Born in Austria in the 19th century, the accordion was affordable and easy-to-play, and it quickly spread among the locals in various Spanish-speaking countries. On its arrival to the American continent, the accordion perfectly melded into the rich and diverse musical landscape of the region, thus cementing the signature sounds of popular genres like la cumbia, el vallenato, el norteño and el tango.

Click play to listen to the history of el acordeón, the immigrant instrument that's an integral part of Latin America's cultural identity.