Bird of Four Hundred Voices

A Mexican American Memoir of Music and Belonging

De: Eugene Rodriguez

Narrado por: Eugene Rodriguez

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

NPR Books We Love 2024: "[Rodriguez's] commitment to his community and his exploration of growing up bicultural are both inspiring."

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.

©2024 Eugene Rodriguez (P)2025 Heyday

Reseñas de la Crítica

One of NPR's Best Books of 2024

"Eugene Rodriguez's memoir is a testament to the power of music as a unifying force between different cultures. Through his creation of Los Cenzontles in 1989, Rodriguez defied the rigidity of formal education and championed Mexican musical heritage, revealing how music can transcend boundaries and heal historical wounds. Highlighting collaborations with icons like Linda Ronstadt, Flaco Jiménez and Los Lobos, this book is both a celebration of Mexican culture and a powerful exploration of persistence."—Roxsy Lin, Los Angeles Times

"The story Rodriguez tells is one of personal self-discovery through music and helping others find their place in Mexican folk music. His search for authentic Mexican folkloric expression mirrors a deep dive into his own identity as a California-born, Mexican American kid who felt he was from neither here nor there—ni de aqui ni de allá. His commitment to his community and his exploration of growing up bicultural are both inspiring. His story resonated deeply with this fellow California-born, Mexican American kid who has always loved Los Lobos as much as the Rolling Stones."—Felix Contreras, Alt.Latino

"T​he memoir makes obvious Rodriguez’s zealous energy and efforts to counteract the invalidating of Mexican culture—and community-based youth organizations—in America, it does so through numerous stories of hard-fought battles over decades. [...] The book is an uplifting voyage and a tale well told with resilience, humor and wisdom."—SF Gate