1980s in Latin music

This article includes an overview of the major events and trends in Latin music in the 1980s, namely in Ibero-America.

Charts

Overview

The 1980s saw the major record labels such as RCA/Ariola, CBS, and EMI form their own Latin music divisions.[1] By 1985, Billboard noted that the Latin music industry saw increase in awareness from major corporations such as Coca-Cola promoting Julio Iglesias and Pepsi advertising Menudo.[2]

Latin pop
Mexican singer José José was named "Top Latin Pop Artist" by Billboard for three consecutive years (1986–1988) for having sold the most Latin pop albums in the United States.[3]
"Ay Amor" by Mexican singer Ana Gabriel (right) was the best-performing Latin song of 1988. It also spent 14 weeks on top of the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart.[3]

The romantic balada, which gained popularity in the 1970s, continued to dominate the Latin music charts in the 1980s. Veteran balladeers who continued to be popular in this decade include Julio Iglesias, José José, Roberto Carlos, and Juan Gabriel.[4] The Latin balada is characterized by its bolero origin by fusing music from the United States with pop, R&B, and rock.[5] The 1980s was a golden era for the Venezuelan entertainment industry as popular telenovelas from the country also led to several actors to become successful singers such as Carlos Mata and Guillermo Dávila. Theme songs from telenovelas also became popular on radio airwaves in Venezuela.[6] Female balada singers that became topped the Latin music charts includes Ana Gabriel, Daniela Romo, Rocío Dúrcal, Gloria Estefan, and Marisela. Notably, several baladas were Spanish-language covers of songs originally performed in Italian. Notable Spanish-language covers of Italian songs include "Maldita Primavera" by Yuri, "Toda la Vida" by Emmanuel and Franco, "Yo No Te Pido la Luna" by Daniela Romo, and "Tan Enamorados" by Ricardo Montaner.[7]

Aside from the baladas, several Latin pop artists and bands performed variety of Spanish-language pop and dance music targeted to the younger audience. These include Yuri, Marisela, Mecano, Miguel Bosé, Timbiriche, Menudo, and Flans.[8] "Que Te Pasa" became the longest-running chart of the 1980s, spending 16 weeks on top of the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart.[9] Juan Gabriel and Rocío Dúrcal collaborated with Chuck Anderson to incorporate mariachi arrangements on their ballads.[2] Child pop singers such as Pablito Ruiz, Luis Miguel, Pedrito Fernández, and Lucerito had a prepubescent following.[10] The Miami Sound Machine, whose vocals were led by Gloria Estefan, gained international fame in 1985 with their crossover hit song "Conga". The song blends both pop music and Latin music from the Caribbean.[11]

Regional Mexican
Los Bukis, (former lead singer and songwriter Marco Antonio Solís pictured) had the best-selling Regional Mexican albums in the United States for consecutive years (1986–1988).[3]
La Mafia (lead singer Oscar De La Rosa pictured) was one of the leading Tejano bands that helped pushed the genre's popularity beyond Texas in the 1980s.

In the 1980s, the regional music scene in both Mexico and the Mexican American community in the United States was dominated by grupera. This style of Mexican music combines cumbia, norteño, and rock music.[5] The lyrics are rooted with romantic themes including heartbroken songs. Several notable grupera ensembles include Los Caminantes, Los Yonic's, Los Bukis, and Los Temerarios.[12] Norteño band Los Tigres del Norte continued their success from the 1970s with their corridos involving social commentary such as "Jaula de oro" ("The Golden Cage") which tells of a Mexican man who crosses the Mexico-United States border illegally and raises a family in the United States who denies their Mexican heritage while the man longs to return to his country.[13] Its parent album reached number one on the Regional Mexican charts in the United States. Similarly, Mexican singer-songwriter Joan Sebastian incorporated sounds of rancheras and ballads on his songs and was dubbed "El Rey del Jaripeo" ("The King of Mexican Rodeo").[14]

Tejano music was also popular to the Mexican Americans living in the United States mainly in Texas. Its style is characterized by its influences from polka, cumbia, bolero, and ranchera as well as pop, rap, country music and reggae.[15] Tejano bands such as Mazz, La Mafia, and Little Joe and La Familia pushed Tejano's popularity beyond the United States.[16] Ranchera Vicente Fernández still remain relevant in the 1980s. His album, Por Tu Maldito Amor (1989), became the longest running number one Regional Mexican album of the decade in the United States with 21 weeks consecutive weeks at this position. American singer Linda Ronstadt, who is of Mexican descent, released Canciones de Mi Padre, a collection of songs that her father would sing.[17] The album was certified double platinum by the RIAA for shipping over two million copies in the United States.

Tropical/salsa
Puerto Rican singer Eddie Santiago, considered to be one of the salsa romántica pioneers had the bestselling Tropical Albums in the United States for three consecutive years (1987–1989). His cover of "Lluvia" was also the highest-peaking salsa song in the 1980s on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart.
Dominican Republic bandleader Wilfrido Vargas was credited for bringing merengue music to a younger audience and helped expand the genre's popularity outside of its native country.

