The participation of the United States in the OTI Festival began at the third OTI Festival in 1974. The participating broadcasters representing the country were the Spanish International Network (SIN) until 1986 and Univision since 1987, which were members of the (OTI). Since their debut, they participated in all twenty-six editions. They won the festival two times: in 1986 and 2000; and they hosted the event three times: in 1983, 1989, and 1990.
History The Spanish International Network (SIN) first, and Univision later, had a long tradition of organizing large-scale televised national competitions to select their entries to the OTI Festival, with many of their affiliates organizing local televised competitions to select their entries to the national final.
They won the OTI Festival for first time in 1986 with the song "" –which sent a message of unity between the Latin community in the country– sung by a trio composed by the performers Dámaris Carbaugh, and Eduardo Fabián. Their second victory was in the last event in 2000 with the song "" performed by Hermanas Chirino.
Apart from their victories, they managed to get two consecutive second places: in 1977 with "" by Lissette Álvarez, and in 1978 with "" by Susy Leman. They got another second place in 1992 with "" by Carlo de la Cima. In 1981 and 1982, they got third place.
The OTI Festival was hosted in the United States on three occasions, the first one in 1983 in the Constitution Hall of Washington, D.C., which was presented by Rafael Pineda and Ana Carlota. This edition of the festival was notorious because the event was opened by a message by the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan sent to the Spanish speaking community which hailed their contribution to the cultural diversity of the country. The event was also hosted in 1989 in Miami having the James L. Knight Convention Center as the venue, and in 1990 at the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Participation overview + Table key 1 First place 2 Second place 3 Third place F Finalist SF Semi-finalist ◇ Contest cancelled
Year Song Artist Songwriter(s) Conductor Place Points 1972 colspan="6" rowspan="2" 1973 1974 "" Rosita Perú Larry Martin 15 1 1975 "" José Antonio Julio Sala Tony Ramírez 5 5 1976 "" Carmen Moreno Carmen Moreno 19 0 1977 "" Lissette Álvarez Lissette Álvarez Frank Fiore 2 8 1978 "" Susy Leman Ernesto Alejandro 2 46 1979 "" Mario Alberto Milar Mario Alberto Milar 9 16 1980 "" Rammiro Velasco Rammiro Velasco Tony Ramírez 13 11 1981 "" Aldo Matta Héctor Garrido 3 22 1982 "" Laura Hevia Laura Hevia Héctor Garrido 3 25 1983 "" Vilma Planas Daniel Freiberg colspan=2 1984 "" Alberto Ruiz Alberto Ruiz David González colspan=2 1985 "" Zobeida and Frank Héctor Garrido colspan=2 1986 "" Dámaris Carbaugh, , and Eduardo Fabián Vilma Planas Juan Salazar 1 1987 "" Felo Bohr Mario Palacio Héctor Garrido colspan=2 1988 "" Miguel Ángel Mejía Rodolfo Martínez 14 0 1989 "" Iris and Margie Margarita Andino colspan=2 1990 "" Daniel Recalde Daniel Recalde Héctor Garrido colspan=2 1991 "" Elsa Ozuna Lucho Neves Lucho Neves 1992 "" Carlo de la Cima José Luis Mota 2 1993 "" