Chris McGowan is a writer of diverse interests whose books include The Brazilian Sound, a guide to Brazilian music; Entertainment in the Cyber Zone, a history of interactive media published by Random House; and, as J.C. McGowan, The Big God Network, a science-fiction novel.

He has written articles and blogs about music, culture, politics, and environmental issues for The Huffington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Musician, Los Angeles magazine, the L.A. Weekly, Billboard, Widescreen Review, Dramatics, M3 (in Japan), Pulse!, and various other publications. Select writings are available here.

McGowan has written extensively about Brazil, and has been interviewed about Brazilian music and culture by the BBC, The New York Times, the Associated Press, AirTalk, and various National Public Radio (NPR) affiliates. He was a contributor to The Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture (Charles Scribner's Sons).

He is also a translator (Portuguese/English) and has translated fiction as well as material for Ernst & Young, USAID, Bradesco, Petrobras, Chevron, Vale, IBAMA, and the Ministry of the Environment in Brazil. He is currently translating a collection of academic essays on Brazilian music for Routledge. His translation credits are here.

In the publicity and marketing realms, he has written press releases, album liner notes and artist bios for Starbucks, Columbia Records, Elektra Records, and Narada Records, and a special 10th anniversary catalog essay for the Criterion Collection.

McGowan is a California native who currently lives in Brazil.

Books

NEW!
The Brazilian Music Book:
Brazil's Singers, Songwriters and Musicians
Tell the Story of Bossa Nova, MPB, and
Brazilian Jazz and Pop
by Chris McGowan

Twenty-five interviews with iconic and leading
Brazilian musicians and extensive discographies