The New York salsa, which was popularized Fania Records in the 1970s, saw a major decline in the scene. Merengue music from the Dominican Republic became favored by Latinos living in New York City.[18] Wilfrido Vargas was credited for bringing merengue attention to the younger audience. Merengue music also became popular even in Puerto Rico.[19] Another factor to merengue's popularity in the dance clubs was that it was easier to dance to compared to salsa.[20] Milly Quezada, lead vocals of the group Milly y los Vecinos, became the first notable female merengue singer. The group was formed by her husband Rafael Vasquez, who was also her manager.[21] Other notable merengue acts in the 1980s include Bonny Cepeda, Fernando Villalona, Juan Luis Guerra & 4.40 and Los Hijos del Rey. Vargas also formed the first all-female band Las Chicas del Can.[22] Juan Luis Guerra performed not only love songs, but also social commentary about the poverty in[23] the Dominican Republic and those living abroad such as "Visa Para un Sueño" ("Visa For a Dream") and "Ojala Que Llueva Café" ("I Hope It Rains Coffee").

Although New York salsa faded in popularity, another form of salsa music gained attention in its place. This form of salsa, which was slower-placed and more focused on its romantic lyrics, was known as salsa romántica.[24] The salsa romántica movement helped salsa continued to be relevant in spite of the rise of merengue music as well as moving away from lyrics dealing with social class.[25] Salsa romántica was characterized by its influence by the aforementioned romantic ballads and more pop-leaning sounds.[26] In fact, several famous songs done by salsa romántica singers were covers of songs originally sung by balada musicians.[27] "Lluvia", a song first composed by Luis Ángel, was covered by Eddie Santiago and became on the highest-peaking salsa romántica on the Hot Latin Tracks at number four. A sub-style of salsa romántica also included erotic lyrics and became known as salsa erotica. "Ven Devórame Otra Vez" by Lalo Rodríguez, a notable salsa erotica song, became a top ten hit on the Hot Latin Tracks chart.[28] Other famous salsa romantica singers include Frankie Ruiz, Luis Enrique, Willie Gonzalez, David Pabón, and José Alberto "El Canario".[29] In the early 1980s, Cuban musician and bandleader Roberto Torres had a major hit with his cover version of "Caballo Viejo". The song was performed as a charanga vallenata style, a combination of the Cuban charanga and the Colombian vallenato music.[30] It was later inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007.

Rock en español

Soda Stereo released Signos in 1986 which helped pop rock en español music reach to an audience beyond Argentina.[31]

1980

Events

Notable singles

Album releases

1981

Events

Notable singles

Album releases

1982

Events
  • The first edition of the Juguemos a Cantar festival is launched in Mexico. It consisted of a competition between young singers below the age of 13, with the intent to seek out young talent; indeed, many of the children that performed on the three editions of the festival would go on to have successful music careers as adults.
  • February 25: Claire Fischer wins the Grammy Award for Best Latin Recording at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards for "Guajira Pa' Me Jeva".[32]
  • December 5 – Raúl Menacho, representing Bolivia, wins the 11th Annual OTI Festival with his song "Hay un nuevo día para ti".[33]

