From the dance halls to the main stage, from small town Texas to the big cities, and from treasured local cultural traditions to the national display of Mexican Texas' finest talent, musica tejana is rapidly becoming known as a rich and vibrant form of American music. In "Tejano Proud: Tex-Mex Music in the Twentieth Century, " Guadalupe San Miguel, Jr., chronicles the many dimensions of this important musical form.
Rooted in Mexican culture and shaped by influences from the United States and the rest of the world, the diversity and complexity of this music give an expression to the people and the borderlands culture from which the music grew. San Miguel provides an engaging history of the evolution of musica tejana--its ups and downs and its importance to Mexican Texas culture in the context of Anglo-Mexican relations. He also discusses the more recent development of the Tejano recording industry and the role women have begun to play in an industry long dominated by men.
The twentieth century has seen Texas Mexican music balance between the traditional and the modern, remaining rooted in Mexico while taking nourishment from Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and the United States. This music has helped shape the daily experiences of Mexican Texans. Today, the music's biggest stars are seen as affirming representations of Tejano ethnic pride.
Readers interested not only in music, but also in ethnic studies and popular culture, will appreciate the broad spectrum covered in "Tejano Proud: Tex-Mex Music of the Twentieth Century."