Roots Rewind: A White Guy Listens to Mexican Music Pt. 1

Hey all! Today is Cinco de Mayo and I wanted to republish this episode I did a number of years back. Hope you dig it! 

 

This is the first installment in a new series I'll be doing on the show. I've been intrigued with the history of Mexican music for a number of years now. I decided to take a deep dive into the fascinating history of the music, the instruments, and the people who make this incredible music. Along the way I discovered all sorts of fascinating things like the influence of European styles of music, the working class and folk music roots of the styles, as well as a ton of great tunes. I hope you enjoy this series and learn something new. There is a plethora of music to explore, so join me on this journey into the history of Mexican Music! 

 

If you are interested in learning more here are a few resources I found to be helpful. 

 

The Texas-Mexican Conjunto: History of a Working-class Music by Manuel Pena

https://www.amazon.com/Texas-Mexican-Conjunto-Working-class-American-Monographs/dp/029278080X 

Smithsonian Folkways Que Viva la Musica Latina!

https://www.amazon.com/Texas-Mexican-Conjunto-Working-class-American-Monographs/dp/029278080X

 

NY Times "Where Mexican Folk Ballads Meet Trap Music." 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/style/trapcorridos-chicano-los-angeles.html