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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Days before Bad Bunny's Super Bowl announcement, World Cafe spoke to Alt.Latino hosts Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras about his 31-date residency in Puerto Rico. -
Four singers, four boleros. Angélica Garcia, Mireya Ramos, Trish Toledo and iLe each offer something distinct in these songs written and performed by Adrian Quesada. -
Carlos Vives carries the mantle of Colombia's vallenato tradition. Now 30 years after his landmark recording, he revisits songs from La Tierra del Olvido with a 12-piece band. -
Every aspect of a Lido Pimienta performance is intensely intentional. Her turn behind the Tiny Desk is, as expected, rich with symbolism and musical beauty. -
What an honor to host Fito Páez, one of the pioneers of Argentine rock, at the Tiny Desk for the start of Latin Music Month. -
NPR Music's Felix Contreras remembers one of salsa music's architects — Eddie Palmieri — who died Wednesday at 88.
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NPR Music received a record number of entries to this year's Tiny Desk Contest: 7,500. The judges discovered so many amazing entries, and now we're sharing some of those standouts here.
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Did we really squeeze the big sound of Living Colour behind the Tiny Desk? Yes, we did. And, yet, the band lost none of its intensity. -
Accompanied by a 16-piece band, Carín Leon's commanding presence shows why he's one of the best in the Mexican Regional scene. -
Some musicians are never satisfied with the status quo, either their own of something imposed on them. Either way, it's a win for us listeners. Enjoy the show.
