Latinos Making Music in the US

Latino

A person of Latin American descent living in the United States, contributing to music and culture in the US. Significance: They play a vital role in the development and popularity of various music genres, including salsa, reggaeton, and Latin pop. Different from US-Anglos whose experiences in the US have been distinct.

Latin American

A person from Latin America, both Spanish or Portuguese-speaking, known for their diverse music and cultural traditions.

US Latino Music

A genre of music that reflects the cultural influences and traditions of Latinos in the United States, incorporating various styles such as salsa, reggaeton, and mariachi.

1848

The year when the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, leading to significant territorial gains for the United States and impacting the Latino population in the US. (Incorporated more Latinos to the US, particularly Mexicans)

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The treaty that ended the Mexican-American War, signed in 1848, resulting in Mexico ceding a large portion of its territory to the United States (CA, NV, AZ, NM, UT). Significance: incorporated a population of Latin Americans into the US, created some of the first Latinos. This group would go onto influence US culture and music significantly.

Mexican-American

A cultural identity that refers to individuals of Mexican descent born or residing in the United States, blending Mexican heritage with American culture.

Southwest

The states of Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma. Relevant for our class because it was the breeding ground of early Latino music

Borderlands

a dynamic, hybrid zone—such as the U.S.–Mexico border or urban enclaves like Los Angeles and San Antonio—where traditional and modern sounds blend to express identity, resistance, and cross-cultural experience

Corrido

A corrido is a traditional Mexican narrative ballad that tells stories of real-life events, heroes, struggles, and historical moments.

Mission music

music used by Spanish missionaries to spread Catholicism, particularly in north mexico, now SW US

Alabados

a type of mission music; acapella, one voice or multiple voices singing exactly the same way; sorrow or mournful; catholic religious songs;