Today, September 15, at 9:30 a.m. PST, Google made history by launching its first-ever global Doodle dedicated to salsa. Curated by award-winning producer, pianist, and arranger Sergio George, the animated tribute shines a spotlight on the genre’s vibrant rhythms and cultural impact just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month.
The Doodle arrives days before George presents his first Salsa Festival, ¡ATACA SERGIO!, at Miami’s Kaseya Center on September 21. The lineup features an all-star cast of artists who continue to carry salsa’s legacy across the world, including Anthony Ramos, India, Servando y Florentino, Luis Enrique, Lenny Tavárez, Jay Wheeler, Justin Quiles, and Huey Dunbar (former DLG vocalist).
A Musical Journey Through Salsa’s Classics
Google’s Doodle isn’t just a graphic it’s an animated music video that remixes five of salsa’s most iconic anthems:
- “I Like It” – Pete Rodríguez (1967)
- “Mi Gente” – Héctor Lavoe (1975)
- “Llorarás” – Oscar D’León (1975)
- “La Vida es un Carnaval” – Celia Cruz (1998)
- “La Noche” – Joe Arroyo
Through bold visuals and explosive rhythms, the animation highlights instruments that define salsa piano, conga, trombone, clave, and güiro, capturing the energy that transformed dance floors in New York, Cali, San Juan, and beyond.
Sergio George & The Dame Más Salsa Playlist
To expand the experience, Google also released a special playlist: DAME MAS SALSA. Featuring 15 tracks produced by Sergio George himself, the playlist serves as a masterclass in salsa’s evolution and why George is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the genre.
“More than a genre, salsa is a global soundtrack of joy and resilience,” reads Google’s message accompanying the launch, underscoring how these songs remain cultural anthems in celebrations worldwide.
Behind the Doodle: Global Collaboration
The project was crafted under the creative direction of Jorge R. Canedo E. and Sergio George, with design and animation by an international team including Avikali Lomavatu, Xoana Herrera, Lorena G., Daviher Loredo, Tacho Aguilar, and Geraldin Vergara.
Animation credits include Manuel Neto, Victor Silva, Ricardo Drehmer, Bárbara Nozari, Lennon Valinhas, Gabriel Gareso, Gastón Pacheco, Javier Ibañez, and Nicholas Ferreira. Sound design was led by Ambrose Yu, with executive production by Stefan Green and Mona Fani.
The vibrant visuals capture the movement, color, and vitality that define salsa, while the remix breathes new life into classics that continue to inspire dancers and music lovers across generations.
A Legacy That Transcends Borders
Born in the 1970s from Cuban son, rumba, and mambo, salsa evolved by blending brass sections, R&B, funk, and powerful call-and-response vocals. Artists like Marc Anthony, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Daniela Darcourt, and the late Eddie Palmieri continue to prove that salsa isn’t just a genre, it’s a living cultural movement.
With this Doodle, Google acknowledges salsa’s enduring impact, celebrating it as an art form that unites communities, preserves Latino heritage, and inspires joy worldwide.
Will you be streaming the DAME MAS SALSA playlist or attending ¡ATACA SERGIO! in Miami? Let us know your favorite salsa anthem in the comments.