Bolero is a slow‑tempo Cuban song‑and‑dance genre that originated in Santiago de Cuba in the late 19th century as part of the island’s trova tradition, with composer Pepe Sánchez’s 1883 piece “Tristezas” generally regarded as the first true bolero. Unrelated to the older Spanish dance of the same name, Cuban bolero is defined by its romantic, poetic lyrics set to a steady 4/4 beat (typically 96–104 BPM) featuring a characteristic syncopated “cinquillo” rhythmic cell. Musically it blends Spanish melodic sensibility with Afro‑Cuban rhythms and is most often performed by guitar‑led trios or expanded charanga ensembles—including piano montunos, bass tumbao, light percussion (bongos, güiro, claves), and occasionally brass or strings. Throughout the 1930s–50s bolero’s heartfelt harmonies and simple chord progressions made it the defining Latin American romantic ballad, spawning influential subgenres (bolero‑son, bolero‑cha, bolero‑mambo) and providing a core repertoire for chord‑chart players.