Bird of Four Hundred Voices: A Mexican American Memoir of Music and Belonging

"The bird referenced in the title is the mockingbird. California musician Eugene Rodriguez has adopted the Nahuatl (pre-Columbian) name for the mockingbird, cenzontle, for both the Mexican folk band he leads as well as the Bay Area cultural center he directs. 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."