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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On Thursday, Miami hosted the Latin Grammy Awards. Artist Juan Luis Guerra and his band 4.40, who won for record of the year and album of the year, plus producer Edgar Barrera, gathered the most awards of the night. -
Alt.Latino has a new story in its series, Songs That Move You. Listener Claudia Cruz is reminded about Afro-Caribbean New York City in the 1980s.
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Alt.Latino has a new story in its series, Songs That Move You. Listener Drisana Rosales talks about an old mixtape, with a Chicano anthem, that transports her back in time.
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Our friends at Alt.Latino feature a listener's recollection of how Linda Ronstadt's song "La Calandria" moved her grandfather to tears.
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This week on Alt.Latino, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras talk about an exciting new album from Manu Chao on the way — his first in 17 years — and their favorite recent songs from artists like the Dominican indie rock band Solo Fernández, ethereal pop from Tiny Desk Contest Winner Linda Diaz and more. Ana and Felix are starting something new this week. Felix always says it, but it's not a Mexican party until someone cries. So every episode starting today, they'll talk to a listener about a song that moves them to tears. And they want to know, what song moves you to tears? Email alt.latino@npr.org for a chance to be featured on the show. Songs featured in this episode: •Janeiro feat. André Viamonte, "LEGO" •Manu Chao, "São Paulo Motoboy" •Solo Fernández, "TELESCOPIO" •Solo Fernández, "BROOKLYN" •Solo Fernández, "TÚ NUNCA DEJARÁS DE SER POESÍA" •Linda Diaz feat. Solomon Fox, "Watching Ourselves Die" •Julieta Rada, "Baile del Candombe" •Amaia Miranda, "Mientras vivas brilla" •Nick Drake, "Pink Moon" • Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Suraya Mohamed. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins. -
Latin music is very often expressive and raw. The hosts of Alt.Latino, tell the story of listener Alejandra Marquez Janse, and a song that makes her cry.
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NPR's Alt.Latino takes over the Tiny Desk concerts for the next four weeks in celebration of Latino Heritage Month.
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The NPR Music Tiny Desk Contest got nearly 7,000 entries this year. Here are some of the notable jazz entries.
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NPR Music's Felix Contreras wraps up the best Latin music entries in this year's Tiny Desk Contest.
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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.
