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"Part memoir and part history of the Bay Area youth musical group Los Cenzontles. Follows Rodriguez's own musical journeys, the group's connections with political and social activism, and the histories underlying numerous styles of music from Mexico"--
List of contents
- El Vuelo del Cenzontle
- Family Roots
- Wings and Covenants
- Artist in Residence
- Fandango
- Papa’s Dream, Los Lobos, and Lalo Guerrero
- Joy and Uncertainty in a Changing Neighborhood
- Space
- Pasajero, a Journey of Time and Memory
- The Pedagogy of Intangible Heritage
- A Garden, Not a Flower Store
- David Hidalgo
- Crossing Cultural Rivers
- State of Shame
- Linda Ronstadt
- Songs for Strange Times
- Regeneration
About the author
Eugene Rodriguez is founder and executive director of Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy, a nonprofit based in San Pablo, California. He formed Los Cenzontles in 1989. Rodriguez has produced over thirty albums and numerous films for Los Cenzontles, and he has collaborated with Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Los Lobos, Lalo Guerrero, Ry Cooder, the Chieftains, and Taj Mahal. His work has been featured in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and NPR. He is also the recipient of several awards and fellowships, including from the California Arts Council and United States Artists. He lives in Richmond, California.
Summary
From the founder of Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy, a profoundly personal exploration of music's power to build cultural bridges that last.
"I wish I had studied with Eugene Rodrigeuz when I was growing up. Read this beautifully written book about culture, identity and resilience, and you will know why." —Linda Ronstadt
From an early age Eugene Rodriguez knew he was captivated by music. But he found himself encountering the same two problems again and again: the chilly rigidity of so much formal music education, and the underrepresentation of Mexican culture in American media. In 1989 he founded Los Cenzontles (The Mockingbirds), a group that offered music education to Bay Area youth, and that gave pride of place to Mexican musical traditions.
Bird of Four Hundred Voices follows Rodriguez as he leads his young students from a California barrio to uncover their ancestral roots. From their home community in San Pablo, Los Cenzontles journey to fandangos in Veracruz, resurrect a lost mariachi tradition, and collaborate with luminaries like Linda Ronstadt, Lalo Guerrero, Taj Mahal, Jackson Browne, Flaco Jiménez, and Los Lobos. Rodriguez's story offers an honest, deeply personal look at the cultural work that confronts historical oppression and joyously challenges cultural borders. And it is a profound celebration of the powerful influence of Mexico's musical heritage on American culture.
Foreword
- Co-op available.
- Publicity support through Los Cenzontles.
- National media outreach focusing on music and culture and Latino-facing audiences.
- Book debuts around Hispanic Heritage Month.
- Confirmed interest from local broadcast programs like KTVU, KPFA, and Radio Bilingue.
- Book tour with confirmed events at Los Cenzontles, City Lights, Tía Chucha's, Skylight Books, and Vroman's.
- Targeted digital advertising across Instagram, FB, Amazon sponsored product ads, and the Google ad network.
