SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, released his full list of nominations for preservation in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry and it includes a wide array of Tejano classics, rancheras, Latin pop and more. The congressman has been a longtime advocate for Latino and Hispanic representation in the registry.


What You Need To Know

  • Rep. Joaquin Castro has released his nominations for the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry. Of the registry's 650 recordings, less than 5% can be attributed to Latinos or Hispanics

  • Included in the list are songs and albums from a wide range of artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Selena Quintanilla, Vicente Fernández, Shakira, Elvis Crespo, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pedro Infante, Luis Miguel and more

  • For the first time, Castro’s list includes a non-music entry: the first full-time Spanish language radio broadcast, which aired in San Antonio in 1946

  • Back in August, Castro called on the public to submit their own recording suggestions to ensure his list reflected diverse audiences

Eleven-time Grammy Award-winning artist Linda Ronstadt’s “Blue Bayou” was included in the list, along with fellow '70s hits “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” by Freddy Fender and “Diamonds and Rust,” a 1975 album by Joan Baez.

Another standout from the list is Colombian superstar Shakira’s 2005 hit “Hips Don’t Lie” featuring Wyclef Jean. Entries from 1999 include “Genie in a Bottle” by Christina Aguilera and “Suavemente” by Elvis Crespo.

Tracks in the Tejano genre include '90s albums “Amor Prohibido” by the queen of Tejano music herself, Selena Quintanilla and Bobby Pulido’s “Desvelado.”

El Rey De La Música Ranchera Vicente Fernández, also known as “Chente,” made the list with his 1972 ranchera “Volver, Volver.”

Perhaps one of the most iconic songs of the norteño genre, “La Chona” by Los Tucanes De Tijuana was also included, along with Ramón Ayala’s “Rinconcito En El Cielo.”

Lin Manuel Miranda’s “The Hamilton Mixtape,” was also submitted. The 2009 song is the earliest version of what would later become the 2016 Broadway musical “Hamilton.”

For the first time, Castro’s list includes a non-music entry: the first full-time Spanish language radio broadcast, which aired in San Antonio in 1946. It was formerly KCOR-TV, later known as KWEX-TC.

The registry, established in 2000, accepts 25 new entries each year and is currently made up of 650 recordings. Of those, less than 5% can be attributed to Latinos or Hispanics.

Back in August, Castro called on the public to submit their own recording suggestions to ensure his list reflected diverse audiences.

“The National Recording Registry’s existence speaks to the importance of music and audio in American culture and society. Latino music and its influence can be found across languages, geographical boundaries, and genres. Further, Spanish-language broadcasts demonstrate the diversity of culture in the United States…. The list below was selected with feedback from the public and each played a significant creative and cultural impact worthy of selection. I hope you will carefully consider each recording listed,” Castro wrote in his nomination letter.

Here’s Castro’s full nomination list:

  • First Full Time Spanish-Language Radio Station Broadcast in the United States based in San Antonio, TX (formerly KCOR-TV and later known as KWEX-TC) (1946) (Broadcast)
  • "The Hamilton Mixtape"– Lin-Manuel Miranda (2009) (Song)
  • "Amor Prohibido" – 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 Breed (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" – Perez Prado (1952) (Song)
  • "Hips Don’t Lie" – Shakira (2005) (Song)
  • "Rinconcito En El Cielo" – Ramón Ayala (2001) (Song)
  • "Genie in a Bottle" – Christina Aguilera (1999) (Song)
  • "Regalo del Alma" – Celia Cruz (2003) (Album)
  • "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" – Aventura (2009) (Album)
  • "Cypress Hill" – Cypress Hill (1991) (Album)