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 for	quality vocal or instrumental tropical latin albums
Country	United States
Presented by	National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
First awarded	1984
Currently held by	Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta – Siembra: 45º Aniversario (En Vivo en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 14 de Mayo 2022) (2024)
Website	grammy.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

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)	Work	Nominees	Ref.
1984	Tito Puente and his Latin Ensemble	On Broadway	Corazón Guerrero – Willie Colón El Que la Hace la Paga – Rubén Blades Mongo Magic – Mongo Santamaría Tremendo Trío – Ray Barretto, Celia Cruz and Adalberto Santiago
1985	Eddie Palmieri	Palo Pa' Rumba	Bien Sabroso! – Poncho Sánchez In Alaska: Breaking the Ice – El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico Buscando América – Rubén Blades Criollo – Willie Colón Y Ahora! – Los Socios del Ritmo	[4]
1986	Eddie Palmieri	Solito	Noche de Discothèque – Bonny Cepeda and Orchestra De Nuevo – Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco Free Spirit – Espiritu Libre – Mongo Santamaría and his Latin Jazz Orchestra Mucho Mejor – Rubén Blades	[5]
1987	Rubén Blades	Escenas	Afro-Cuban Jazz – Mario Bauza Especial No. 5 – Willie Colón Homenaje a Beny Moré, Vol. 3 – Celia Cruz and Tito Puente Nueva Cosecha – Willie Rosario	[6]
1988	Eddie Palmieri	La Verdad – The Truth	Agua de Luna (Moon Water) – Rubén Blades Aquí se Puede – Ray Barretto Caribbean Express – Caribbean Express Strikes Back – Héctor Lavoe The Winners – Celia Cruz and Willie Colón	[7]
1989	Rubén Blades and Son del Solar	Antecedente	La Salsa Soy Yo – Oscar D'León Mister E. – Pete Escovedo Salsobita – Johnny Pacheco and Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez Sigo Atrevido – Eddie Santiago	[8]
1990	Celia Cruz and Ray Barretto	Ritmo en el Corazón	Animation – Wilfrido Vargas "Azúcar" – Eddie Palmieri Irresistible – Ray Barretto Top Secrets/Altos Secretos – Willie Colón	[9]
1991	Tito Puente	"Lambada Timbales"	"Amiga" – Luis Enrique Color Americano – Willie Colón "Mama Guela" – Poncho Sánchez Tito Puente presents Millie P. – Tito Puente and Millie P.	[10]
1992	Juan Luis Guerra	Bachata Rosa	Caminando – Rubén Blades Luces del Alma – Luis Enrique A Night at Kimball's East – Poncho Sánchez The Mambo King 100th LP – Tito Puente	[11]
1993	Linda Ronstadt	Frenesí	Soy Dichoso – Ray Barretto Amor y Control – Rubén Blades Tributo a Ismael Rivera – Celia Cruz Gracias – El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico	[12]
1994	Gloria Estefan	Mi Tierra	Willie Colón – Hecho en Puerto Rico Celia Cruz – Azúcar Negra El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico – First Class International Juan Luis Guerra – Areíto Luis Enrique – Dilema	[13]
1995	Israel López "Cachao"	Master Sessions Vol. 1	Fogaraté! – Juan Luis Guerra Luis Enrique – Luis Enrique La Aventura – Orquesta de la Luz Cara de Niño – Jerry Rivera	[14]
1996	Gloria Estefan	Abriendo Puertas	Tras la Tomenta – Willie Colón and Rubén Blades Irrepetible – Celia Cruz Master Sessions, Vol. 2 – Israel López "Cachao" Todo a su Tiempo – Marc Anthony	[15]
1997	Rubén Blades	La Rosa de los Vientos	Dicen Que... – Albita DLG – Dark Latin Groove El Sonero del Mundo – Oscar D'León Fresco – Jerry Rivera Tony Vega – Tony Vega	[16]
1998	Ry Cooder	Buena Vista Social Club	Una Mujer Como Yo – Albita A Toda Cuba le Gusta – Afro-Cuban All Stars Sobre el Fuego – La India Llévame Contigo – Olga Tañón	[17]
1999	Marc Anthony	Contra la Corriente	Mi Vida es Cantar – Celia Cruz Suavemente – Elvis Crespo El Rumbero del Piano – Eddie Palmieri Live at Birdland – Dancemania '99 – Tito Puente Babalú Ayé – Chucho Valdés and Irakere	[18]
2000	Tito Puente	Mambo Birdland	Late Night Sessions – Caravana Cubana Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer – Ibrahim Ferrer Songs from a Little Blue House – Juan Carlos Formell Sublime Ilusión – Eliades Ochoa El Amor de Mi Tierra – Carlos Vives	[19]
2001	Gloria Estefan	Alma Caribeña	Rhythms for a New Millenium – Alex Acuña y su Acuarela de Tambores Cuba Linda – Israel López "Cachao" Tribute to the Cuarteto Patria – Eliades Ochoa Buena Vista Social Club Presents: Omara Portuondo – Omara Portuondo	[20]
2002	Carlos Vives	Déjame Entrar	Las Flores de la Vida – Compay Segundo Chanchullo – Rubén González Canto – Los Super Seven La Charanga Eterna – Orquesta Aragón	[21]
2003	Bebo Valdés with Israel López "Cachao" and Carlos "Patato" Valdes	El Arte del Sabor	Generoso Qué Bueno Toca Usted – Grand Afro Cuban Orchestra of Generoso Jiménez En Route – Orquesta Aragón Mi Ritmo – Plena Libre Cuban Masters: Los Originales – various artists	[22]
