Music Stories from the Cosmic Barrio

A collection of 150 stories about music from all over Latin America including Cuba Mexico Brazil Colombia as well as Africa the Middle East and Europe. The stories were originally broadcast on public radio programs on NPR PRXs The World BCC KPCC and Latino USA. The book contains 12 chapters each following a specific narrative: music and identity; education community building immigration womens empowerment adversity social unrest and violence instruments producers place and nation; the music of Brazil Cuba music and the diaspora. The books main focus is Latin American music from across the continent with an emphasis on the music of Latinos and other ethnic groups in Los Angeles. The book also tells a personal story: the authors constant tireless search for stories that help explain how complex and diverse humans are and how we share something so special that brings us together: music. This edition includes illustrations by Alec Dempster.