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Book Review:
"Encyclopedia of Latino Popular Culture"
by Mark Guerrero
 A two-volume hard cover "Encyclopedia of Latino Popular Culture" has been
published by Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut-London. It was edited
by Cordelia Chavez Candelaria, Arturo J.Aldama, Peter J. Garcia, and Alma
Alvarez-Smith of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Department of Chicana
and Chicano Studies, at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. The
official date of publication was October 30, 2004. In May of 2003, I was
contacted by Peter J. Garcia to contribute an entry, eventually titled "Chicana/o
Rock and Popular Music in Southern California," to this new reference set. My entry is over six pages
in length and covers the history of Chicano music in Southern California from the late forties through
the 1980s. My entry can be found on pages 135-142 in volume one. A paragraph from the thank you letter I received from the
editorial team best describes the two-volume set. "The Encyclopedia of
Latino Popular Culture presents accessible information on artists,
filmmakers, sports figures, writers, and many other leaders, legends, and
popular culture figures, activities, events, places, and artifacts.
Designed for general audiences, it will be suitable for use by educators,
journalists, policy makers, and middle to high school and college students.
It is the first inclusive reference tool published on Latina/o popular culture."
Many of the Chicano musical artists I've written about on my website have
entries about them in these volumes, such as El Chicano, Lalo Guerrero,
Trini Lopez, Los Lobos, Freddy Fender, and Flaco Jimenez. Others included
I have not yet written about include, Ritchie Valens, Carlos Santana, Little Joe
y La Familia, Dr. Loco & his Rockin' Jalapeño Band, and Daniel Valdez.
This two-volume set of encyclopedias are first rate in research and content, as
well as the cover, paper, and graphics. It's a beautiful set which retails
for $175. The
"Encyclopedia of Latino Popular Culture" is available at major book stores
(ISBN: 0-313-32215-5) and on line at
www.greenwood.com/. Scroll down the home page to find the link to the
ordering information. You will also find another good description of the
two-volume set.
Click here to read my entry for the enclyclopedia
Contact me at: info@markguerrero.net
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