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What do Shakira, Café Tacvba, Christina Aguilera, El General, Vicente Fernández, Selena Quintanilla, José Feliciano and Elvis Crespo have in common? Of course, besides being a Latin music star.
Some of their greatest hits are part of the incredible mix of rhythms, genres and songs by Latin artists that Hispanic Congressman Joaquín Castro nominated this year for the Post. National Recording at the Library of Congress. And yes, there’s a little bit of everything: from legends of the past to the latest hits we still can’t delete from our playlists.
First, a little background: The National Recording Registry preserves sound recordings that have shaped the culture, history, or aesthetics of the United States. Every year, they accept nominations from the public, and a few years ago, Castro began drawing up his list to expand space for Latino voices in the Registry.
As of 2022, Castro has submitted his nomination. Four of his selections were on the registry: Juan Gabriel’s “Amor Eterno” (1990), Héctor Lavoe’s “El Cantante” (1978), Irene’s “Flashdance…What a Feeling” Cara (1983), and Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” (2004). And the most interesting part? “Gasolina” became the first reggaeton song preserved in the registry.
Castro’s action is part of a larger movement to ensure that Latinos are more represented on the registry. This makes sense, since even though Latinos make up nearly 20% of the US population, less than 5% of the recordings in the registry are by Latino artists. Each year, 25 recordings are added, and Castro is at the forefront of supporting Latin music.
He did the same for movies and is now pushing for video game development on a larger scale.
An eclectic mix of songs
This year’s list is a romp through Latin music history and culture. We have “Mambo No. 5” by Pérez Prado, “Suavemente” by Elvis Crespo and “La Chona” by Los Tucanes de Tijuana.
But that’s not all because he also nominated the first broadcast of KCOR, the first Spanish-language radio station in America, which began broadcasting in 1946 from San Antonio. For those who don’t know, KCOR is a historical gem and its founder, Raoul Cortez, laid the foundation for Univision, later led by his son-in-law Emilio Nicolás. But that’s a story for another time.
Additionally, the list includes contemporary artists such as Lin-Manuel Miranda and his “The Hamilton Mixtape” and Shakira with her mega-hit “Hips Don’t Lie”, which brought Latin rhythms to every corner of the world. world.
From classics like Freddy Fender’s “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” and Joan Baez’s “Diamonds and Rust” to hits like José Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad” and Christina Aguilera’s “Genie in a Bottle,” Castro’s nominations have it all.
All of this is to ensure that Latin music not only continues to resonate in our homes but is also preserved and receives the recognition it deserves in American history. What other Latin gems do you think we’ll see on the registry next year? Below is the full list of nominations submitted by this year’s congressman:
First broadcast of a full-time Spanish-language radio station in the United States, based in San Antonio, TX (formerly KCOR-TV, later known as KWEX-TC) (1946) (Broadcast wave)
The Hamilton Mixtape – Lin-Manuel Miranda (2009) – (Song)
Forbidden Love – Selena (1992) (Album)
Before the Next Teardrop Falls – Freddy Fender (1974) (Song)
Diamonds and Rust – Joan Baez (1975) (Album)
Suavemente – Elvis Crespo (1999) (Song)
Caminos Chuecos – Sunny and The Sunglows (1963) (Song)
Volver, Volver – Vicente Fernández (1972) (Song)
Cien Años – Pedro Infante (1953) (Song)
Desvelado – Bobby Pulido (1995) (Album)
Don Luis El Tejano – Latin Varieties (1991) (Song)
Las Nubes – Little Joe y La Familia (1972) (Song)
Feliz Navidad – José Feliciano (1970) (Song)
La Chona – Los Tucanes de Tijuana (1995) (Song)
Cosas del Amor – Vikki Carr (1998) (Song)
Maria Maria – Santana ft. The Product G&B (1999) (Song)
Tu Pum Pum – El General (1989) (Song)
Chilanga Banda – Café Tacvba (1996) (Song)
Mambo No. 5 – Pérez Prado (1952) (Song)
Rinconcito En El Cielo – Ramón Ayala (2001) (Song)
Genie in a Bottle – Christina Aguilera (1999) (Song)
Regalo del Alma – Celia Cruz (2003) (Album)
Don’t Lie – Shakira (2005) (Song)
Introducing Johnny Rodriguez – Johnny Rodriguez (1971) (Album)
Blue Bayou – Linda Ronstadt (1977) (Song)
Romance – Luis Miguel (1991) (Album)
Simplemente Amigos – Ana Gabriel (1988) (Song)
Conga – Gloria Estefan, Miami Sound Machine (1992) (Song)
The Last One – Aventura (2009) (Album)
Cypress Hills – Cypress Hills (1991) (Album)
Originally posted on Latin Times
Tags Latin music, Selena quintanilla, Shakira