Asphalt Cowboys

A controversial book about the rise of sertanejo music and Brazilian modernization, Cowboys do Asfalto is the first book to include sertanejo and sertanejo universitário in the lineage of caipira music—but it's much more than just a book about sertanejo music. Gustavo Alonso's accurately reconstructed stories and controversies provide the perfect backdrop for portraying the transformations that have taken place in Brazil, from the countryside to the capitals, over the last 50 years. Beyond political shifts, we discover how artists, universities, and the media have shaped the perception of good and bad taste. After all, who would be interested in keeping MPB and caipira music apart from sertanejo music for decades? And why does sertanejo universitário horrify even the most sensitive ears?