Bird of Four Hundred Voices: A Mexican American Memoir of Music and Belonging
By Eugene Rodriguez
By Eugene Rodriguez
Bird of Four Hundred Voices, written by Eugene Rodriguez, chronicles the extraordinary journey of Los Cenzontles from a barrio youth group into an internationally acclaimed beacon of cultural preservation and education in San Pablo, California.
The book can be purchased here!
“In a society that tries, in countless ways, to convince us to devalue ourselves, the cultural arts can help our children build resourcefulness and resilience that can protect their sense of self,” says Rodriguez. As he candidly recounts, Rodriguez founded Los Cenzontles in 1989 seeking personal healing and cultural connection. Witnessing the group’s powerful impact on his students, he then recruited them to build a non-profit organization with a cultural arts academy, a touring and recording musical group, and multimedia production studio.
The book reveals the many challenges and guiding values of Los Cenzontles’ 35-year trajectory within which they have trained thousands of community youth, revived lost Mexican traditions, and produced dozens of CDs and films. They have performed, recorded and composed with celebrated musicians including Linda Ronstadt, Los Lobos, Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, Ry Cooder, The Chieftains, Flaco Jimenez, and Preservation Hall. By both “honor[ing] and upend[ing] traditional Mexican music,” Los Cenzontles has created “something completely new, and distinctly American,” as the New York Times wrote.
Against the backdrop of historic immigration from Mexico and a resulting political backlash, Bird of Four Hundred Voices candidly reflects on issues of identity, belonging and cultural engagement, offering a profound exploration of Mexican American culture and its historic imprint on the fabric of American society. This timely memoir not only narrates the struggle and resilience of an artistic community but also challenges us to reevaluate how Latino populations are viewed and supported in our society. Amidst growing discussions about inclusivity and the true meaning of democracy, Rodriguez’s story is a clarion call for decentralized vision for American identity.
Tune in on August 9th at 9am to Forum on KQED Radio (88.5 FM) for a one-hour discussion with the author Eugene Rodriguez, founder and director of Los Cenzontles. Forum has been an influential, in-depth Bay Area radio program since 1990, taking to the airwaves just one year after Los Cenzontles was launched. If you can’t listen to the live broadcast, you can hear the interview a few days later at the Forum website.
Website for KQED's Forum
On Saturday, August 10th from 2pm to 5pm join us at Los Cenzontles as we celebrate the release of Eugene Rodriguez’s new memoir! Founder and Director of Los Cenzontles, we be our first introduction to Bird of Four Hundred Voices, Eugene’s chronicle of the Los Cenzontles’ 35-year history, The book, will be available for purchase at the event and Eugene will be signing copies. We will also have live music from the Los Cenzontles Touring Group, and food and drinks will be available for purchase. Join us for the celebration!
Register Here!
Eugene will be signing copie of Bird of Four Hundred Voices on Sunday, August 11th at 2pm at the San Jose Marriot, and the Los Cenzonltes Touring Group will perform an accoustic set. Stop by if you can!
More Information
On Friday, August 23rd, at 6:30pm, San Francisco’s legendary City Lights bookstore, together with Heyday Books and Los Cenzontles, celebrate the publication of Bird of Four Hundred Voices with special guests Davia Nelson (Kitchen Sisters), Robert Mailer Anderson (Boonville). Our friends Los Originarios del Plan will be performing the traditional music of Tierra Caliente, the western hot lands of Michoacan. It all takes place in Jack Kerouac Alley, the historic pocket between City Lights and Vesuvio Cafe: 261 Columbus Ave, San Francisco. Don’t miss it!
More Information
If you will be in the Los Angeles area in late-August, join Eugene for a book presentation moderated by Gustavo Arellano from the Los Angeles Times and Author of Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America. Enjoy an interesting discussion and get a book signed!
More Information
Bookshop Santa Cruz welcomes Eugene for a celebration of his new memoir. He’ll be joined in conversation by Consuelo Alba, a passionate arts leader who unleashes the power of film and culture for social change in Santa Cruz County and beyond. This special event will also feature a musical performance from Los Cenzontles.
More Information
Come over to the legendary music store Downhome Music in El Cerrito for some Saturday afternoon music and get a book signed by Eugene! Down Home Music was established in 1976 by Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz as a (brick & mortar) retail outlet for Roots music releases from various labels throughout the world.
More Information
Join us at San Pablo Library for a local author book discussion followed by a live musical performance! Eugene Rodriguez, founder and director of Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy, will share what inspired him to write his new book Bird of Four Hundred Voices: A Mexican American Memoir of Music and Belonging, a beautiful celebration of Mexican American music, art, and culture.
More Information
Joyously challenge cultural borders with Eugene Rodriguez, author of Bird of Four Hundred Voices: A Mexican American Memoir of Music and Belonging Rodriguez will discuss his book, followed by a musical performance by Los Cenzontles.
More Information
Join writers Eugene Rodriguez and Robert Mailer Anderson for an evening of conversation and music in Mechanics’ Institute’s historic library space. The discussion will be followed by audience Q&A and book signing.
Get Tickets
Machetes, S.A., Royal Chicano Air Force, and La Raza Galeria Posada present an Afternoon with Eugene Rodriguez and Los Cenzontles. Join us for a discussion and book signing with Eugene Rodriguez, founder of Los Cenzontles and author of Bird of Four Hundred Voices. There will also be a live music performance by the Los Cenzontles Band! Free Admission. Location: La Familia Maple Neighborhood Center
3301 37th Avenue Sacramento, CA.
