Los Cenzontles (pronounced los senn-sont-less) is a band and a non-profit institution with a mission to preserve and expand Latino heritage among Bay Area (California) youth. Their name literally means “The Mockingbirds” in Nahuatl, a language once spoken by The Aztecs. Not your typical Latin roots rock band, Los Centzontles’ members came together at Los Cenzontles Mexican Art Center, a neighborhood cultural center in working-class San Pablo/Richmond, CA. Founder Eugene Rodriguez spearheaded a community barn building to transform an ex-liquor store into a thriving arts training ground for thousands of kids.

The group have produced 19 albums to date and their 20th album, Regeneration, is set to be released on October 9. For Regeneration, Los Cenzontles called on friends Jackson Browne, Linda Rondstadt, Elvin Bishop, Pete Sears, Raul Malo and David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) to create a unique brand of Latin roots rock with psychedelic guitar riffs and bilingual lyrics. Regeneration is the band’s third working with Hidalgo. Proceeds from Regenration will benefit the Los Cenzontles nonprofit organization.