2004	Ibrahim Ferrer	Buenos Hermanos	Poetas del Son – Septeto Nacional Ignacio Pineiro Pasado y Presente – Soneros de Verdad presents Rubalcaba Barbarito Torres – Barbarito Torres Bajando Gervasio – Amadito Valdés	[23]
2005	Israel López "Cachao"	Ahora Si!	Angel Meléndez and the 911 Mambo Orchestra – Angel Meléndez and the 911 Mambo Orchestra Inólvidable – Cándido & Graciela Flor de Amor – Omara Portuondo Recuerda a Beny Moré – Tropicana All Stars	[24]
2006	Bebo Valdés	Bebo de Cuba	Una Noche Inolvidable – Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra with Arturo O'Farrill Masters of Cuban Son – Conjunto Progreso Buena Vista Social Club Presents – Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal Tradición – Tropicana All Stars and Israel Kantor	[25]
2007	Gilberto Santa Rosa	Directo al Corazón	Fuzionando – Oscar D'León Salsatón: Salsa con Reggaeton – Andy Montañez Hoy, Mañana y Siempre – Tito Nieves What You've Been Waiting For – Lo Que Esperabas – Tiempo Libre	[26]
2008	Juan Luis Guerra	La Llave de Mi Corazón	Greetings from Havana – ¡Cubanisimo! En Primera Plana – Issac Delgado Arroz con Habichuela – El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico United We Swing – Spanish Harlem Orchestra	[27]
2009	José Feliciano	Señor Bachata	Cuba: Un Viaje Musical – A Musical Journey – Albita, Donato Poveda and Rey Ruiz Renacer – Dark Latin Groove Frutero Moderno – Gonzalo Grau y la Clave Secreta Back on the Streets... Taste of Spanish Harlem Vol. 2 – New Swing Sextet	[28]
2010	Luis Enrique	Ciclos	Así Soy – Isaac Delgado Guásabara – José Lugo Orchestra Gracias – Omara Portuondo Bach in Havana – Tiempo Libre	[29]
2011	Spanish Harlem Orchestra	Viva La Tradición	El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico – Sin Salsa No Hay Paraíso Juan Luis Guerra 440 – A Son de Guerra Gilberto Santa Rosa – Irrepetible Various artists – 100 Sones Cubanos	[30]
2012	Israel López "Cachao"	The Last Mambo	Edwin Bonilla – Homenaje A Los Rumberos José Rizo's Mongorama – Monograma	[31]
2013	Marlow Rosado and La Riqueña	Retro	Raúl Lara y sus Soneros – Cubano Soy Eddie Montalvo – Desde Nueva York a Puerto Rico Romeo Santos – Formula, Vol. 1	[32]
2014	Pacific Mambo Orchestra	Pacific Mambo Orchestra	Marc Anthony – 3.0 Los Angeles Azules – Como te Voy a Olvidar Various artists – Sergio George Presents Salsa Giants Carlos Vives –Corazón Profundo	[33]
2015	Carlos Vives	Más Corazón Profundo	El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico – 50 Anniversario Aymeé Nuviola – First Class to Havana PALO! – Live Totó La Momposina – El Asunto	[34]
2016	Rubén Blades with Roberto Delgado & Orquesta	Son de Panamá	José Alberto "El Canario" & Septeto Santiaguero – Tributo a Los Compadres: No Quiero Llanto Guaco – Presente Continuo Juan Luis Guerra and 4.40 – Todo Tiene Su Hora Victor Manuelle – Que Suenen los Tambores	[35]
2017	Jose Lugo & Guasábara Combo	Donde Están?	Fonseca - Conexión Juan Formell & Los Van Van – La Fantasia Homenaje a Juan Formell Grupo Niche – 35 Aniversario La Sonora Santanera – La Sonora Santanera En Su 60 Aniversario	[36]
2018	Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta	Salsa Big Band	Albita – Albita Doug Beavers – Art of the Arrangement Silvestre Dangond – Gente Valiente Diego El Cigala – Indestructible	[37]
2019	Spanish Harlem Orchestra	Anniversary	Charlie Aponte - Pa' Mi Gente Formell Y Los Van Van - Legado Orquesta Akokán - Orquesta Akokán Felipe Peláez - Ponle Actitud	[38]
2020	Aymée Nuviola	A Journey Through Cuban Music	Luis Enrique & C4 Trio - Tiempo al Tiempo Vicente Garcia - Candela Juan Luis Guerra & 4.40 - Literal	[39]
	Marc Anthony	Opus
2021	Grupo Niche	40	José Alberto "El Ruiseñor" - Mi Tumbao Edwin Bonilla - Infinito Jorge Celedon & Sergio Luis - Sigo Cantando al Amor (Deluxe) Víctor Manuelle - Memorias de Navidad
2022	Rubén Blades & Roberto Delgado & Orquesta	SALSWING!	El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico - En Cuarantena Aymée Nuviola - Sin Salsa No Hay Paraíso Gilberto Santa Rosa - Colegas Tony Succar - Live in Peru	[40]
2023	Marc Anthony	Pa'lla Voy	La Santa Cecilia - Quiero Verte Feliz Victor Manuelle - Lado A Lado B Tito Nieves - Legendario Spanish Harlem Orchestra - Imágenes Latinas Carlos Vives - Cumbiana II	[41]
2024	Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta	Siembra: 45º Aniversario (En Vivo en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 14 de Mayo 2022)	Grupo Niche & Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia - Niche Sinfónica Omara Portuondo - Vida Luis Figueroa - Voy A Ti Tony Succar & Mimy Succar - Mimy & Tony Carlos Vives - Escalona Nunca Se Habia Grabado Así
2025	TBA	TBA	Marc Anthony - Muevense Sheila E. - Bailar Juan Luis Guerra - Radio Güira Tony Succar & Mimy Succar - Alma, Corazón y Salsa (Live at Gran Teatro Nacional) Kiki Valera - Vacilón Santiaguero	[42]

