The Cuban bolero dance originated in Santiago de Cuba in the last quarter of the 19th century;Cristobal Diaz offers 1885: "el bolero, creado aproximadamente para 1885". Diaz Ayala, Cristobal 1999. Cuando sali de la Habana 1898-1997: cien años de música cubana por el mundo. 3rd ed, Cubanacán, San Juan P.R. p24-25 it does not owe its origin to the Spanish music and song of the same name.Carpentier, Alejo 2001 [1945]. Music in Cuba. Minneapolis MN. In the 19th century there grew up in Santiago de Cuba a group of itinerant musicians who moved around earning their living by singing and playing the guitar.
