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 production: 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.
