Latin music has profoundly formed the American musical panorama. From the full of life rhythms of Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco’s joint album Celia & Johnny to Daddy Yankee’s reggaetón breakthrough hit “Gasolina,” these songs characterize the various and vibrant contributions of Latin artists to the American songbook.
Every year, the Library of Congress selects 25 recordings to the registry to protect sound recordings which are “culturally, traditionally or aesthetically vital” to American life.
On Wednesday (April 9), the Library of Congress’ Nationwide Recording Registry immortalized two extra Latin songs: Vicente Fernández‘s ranchera anthem “El Rey” and Freddy Fender‘s bilingual nation ballad “Earlier than the Subsequent Teardrop Falls.” “These are the sounds of America — our wide-ranging historical past and tradition,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden mentioned in a press release. “The Library of Congress is proud and honored to pick these audio treasures worthy of preservation.”
Final 12 months, Juan Gabriel’s heartfelt ballad “Amor Eterno” and Héctor Lavoe’s salsa hit “El Cantante” have been chosen. “For musicians of any style, having a track inducted into the Nationwide Recording Registry is a prestigious honor,” Congressman Joaquin Castro beforehand instructed Billboard Español, who’s a significant driving power for Latin music on the listing.
Created underneath the Nationwide Recording Preservation Act of 2000, the Registry has included greater than twenty works of Latin music and/or musicians of Latin descent so far. The primary Latin music launch to be added to the Registry was Dance Mania (1958) by Tito Puente in 2002. Subsequent inductees embody Santana’s electrifying Abraxas (1970), which redefined Mexican-American rock; Buena Vista Social Membership’s eponymous album (1997), bringing Cuban son to American audiences; Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba” (1957), which reinvented a son jarocho track from Veracruz, Mexico by injecting American rock into it.
“Along with advocating for extra Latino inclusion in American media — which, greater than another trade, shapes how People see the world round us — I might additionally push for extra recognition of the ways in which Latinos have contributed to American excellence,” Castro defined.
“Latinos make up 20 p.c of the USA, however lower than 5 p.c of the titles on the Registry come from Latino artists,” added the Mexican American politician from San Antonio. “Consequently, the Registry turned a pure place to direct my work – partially as a result of the Library of Congress has tried in recent times to do a greater job of honoring how Latinos and different racial minorities have formed America’s progress.”
Beneath, we current the Latin music entries, organized from the newest inductions to the earliest.
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Freddy Fender, “Earlier than the Subsequent Teardrop Falls”
Yr of Induction: 2025
Yr of Launch: 1975
The Mexican-American singer’s heartfelt supply turned the bilingual single right into a basic, showcasing the ability of Latin voices in nation music — a style that originally had restricted illustration from Hispanic artists. It broke boundaries within the music trade by changing into a crossover hit, reaching No. 1 on each the Scorching Nation Songs chart and the Billboard Scorching 100.
Take heed to the track right here.
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Vicente Fernández, “El Rey”
Picture Credit score: Gianni Ferrari/Cowl/Getty Pictures Yr of Induction: 2025
Yr of Launch: 1973
“El Rey” is likely one of the most recognizable songs in regional Mexican music. Written by Mexican composer José Alfredo Jiménez in 1971, the track gained even better prominence when Vicente Fernández recorded his definitive model two years later. With its kingly themes of resilience and delight, the ranchera anthem has turn out to be emblematic of Chente’s enduring legacy — who handed away in 2021 — additionally inspiring a 2022 Netflix bioseries of the identical identify that celebrates his life and profession.
Take heed to the track right here.
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Héctor Lavoe, “El Cantante”
Yr of Induction: 2024
Yr of Launch: 1978
“‘El Cantante’ is a wonderful instance of the various songs that turned emblematic on the peak of the Seventies New York Metropolis salsa period,” the Library of Congress acknowledged in an announcement.
Take heed to the album right here.
