Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album

The Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards,[1] to recording artists for releasing albums in the tropical latin music genres. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".[2]

Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album
Awarded forquality vocal or instrumental tropical latin albums
CountryUnited States
Presented byNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
First awarded1984
Currently held byRubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & OrquestaSiembra: 45º Aniversario (En Vivo en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 14 de Mayo 2022) (2024)
Websitegrammy.com

According to the 54th Grammy Awards description guide the award is intended "for albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental tropical Latin recordings". This category includes all forms of traditional tropical music, salsa and merengue.[3]

This award has been handed out since 1984 and has had several name changes:

  • From 1984 to 1991, and then again from 1995 to 1999 the award was known as Best Tropical Latin Performance
  • From 1992 to 1994 it was awarded as Best Tropical Latin Album
  • In 2000 it was awarded as Best Traditional Tropical Latin Performance
  • From 2001 to 2010 it was awarded as Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album. From 2000 to 2003 two separate awards, the Best Salsa Album and Best Merengue Album, existed for salsa and merengue recordings respectively. Then from 2004 to 2006 the award for Best Salsa/Merengue Album existed.
  • In 2011 the name Best Tropical Latin Album returned.

Salsa Queen Celia Cruz has the record for most nominations in this category with nine. Rubén Blades has the record for most wins in this category with seven accolades. He is followed by Israel López "Cachao" (one of which was a posthumous one, in 2012) and Celia Cruz with four wins. Gloria Estefan, Eddie Palmieri, and Tito Puente all have three wins. Two-time winners include Juan Luis Guerra and Bebo Valdés. Blades holds the record for most nominations with thirteen (up to the 2022 Grammy Awards). Willie Colón holds the record for most nominations without a win, with eight.

Recipients edit

Three-time winner Tito Puente was the first recipient of the award.
Ruben Blades holds the records of most wins with five and most nominations with thirteen.
Four-time winner Israel López "Cachao".
Celia Cruz won the award in 1990 with Ray Barretto.
Three-time winner Gloria Estefan.
Three-time winner Eddie Palmieri.
Two-time winner Carlos Vives.
Year[I]Performing artist(s)WorkNomineesRef.
1984Tito Puente and his Latin EnsembleOn Broadway
1985Eddie PalmieriPalo Pa' Rumba[4]
1986Eddie PalmieriSolito
[5]
1987Rubén BladesEscenas
[6]
1988Eddie PalmieriLa Verdad – The Truth
[7]
1989Rubén Blades and Son del SolarAntecedente[8]
1990Celia Cruz and Ray BarrettoRitmo en el Corazón
[9]
1991Tito Puente"Lambada Timbales"
[10]
1992Juan Luis GuerraBachata Rosa
[11]
1993Linda RonstadtFrenesí
[12]
1994Gloria EstefanMi Tierra
[13]
1995Israel López "Cachao"Master Sessions Vol. 1
[14]
1996Gloria EstefanAbriendo Puertas[15]
1997Rubén BladesLa Rosa de los Vientos
[16]
1998Ry CooderBuena Vista Social Club[17]
1999Marc AnthonyContra la Corriente
[18]
2000Tito PuenteMambo Birdland
[19]
2001Gloria EstefanAlma Caribeña
[20]
2002Carlos VivesDéjame Entrar
[21]
2003Bebo Valdés with Israel López "Cachao" and Carlos "Patato" ValdesEl Arte del Sabor
[22]
2004Ibrahim FerrerBuenos Hermanos
  • Poetas del Son – Septeto Nacional Ignacio Pineiro
  • Pasado y Presente – Soneros de Verdad presents Rubalcaba
  • Barbarito TorresBarbarito Torres
  • Bajando GervasioAmadito Valdés
[23]
2005Israel López "Cachao"Ahora Si!
[24]
2006Bebo ValdésBebo de Cuba
[25]
2007Gilberto Santa RosaDirecto al Corazón
[26]
2008Juan Luis GuerraLa Llave de Mi Corazón
[27]
2009José FelicianoSeñor Bachata
[28]
2010Luis EnriqueCiclos
[29]
2011Spanish Harlem OrchestraViva La Tradición[30]
2012Israel López "Cachao"The Last Mambo
  • Edwin Bonilla – Homenaje A Los Rumberos
  • José Rizo's Mongorama – Monograma
[31]
2013Marlow Rosado and La RiqueñaRetro
[32]
2014Pacific Mambo OrchestraPacific Mambo Orchestra
[33]
2015Carlos VivesMás Corazón Profundo
[34]
2016Rubén Blades with Roberto Delgado & OrquestaSon de Panamá
[35]
2017Jose Lugo & Guasábara ComboDonde Están?
[36]
2018Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & OrquestaSalsa Big Band
[37]
2019Spanish Harlem OrchestraAnniversary
  • Charlie Aponte - Pa' Mi Gente
  • Formell Y Los Van Van - Legado
  • Orquesta Akokán - Orquesta Akokán
  • Felipe Peláez - Ponle Actitud
[38]
2020Aymée NuviolaA Journey Through Cuban Music
[39]
Marc AnthonyOpus
2021Grupo Niche40
  • José Alberto "El Ruiseñor" - Mi Tumbao
  • Edwin Bonilla - Infinito
  • Jorge Celedon & Sergio Luis - Sigo Cantando al Amor (Deluxe)
  • Víctor Manuelle - Memorias de Navidad
2022Rubén Blades & Roberto Delgado & OrquestaSALSWING!
[40]
2023Marc AnthonyPa'lla Voy[41]
2024Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & OrquestaSiembra: 45º Aniversario (En Vivo en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 14 de Mayo 2022)
  • ^[I] Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.

See also edit

References edit

General
  • "Past Winners Search". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved March 4, 2011. Note: User must select the "Latin" category as the genre under the search feature.
Specific