Felix Contreras Felix Contreras is co-creator and co-host of Alt.Latino, NPR's pioneering radio show and podcast celebrating Latin music and culture since 2010.
Felix Contreras.
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Felix Contreras

Mike Morgan/NPR
Felix Contreras.
Mike Morgan/NPR

Felix Contreras

Host, Alt.Latino

Felix Contreras is co-creator and co-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 appears regularly on NPR's award-winning newsmagazines, All Things Considered and Morning Edition.

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.

He's 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.

Story Archive

Wednesday

Natalia Aguilera

Saturday

Tejano music legend Johnny Canales dies at 77

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Wednesday

Nathy Peluso is a featured artist in this week's episode of Alt.Latino. Kito Muñoz hide caption

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Kito Muñoz

Wednesday

Carlos Santana is featured on this week's episode of Alt.Latino. Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images hide caption

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Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images

Wednesday

Wyatt Flores is featured on this week's episode of Alt.Latino. McKenzie Whitman hide caption

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McKenzie Whitman

Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Wyatt Flores, Danny Ocean and Grupo Frontera

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Friday

Wednesday

Wednesday

Tiny Desk Contest entrant Cathia is featured in this week's episode of Alt.Latino. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Alt.Latino's favorite Tiny Desk Contest entries

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Wednesday

Angelica Garcia is featured on this week's Alt.Latino. Shervin Lainez hide caption

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Shervin Lainez

Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Angélica Garcia, Young Miko and The Mavericks

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Tuesday

The shoegaze artist known as Wisp Chandler Kennedy/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Chandler Kennedy/Courtesy of the artist

The Contenders, Vol. 7: The songs we can't stop playing this week

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Friday

Thursday

On this week's Alt.Latino, a discussion of Latin artists in country music. Photo by Medios y Media/Getty Images hide caption

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Photo by Medios y Media/Getty Images

Tracing the history of Latino artists making country music

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Wednesday

Saturday

On this week's Alt.Latino, an assessment of Shakira's current career after Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran. Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images hide caption

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Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

What do we really want from Shakira?

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Thursday

Elsa y Elmar is a featured artist on this week's Alt.Latino. Pablo Resoalbe hide caption

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Pablo Resoalbe

Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Elsa y Elmar, Julieta Eugenio, Esteman and more

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Wednesday

Today's episode of Alt.Latino is an exploration of Cuba's musical and cultural history. YAMIL LAGE/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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YAMIL LAGE/AFP via Getty Images

A deep dive into Cuba's rich musical history, reported from Havana

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Wednesday

El Cuarteto de Nos is featured on this week's Alt.Latino. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Residente, La Yegros and El Cuarteto de Nos

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Friday

Our hosts are digging the new album by Gaby Moreno. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Thursday

La Lupe is one of the artists featured in this week's Alt.Latino. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) hide caption

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(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

We round up the greatest boleros ever, with help from artists and listeners

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Wednesday

Ana Tijoux releases 'Vivda' — a decade after 'Vengo'

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Ana Tijoux is this week's guest on Alt.Latino. Javiera Gajardo hide caption

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Javiera Gajardo

Ana Tijoux: On why it took 10 years to release her new album 'Vida'

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Wednesday