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Juan Gabriel, “Amor Eterno”
Picture Credit score: C Flanigan/FilmMagic Yr of Induction: 2024
Yr of Launch: 1990
“I consider that future generations – that’s what he all the time needed – will see his music and make it relatable to their lives as properly. He would all the time say that ‘so long as the folks maintain singing my music, Juan Gabriel won’t ever die,’ and it’s good to see that occuring right here,” mentioned Juan Gabriel’s son, Ivan Gabriel Aguilera. “It’s one thing fantastic for us. It’s such an awesome honor. It’s an awesome honor for my dad. I feel that for his legacy it’s one thing nice [that] he’s going to be immortalized there within the Library of Congress.”
Take heed to the album right here.
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Daddy Yankee, “Gasolina”
Yr of Induction: 2023
Yr of Launch: 2004
Final 12 months, “Gasolina” turned the primary reggaetón track to be inducted into the Nationwide Recording Registry.
Take heed to the track right here.
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Cuarteto Coculense, The Very First Mariachi Recordings
Yr of Induction: 2023
Yr of Launch: 1907-1909 (reissued 1998)
“One may surprise why a mariachi album, a lot much less one initially recorded on wax cylinders in Mexico, can be included within the Library of Congress, however mariachi right this moment is an integral a part of American tradition,” wrote professor Jeff Nevin. “There are lots of of faculties with mariachi applications in any respect ranges throughout the nation (elementary colleges via graduate levels), and numerous pupil {and professional} mariachi musicians performing within the US (consider it or not, there are way more mariachis within the US than in Mexico right this moment),”
He continues: “Individuals all over the place take pleasure in mariachi music in eating places, at events or public occasions, in concert events halls, on TV and within the motion pictures, and so on., to not point out the truth that the US was 18.7% Hispanic in 2020, and is predicted to succeed in 29% — almost a 3rd of the inhabitants — 2050.”
Take heed to the album right here.
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Irene Cara, “Flashdance…What a Feeling”
Picture Credit score: Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/GI Yr of Induction: 2023
Yr of Launch: 1983
In 1983, because the world was shifting away from the disco fever of the Seventies and into the MTV period within the U.S., “Flashdance…. What a Feeling” gave pop radio a brand new shot of vitality: It’s not a Latin track per se, however its singer-songwriter, Irene Cara, was of Puerto Rican and Cuban origin. A part of the Flashdance film soundtrack, “What a Feeling” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Scorching 100.
Take heed to the track right here.
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Buena Vista Social Membership, Buena Vista Social Membership
Yr of Induction: 2022
Yr of Launch: 1997
“That Buena Vista Social Membership was deemed worthy of inclusion in The Library of Congress’ Nationwide Recording Registry ought to come as no shock. It’s been written that BVSC collapsed the Chilly Struggle wall between Cuba and the West, conquered the planet and launched a thousand salsa courses,” wrote professor Fred Metting.
Take heed to the album right here.
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Linda Ronstadt, Canciones de Mi Padre
Picture Credit score: Michael Ochs Archives/GI Yr of Induction: 2022
Yr of Launch: 1987
“On Saturday afternoons my father would play information by Los Panchos, Trío Calaveras, Trío Tariácuri, Lola Beltrán, Mariachi Vargas. I beloved all these information and I needed to sing them, however solely knew a part of the phrases. I didn’t converse excellent Spanish as a toddler, so I assumed Spanish was the language you sang in and English was the language you spoke. To me, Spanish was all the time a musical language,” mentioned Linda Ronstadt.
She continued: “I had all the time needed to be taught these songs on an expert stage and file them … I lastly obtained an opportunity when my father known as me and mentioned that they have been going to do a mariachi convention in Tucson and requested if I wish to come and see it and so I did. Mariachi Vargas was coming and so was Lola Beltrán. I used to be a giant fan of , she was a giant affect on me.”
Take heed to the album right here.
