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, 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".
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.
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.
Tito Puente was the first artist to win the category. Rubén Blades has the most wins with seven awards, four of which he shares with Roberto Delgado & Orquesta. Gloria Estefan is the most-awarded female artist with 4 accolades. Blades is the most-nominated artist with 14 nominations, while Celia Cruz is the most-nominated female artist with 9 nominations. Willie Colón has received the most nominations without a win, with eight.
Winners and nominees
Year Performing artist(s) WorkNomineesRef.1984 and his Latin Ensemble On Broadway 1985 Palo Pa' Rumba 1986 Solito 1987 and Seis del Solar Escenas 1988 La Verdad – The Truth 1989 and Son del Solar Antecedente 1990 and Ray Barretto Ritmo en el Corazón 1991 "Lambada Timbales" 1992 Bachata Rosa 1993 Frenesí 1994 Mi Tierra 1995 Master Sessions Vol. 1 1996 Abriendo Puertas 1997 La Rosa de los Vientos 1998 Buena Vista Social Club 1999 Contra la Corriente 2000 Mambo Birdland 2001 Alma Caribeña 2002 Déjame Entrar 2003 with Israel López "Cachao" and Carlos "Patato" Valdes El Arte del Sabor 2004 Buenos Hermanos 2005 Ahora Si! 2006 Bebo de Cuba 2007 Directo al Corazón 2008 La Llave de Mi Corazón 2009 Señor Bachata 2010 Luis Enrique Ciclos 2011 Spanish Harlem OrchestraViva La Tradición 2012 Israel López "Cachao"The Last Mambo 2013 Marlow Rosado and La Riqueña Retro List of 2013 nominees 2014 Pacific Mambo Orchestra Pacific Mambo Orchestra 2015 Carlos Vives Más Corazón Profundo 2016 Rubén Blades with Roberto Delgado & Orquesta Son de Panamá 2017 Jose Lugo & Guasábara Combo Donde Están? 2018 Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta Salsa Big Band Grammy.com, 28 November 20172019 Spanish Harlem Orchestra Anniversary Grammy.com, 7 December 20182020 Aymée Nuviola A Journey Through Cuban Music2020 Grammy Awards nominations list Marc Anthony Opus 2021 Grupo Niche 40 2022Rubén Blades & Roberto Delgado & OrquestaSALSWING!2023Marc AnthonyPa'lla Voy2024Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & OrquestaSiembra: 45º Aniversario (En Vivo en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 14 de Mayo 2022)2025Tony Succar & Mimy SuccarAlma, Corazón y Salsa (Live at Gran Teatro Nacional)2026Gloria Estefan Raíces Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
Multiple Winners 7 wins
Rubén Blades
4 wins
Cachao Gloria Estefan Roberto Delgado & Orquesta
3 wins
Eddie Palmieri Marc Anthony Tito Puente
2 wins
Bebo Valdés Carlos Vives Juan Luis Guerra Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Multiple nominees 14 nominations
Rubén Blades
9 nominations
Celia Cruz
8 nominations
Willie Colón
7 nominations
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico Tito Puente
6 nominations
Cachao Carlos Vives Marc Anthony
5 nominations
Eddie Palmieri Juan Luis Guerra Luis Enrique Ray Barretto Roberto Delgado & Orquesta
4 nominations
Albita Gilberto Santa Rosa Gloria Estefan Grupo Niche Omara Portuondo Spanish Harlem Orchestra
3 nominations
Aymée Nuviola Juan Formell Oscar D'León Poncho Sanchez Tony Succar Victor Manuelle
2 nominations
Bebo Valdés Dark Latin Groove Edwin Bonilla Eliades Ochoa Ibrahim Ferrer Jerry Rivera Johnny Pacheco Mimy Succar Mongo Santamaría Orquesta Aragón Tito Nieves
See also
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 Note: User must select the "Latin" category as the genre under the search feature.
Specific