Congressman Castro Champions Classics for National Recording Registry

By Tejano Nation

Courtesy of Universal Music Latino

WASHINGTON — U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) unveiled his annual list of nominations today for the prestigious National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress. This year, the list features nearly a dozen timeless classics from Tejano artists, highlighting the rich cultural heritage and musical contributions of the Tejano community.

Among the nominated works are:

Additionally, Congressman Castro has nominated the First Full Time Spanish-Language Radio Station Broadcast in the United States, as recorded by KCOR / KWEX in San Antonio, Texas, in 1946.

The National Recording Registry, established by the U.S. Congress in 2000, aims to preserve recordings with “cultural, historic, or aesthetic significance” to life in the United States. Inclusion in the registry is one of the highest federal honors for songs, albums, or other recorded sounds. Since Congressman Castro began submitting nomination lists in 2022, the National Recording Preservation Board has inducted recordings by four of his nominated artists – Juan Gabriel’s “Amor Eterno” (1990), Héctor Lavoe’s “El Cantante” (1978), Irene Cara’s “Flashdance…What A Feeling” (1983), and Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” (2004), which made history in 2023 as the first Reggaeton song to be preserved in the National Recording Registry.

Currently, the National Recording Registry includes 650 recordings, with less than 5 percent attributed to Latino or Hispanic voices. Congressman Castro’s annual nominations are part of his ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the significant impact Latino voices have had on American history and culture. His nominations are shaped by public suggestions and aim to represent a diverse range of genres, eras, and sounds.

“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.

The Library of Congress will continue to collect public nominations for 2025 online through October 1, 2024.

Congressman Castro’s Full List of Nominations to the National Recording Registry for 2025

  • 1. 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)
  • 2. The Hamilton Mixtape – Lin-Manuel Miranda (2009) (Song)
  • 3. Amor Prohibido – Selena (1992) (Album)
  • 4. Before the Next Teardrop Falls – Freddy Fender (1974) (Song)
  • 5. Diamonds and Rust – Joan Baez (1975) (Album)
  • 6. Suavemente – Elvis Crespo (1999) (Song)
  • 7. Caminos Chuecos – Sunny and The Sunglows (1963) (Song)
  • 8. Volver, Volver – Vicente Fernández (1972) (Song)
  • 9. Cien Años – Pedro Infante (1953) (Song)
  • 10. Desvelado – Bobby Pulido (1995) (Album)
  • 11. Don Luis El Tejano – Latin Breed (1991) (Song)
  • 12. Las Nubes – Little Joe y La Familia (1972) (Song)
  • 13. Feliz Navidad – José Feliciano (1970) (Song)
  • 14. La Chona – Los Tucanes De Tijuana (1995) (Song)
  • 15. Cosas del Amor – Vikki Carr (1998) (Song)
  • 16. Maria Maria – Santana ft. The Product G&B (1999) (Song)
  • 17. Tu Pum Pum – El General (1989) (Song)
  • 18. Chilanga Banda – Café Tacvba (1996) (Song)
  • 19. Mambo No. 5 – Perez Prado (1952) (Song)
  • 20. Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira (2005) (Song)
  • 21. Rinconcito En El Cielo – Ramón Ayala (2001) (Song)
  • 22. Genie in a Bottle – Christina Aguilera (1999) (Song)
  • 23. Regalo del Alma – Celia Cruz (2003) (Album)
  • 24. Introducing Johnny Rodriguez – Johnny Rodriguez (1971) (Album)
  • 25. Blue Bayou– Linda Ronstadt (1977) (Song)
  • 26. Romance – Luis Miguel (1991) (Album)
  • 27. Simplemente Amigos – Ana Gabriel (1988) (Song)
  • 28. Conga – Gloria Estefan, Miami Sound Machine (1992) (Song)
  • 29. The Last – Aventura (2009) (Album)
  • 30. Cypress Hill – Cypress Hill (1991) (Album)

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