• ^{^[I]} Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.

See also

• Latin music portal

• Grammy Award for Best Salsa/Merengue Album
• Latin Grammy Award for Best Traditional Tropical Album
• Latin Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Tropical Album
• Lo Nuestro Award for Tropical Album of the Year

References

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

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5. "Best new artist category causes Grammys' only stir". The Gazette. Canwest. February 26, 1986. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
6. "Veterans top Grammy nominations". The Herald. The McClatchy Company. January 8, 1987. Archived from the original on December 4, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
7. McShane, Larry (January 15, 1988). "Irish rockers among Grammy nominees". The Telegraph. Telegraph Publishing Company. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
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9. "Grammys reach out to young listeners". Lodi News-Sentinel. February 21, 1990. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
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11. Snider, Eric (February 26, 1992). "Cole's 'Unforgettable' wins song of the year". St. Petersburg Times. Times Publishing Company. Retrieved April 24, 2010.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
12. Antczak, John (January 8, 1993). "Clapton leads the pack of Grammy nominees". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Company. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
13. "General Categories". Los Angeles Times. January 7, 1994. p. 3. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
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15. Strauss, Neil (January 5, 1996). "New Faces in Grammy Nominations". The New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
16. Strauss, Neil (January 8, 1997). "Babyface, Celine Dion And Pumpkins Compete For Multiple Grammys". The New York Times. p. 2. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
17. Strauss, Neil (January 7, 1998). "Grammy Nominations Yield Surprises, Including Newcomer's Success". The New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
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25. "The Complete List of Grammy Nominations". The New York Times. December 8, 2005. p. 3. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
26. "The 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards Roundup: Latin/World Fields". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
27. "Grammy 2008 Winners List". MTV. February 10, 2008. Archived from the original on December 16, 2008. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
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30. "53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees And Winners: Latin Field". The Recording Academy. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
31. "54th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees And Winners: Latin Field". The Recording Academy. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
32. List of 2013 nominees Archived February 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
33. "56th GRAMMY Awards: Full Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
34. "Final Nominations List" (PDF). 57th Annual GRAMMY® Awards. The Recording Academy. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 4, 2015.
35. "58th Grammy Nominees". Grammy. Archived from the original on February 1, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
36. "59th Grammy Nominees". Grammy. Archived from the original on February 1, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
37. Grammy.com, 28 November 2017
38. Grammy.com, 7 December 2018
39. 2020 Grammy Awards nominations list
40. "2022 GRAMMYs Awards: Complete Nominations List". GRAMMY.com. November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
41. "2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List". www.grammy.com. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
42. "2025 GRAMMYs: See The OFFICIAL Full Nominations List | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved December 22, 2024.