American Sabor: Latinos and Latinas in US Popular Music / Latinos y latinas en la musica popular estadounidense

by Marisol Berrios-Miranda, Shannon Dudley, Michelle Habell-Pallán

Evoking the pleasures of music as well as food, the word sabor signifies a rich essence that makes our mouths water or makes our bodies want to move. American Sabor traces the substantial musical contributions of Latinas and Latinos in American popular music between World War II and the present in five vibrant centers of Latin@ musical New York, Los Angeles, San Antonio, San Francisco, and Miami. From Tito Puente's mambo dance rhythms to the Spanglish rap of Mellow Man Ace, American Sabor focuses on musical styles that have developed largely in the United States―including jazz, rhythm and blues, rock, punk, hip hop, country, Tejano, and salsa―but also shows the many ways in which Latin@ musicians and styles connect US culture to the culture of the broader Americas.

With side-by-side Spanish and English text, authors Marisol Berríos-Miranda, Shannon Dudley, and Michelle Habell-Pallán challenge the white and black racial framework that structures most narratives of popular music in the United States. They present the regional histories of Latin@ communities―including Chicanos, Tejanos, and Puerto Ricans―in distinctive detail, and highlight the shared experiences of immigration/migration, racial boundary crossing, contesting gender roles, youth innovation, and articulating an American experience through music. In celebrating the musical contributions of Latinos and Latinas, American Sabor illuminates a cultural legacy that enriches us all.

352 pages, Paperback

Published December 15, 2017

Reviews

[Grace Bagadiong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was assigned by my Latin American history course and it truly was one of the most culturally significant pieces I have ever read. This book not only focuses on the history of music in the Latin@ community but it also represents the diversity and unity that mean so much to these people of color. From Los Angeles to New York City, "American Sabor" highlights the importance of music and dance as a way to connect people together during the best and worst times.

[Ernest Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An astounding bilingual over view of made-in-the-USA Latinx music, from Nueva York to Tejas to Ellay, always creating something new in step with the times and new technologies, recombocultural as it has ever been, breakng down borders all the ways. Cha-cha-cha.

[Kurt Reighley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic primer on the fundamentals of Latinx musicians' vibrant contributions to American popular music. Turned me on to many artists I'd previously overlooked.