Notable singles

Album releases

1983

Events

Notable singles

Album releases

1984

Events

Notable singles

Album releases

1985

Events

Notable singles

Album releases

1986
Main article: 1986 in Latin music

1987
Main article: 1987 in Latin music

1988
Main article: 1988 in Latin music

1989
Main article: 1989 in Latin music

References
General
  • Print editions of the Notitas Musicales magazine for the #1 songs in Mexico.
  • Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. (#1 songs in Spain)
  1. Manuel, Peter (1991). Essays on Cuban Music: North American and Cuban perspectives. University Press of America. p. 175. ISBN 9780819184306.
  2. Zhito, Lee (26 January 1985). "¡Viva Latino!". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 97 (4): VL-5. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  3. "The 80s - Latin". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 101 (51): D-49, D-50. 23 December 1989. ISSN 0006-2510.
  4. Cobo, Leila (November 29, 2003). "The Prince's 40-Year Reign: A Billboard Q&A". Billboard. 115 (48): 28.
  5. Stavans, llan (2014). Latin music: musicians, genres, and themes. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 547. ISBN 978-0-313-34396-4. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  6. González, Yarlis (30 July 2010). "Canciones de novelas". Revista Sala de Espera Venezuela (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  7. Ardilla, Uriel (24 May 2016). "8 canciones que no sabías que son italianas". Vibra (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  8. "Clásicos de los años ochenta". People en Español (in Spanish). 13 November 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  9. Mendizabal, Amaya (4 October 2016). "Enrique Iglesias' 'Bailando' & More of the Longest-Leading No. 1s in 30 Years of the Hot Latin Songs Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  10. Canelo, Pedro (14 May 2009). "El último llanto de Roxanita Varga". El Comercio (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  11. Doeden, Matt (2017). American Latin Music: Rumba Rhythms, Bossa Nova, and the Salsa Sound. Twenty-First Century Books. p. 33. ISBN 9781512452761. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  12. Pineda, Ricardo (12 February 2014). "Melodía para dos: baladas, gruperos, corazones rotos y cubas 'pintaditas'". Vice (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  13. Curry, Richard K. (2017). The First Few Minutes of Spanish Language Films: Early Cues Reveal the Essence. McFarland. p. 9. ISBN 9781476627236. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  14. Moyer, Justin Wm. (14 July 2015). "Balladeer Joan Sebastian is dead at 64". Washington Post. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  15. Miguel, Guadalupe San (2002). Tejano Proud: Tex-Mex Music in the Twentieth Century. Texas A&M University Press. p. 3. ISBN 9781585441884.
  16. Peña, Manuel H. (1999). Música Tejana: The Cultural Economy of Artistic Transformation. Texas A&M University Press. p. 3. ISBN 9780890968888.
  17. García, Alma M. (2002). The Mexican Americans. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 198. ISBN 9780313314995. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  18. Bush, John. "Fania All-Stars: Biography & History". AllMusic. Rovi. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  19. Rodriguez, Nelson (1 September 1998). "A look at contemporary Merengue. - Free Online Library". Latin Beat Magazine. thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  20. Pacini, Deborah Pacin (2010). Oye como va! : hybridity and identity in Latino popular music. Temple University Press. p. 88. ISBN 9781439900918. Merengue was also easier to dance to than the choreographically intricate salsa and thus was more accessible to New York's increasingly heterogeneous Latinos from Central and South America, who were less attached to Puerto Rican and Cuban clave-based rhythms.
  21. Boidi, Carla (21 June 2001). "Hear Her Roar". Miami New Times. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  22. Austerlitz, Paul (1997). Merengue. Temple University Press. p. 97. ISBN 9781566394840.
  23. Balderston, Daniel; Gonzalez, Mike; Lopez, Ana M. (2000). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Latin American and Caribbean Cultures. Routledge. p. 690. ISBN 9781134788521.
  24. Pietrobruno, Sheenagh (2006). Salsa and Its Transnational Moves. Lexington Books. p. 56. ISBN 9780739114681. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  25. Remeseira, Claudio Iván (2010). Hispanic New York: A Sourcebook. Columbia University Press. p. 58. ISBN 9780231148191. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  26. Sturman, Janet (2019). The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Music and Culture. SAGE Publications. ISBN 9781506353388.
  27. "Salsa sensual, ¿original?". La Estrella de Panamá (in Spanish). 18 October 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  28. Sweeney, Philip (2001). The Rough Guide to Cuban Music. Rough Guides. p. 189. ISBN 9781858287614. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  29. Waxer, Lise (2013). Situating Salsa: Global Markets and Local Meanings in Latin Popular Music. Routledge. p. 103. ISBN 9781135725419. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  30. Mauleon, Rebeca (2011). The Salsa Guidebook. "O'Reilly Media, Inc.". ISBN 9781457101410.
  31. Adaime, Ivá. "Soda Stereo: Biography & History". AllMusic. Rovi. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  32. Lannert, John (5 February 2000). "Palmieri, Jiménez Lead All-Time Latin Grammy Winners With Five Apiece". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 112 (6): 82. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  33. "Festival de la OTI". www.infolaso.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  34. "International Bestsellers". Cashbox: 41. 12 April 1980. ISSN 0008-7289.
  35. "International Bestsellers". Cashbox: 38. 1 November 1980. ISSN 0008-7289.
  36. "International Bestsellers". Cashbox: 40. 15 November 1980. ISSN 0008-7289.
  37. "International Bestsellers". Cashbox: 36. 5 April 1980. ISSN 0008-7289.
  38. "International Bestsellers". Cashbox: 31. 4 July 1981. ISSN 0008-7289.
  39. "International Bestsellers". Cashbox: 31. 18 July 1981. ISSN 0008-7289.
  40. "International Bestsellers". Cashbox: 35. 22 August 1981. ISSN 0008-7289.
  41. "International Bestsellers". Cashbox: 29. 17 October 1981. ISSN 0008-7289.
  42. "International Bestsellers". Cashbox. Vol. 44 no. 9. July 31, 1982. p. 26. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  43. "International Bestsellers". Cashbox: 28. 6 February 1982. ISSN 0008-7289.
  44. Fernandez, Enrique (18 June 1983). "NARAS Takes A Welcome Step". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 95 (24): 73. ISSN 0006-2510.
  45. "International Bestsellers". Cashbox: 32. 16 April 1983. ISSN 0008-7289.
  46. "San Bernardino Sun 29 February 1984 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. 29 February 1984. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  47. Hilburn, Robert (27 February 1985). "GRAMMY WINNERS". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  48. "Debut for New Latin Charts". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 97 (26): 3. 29 June 1985. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  49. "Latin: Radio". Cashbox: 21. 22 June 1985. ISSN 0008-7289.
  50. "Latin: Radio". Cashbox: 23. 17 August 1985. ISSN 0008-7289.
  51. "Latin: Radio". Cashbox: 29. 10 October 1985. ISSN 0008-7289.
  52. "Latin: Radio". Cashbox: 23. 20 July 1985. ISSN 0008-7289.
  53. "Latin: Radio". Cashbox: 22. 31 August 1985. ISSN 0008-7289.
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