Strains of Latin Music

As usual, I enjoyed Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez’s perspective on this fascinating wave of Latin music and Latino artists that is crashing on the shores of the U.S. (“ ‘Latin Sound’ Faces a Defining Problem,” Sept. 11).

The traditional thinking in the music industry still influences everything, but it just doesn’t fit reality anymore, especially in cities like Los Angeles. I don’t know how long KIIS-FM Music Director Michael Steele has been here, but with L.A. County now about 44% Latino, he had better jump on the wave or move to Minneapolis.

I’m a gringo, but I just love the music on La Superestrella KSSE. Steele should listen to that station. If he did, he would know that more than half of the songs don’t have a “Latin sound” at all, except that they’re sung in Spanish.

DOUG HUGHES

Long Beach

Valdes-Rodriguez’s profile of the multitalented Ruben Blades served more to focus on the writer than the subject (“Ruben Blades Rides a New Wave,” Sept. 8). The reader is not interested in how the writer feels. We are interested in the subject of the profile, not the author.

Incidentally, is it now considered professional for journalists to bring their spouses “along for the ride” while doing an interview?

CHRIS MORALES

Santa Barbara