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Ricky Martin, “Livin’ la Vida Loca”
Yr of Induction: 2022
Yr of Launch: 1999
Ricky Martin earned the title of the “authentic Latin Crossover King,” largely due to his breakthrough hit, “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” penned by Draco Rosa and Desmond Youngster. Remaining on the prime spot on the Billboard Scorching 100 for 5 consecutive weeks, the track turned emblematic of Martin’s profession trajectory.
Take heed to the track right here.
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Flaco Jiménez, Companions
Yr of Induction: 2021
Yr of Launch: 1992
“Companions is an efficient instance of how he’s a crossover,” mentioned Maria Peña, a Library of Congress Hispanic media spokeswoman, of Jiménez. “What’s nice about this album is it reveals his collaborations — to not point out that he’s obtained a profession that spanned seven a long time. It is a big acknowledgement of his work.”
The 1992 bilingual tejano album is a collaboration between Jiménez and different musicians like Los Lobos, Linda Ronstadt, Dwight Yoakum, Ry Cooder, and extra.
Take heed to the album right here.
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Ritchie Valens, “La Bamba”
Picture Credit score: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Pictures Yr of Induction: 2019
Yr of Launch: 1958
Initially a standard son jarocho track from Mexico, “La Bamba” took on new life when a 17-year-old named Ritchie Valens performed it on an electrical guitar in 1958. “It created a synthesis of rock ‘n’ roll and the Mexican music he grew up with,” mentioned Matt Barton, curator of recorded sound on the Library of Congress.
Take heed to the track right here.
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Selena, Ven Conmigo
Yr of Induction: 2019
Yr of Launch: 1990
“To completely respect Selena, the celebrity Tejano singer, begin with Ven Conmigo, the second album that Selena y Los Dinos recorded for his or her new main label EMI-Latin. Launched in 1990, the file was a watershed for the household band from Corpus Christi, serving discover these have been the brand new normal bearers of Tejano, the regional music fashionable amongst second- and third-generation Texans of Mexican descent,” wrote Cary O’Dell for the Library of Congress.
Take heed to the album right here.
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Canario y Su Grupo, “Lamento Borincano”
Yr of Induction: 2017
Yr of Launch: 1930
On this sorrowful “borincano lament,” depicting Borikén, the ancestral identify for Puerto Rico, Hernández Marín recounts the tragic story of the jíbaro, the agricultural dweller over hauntingly lovely harmonies and nylon guitar.
Take heed to the track right here.
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Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine, “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You”
Yr of Induction: 2017
Yr of Launch: 1987
Gloria Estefan’s hit track “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” stands because the epitome of Cuban affect on American R&B and acts as a gauge for Latino integration into the USA, significantly in Miami, which has been Estefan’s residence base for a very long time.
Take heed to the track right here.
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Santana, Abraxas
Picture Credit score: Tucker Ransom/Getty Pictures Yr of Induction: 2015
Yr of Launch: 1970
“Carlos Santana was not the primary Hispanic musician to realize success as a rock artist: Ritchie Valens, Trini Lopez, Danny Flores of The Champs and others had beforehand finished so,” wrote Mark Brill for the Library of Congress. “However with the discharge of his first two albums, and particularly along with his efficiency on the Woodstock Music Competition in 1969, Santana turned essentially the most distinguished Latin artist of the rock technology. To today, he stays crucial proponent on Latin rock in the USA.”
Take heed to the album right here.
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Joan Baez, Joan Baez
Yr of Induction: 2015
Yr of launch: 1960
Mexican American singer-songwriter Joan Baez performed a pivotal function in shaping the people revival of the Sixties, together with her eponymous album serving as a cornerstone for this influential motion.
Take heed to the album right here.
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Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco, Celia & Johnny
Yr of Induction: 2013
Yr of Launch: 1974
“Celia & Johnny is foundational in understanding the various types inside salsa music,” acknowledged the Library of Congress.
