From The 'Cosmic Barrio' To 'Despacito,' Two Latin Music Books We Love

Traditionally, music across Latin America has been an oral tradition. While technology has made that process a little easier — and some of the music is taught in universities and conservatories — there's still a Master passing on that knowledge to eager and enthusiastic students.

Music Interviews

Betto Arcos Shares The Power Of Community In 'Music Stories From The Cosmic Barrio'

On this week's episode, we feature two teachers with the gift of storytelling. Leila Cobo's new book, Decoding Despacito: An Oral History of Latin Music, tells that history through 19 songs that had a major impact. We also talk to Betto Arcos about Music Stories from the Cosmic Barrio, a collection that features his reporting for NPR and other public media outlets.

Songs Featured In This Episode