About Us
Founder and Director
Hello, I am Dr. Gilberto Lopez, founder and director of the Corrido Lab.
Born and raised in California's Central Valley to immigrant farmworkers, I grew up surrounded by the sounds of norteño and tambora. From a young age, I was fascinated by the stories told in corridos. As a teenager, my side hustle was selling CDs at the swap meets and it was during this time that my appreciation for the genre deepened.
However, it wasn’t until I began studying Mexican and American culture, history, politics, and economics that I truly understood the corrido as more than just storytelling for those at the bottom. I came to see it as a powerful lens through which we can make sense of the broader macro factors influencing various aspects of our society. For me, corridos became a form of resistance and a critical voice for the marginalized, offering insight into the complex dynamics that shape our world.
With the Corrido Lab, I envision a space where the corrido genre can be explored, preserved, and celebrated. This is not just an academic space; it is a place where different ways of thinking are welcomed, and ideas from the community are valued just as much as those from the academy. The lab aims to delve into the historical, cultural, and social significance of corridos, using them as a tool to understand and address the broader issues faced by marginalized communities. By bridging academic research with community engagement, the Corrido Lab seeks to keep the spirit of corridos alive and relevant, ensuring that these powerful narratives continue to resonate and inspire future generations.
Fierro!
Dr. Lopez