Felix Contreras
Felix Contreras is co-creator and host of Alt.Latino, NPR's pioneering radio show and podcast celebrating Latin music and culture since 2010.
In addition to his post behind the mic, Contreras programs music from the Latin diaspora for the acclaimed Tiny Desk concerts and hosts a weekly Instagram Live interview with a wide-ranging roster of guests.
A knowledgeable international ambassador for Latino heritage and arts, "Tio Felix '' travels extensively in search of new talent and new music and captures important legacy performers in jazz and Latin genres. Various national and international publications have quoted his expertise on the contemporary influences of Latin culture, music, and media.
His a recovering TV journalist whose first post at NPR in 2001 was as a Producer/Reporter for the NPR News Arts Desk. He is also NPR's resident Deadhead and performs around the DC area with his Latin music Beatles cover band, Los Day Trippers.
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The genre commonly referred to as "Chicano soul" has that "you know it if you hear it" kind of sound. It's a bicultural interpretation of late 1950s and early '60s African American R&B ballads by Mexican American youth, influenced by the operatic style of Mexican rancheras. Broken hearts, unrequited love and loving the wrong person are often the main themes. Real talk: it's the smooth, bilingual vocals of Malo's 1972 hit "Suavecito" expressing the thrill of a new love that is still heard at lowrider car shows or the pleas of "You're Still A Young Man' by Tower of Power, to name a few examples. This week Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre unpack the genre and how the tradition is being reborn by a crew of young artists making it sparkle anew. Songs featured in this episode: •Malo, "Suavecito" •Joe Bataan, "I Wish You Love, P1. 1" •Tower of Power, "You're Still A Young Man" •Thee Sacred Souls, "Can I Call You Rose?" •The Altons, "Soon Enough" •Thee Sinceers feat. Joey Quinones, "Seems Like" •Mikey Jimenez, "Takin' All My Lovin'" Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Suraya Mohamed, with editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins. -
NPR Music's Felix Contreras wraps up the best Latin music entries in this year's Tiny Desk Contest.
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Llergo's performance brings the spirit of a Spanish music scene built on tradition but exploding with new energy to the Tiny Desk.
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Alt.Latino host Felix Contreras speaks with All Things Considered host Scott Detrow about the TV host who helped Tex-Mex music transcend borders.
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The Brazilian jazz singer and Trio Corrente perform selections from their Grammy-nominated album Cometa. -
The gifted guitarist combines traditional Dominican music with jazz and rock in his performance. -
The Spanish duo's timeless, poetic songs evoke images of lyricists and vocalists from centuries past. -
The Rwandan group's determination to spread its musical message is an inspiration. -
Sunny Jain's music promotes the idea of not just crossing boundaries but obliterating them all together. -
This year, the annual holiday concert, recorded live at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., features an all-Cuban lineup: Hilario Durán, Melvis Santa and Alfredo Rodriguez.
