumpets, percussion and pianos. Son is considered as the root of salsa.