Take heed to the album right here.
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Cachao Y Su Ritmo Caliente, Descargas: Cuban Jam Periods in Miniature
Picture Credit score: Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Picture Financial institution through Getty Pictures Yr of Induction: 2012
Yr of Launch: 1957
Cuban bassist Israel “Cachao” Lopez drew inspiration from the legendary all-star jam classes organized and recorded by Norman Granz for his Jazz on the Philharmonic collection. Motivated by this, Cachao sought to copy the same collaborative ambiance amongst his musical friends in Havana.
Take heed to the album right here.
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Lydia Mendoza, “Mal Hombre”
Yr of Induction: 2010
Yr of Launch: 1934
Lydia Mendoza, a Mexican-American guitarist and Tejano vocalist, graced the stage through the Inaugural Folks Dance and Live performance on the Inauguration of President Jimmy Carter in 1977. Her signature track “Mal Hombre” (Unhealthy Man) turned her signature piece.
Take heed to it right here.
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Eddie Palmieri, Azúcar Pa’ Ti
Yr of Induction: 2009
Yr of Launch: 1965
“Eddie Palmieri (b. 1936) was a product of the various Puerto Ricans in New York, and alongside the East Coast, who’ve so carefully recognized with each Cuban and US jazz which have performed such an necessary function within the crystallization of the hybrid salsa motion internationally, however particularly within the Latin quarters of the USA,” wrote Steven Loza for the Library of Congress.
Take heed to the album right here.
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Carmen Miranda, “O Que É Que A Baiana Tem?”
Yr of Induction: 2008
Yr of Launch: 1939
Carmen Miranda’s efficiency of “O Que É Que A Baiana Tem?” was made iconic not solely by her full of life supply but additionally by her flamboyant and colourful costume, completely encapsulating the track’s vibrant spirit.
Take heed to the track right here.
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Rita Montaner / Don Azpiazú and His Havana On line casino Orchestra, “El Manisero (The Peanut Vendor)”
Yr of Induction: 2005
Yr of Launch: 1927 and 1930 (two variations)
“It’s the first American recording of an genuine Latin dance type,” famous the Nationwide Recording Preservation Board. “This recording launched a decade of ‘rumbamania’, introducing U.S. listeners to Cuban percussion devices and Cuban rhythms.” The track has been recorded greater than 160 occasions.
Take heed to the observe right here.
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Dizzy Gillespie Large Band with Chano Pozo, “Manteca”
Yr of Induction: 2004
Yr of Launch: 1947
Through the years previous 1940, Cuban rhythms and melodies made their approach to the USA, coinciding with the unfold of American jazz all through the Caribbean. “Manteca” marked one of many preliminary levels within the fusion journey from Afro-Cuban rhythms to Latin jazz.
Take heed to the track right here.
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Trovadores Regionales, “Gregorio Cortez”
Yr of Induction: 2004
Yr of Launch: 1929
“Gregorio Cortez” is likely one of the earlier recordings of a quintessential corrido from the U.S.-Mexico borderland, that recounts an encounter between a cowboy and a cop.
Take heed to the track right here.
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Fania All-Stars, Dwell at Yankee Stadium
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Craft Latino Yr of Induction: 2003
Yr of Launch: 1975
Whereas the Fania Information supergroup had already attained renown, its August 23, 1973 present on the Yankee Stadium marked a historic second for Latin music. It was a monumental live performance that elevated the group to legendary standing.
Take heed to the album right here.
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Tito Puente, Dance Mania
Picture Credit score: Tom Copi/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Pictures Yr of Induction: 2002
Yr of Launch: 1958
Dance Mania by bandleader and Fania All-Star fame Tito Puente performed a giant function in popularizing Latin music within the U.S., serving as a catalyst for the widespread embrace of Afro-Cuban rhythms and dance tradition inside American society.
Take heed to the album right here.
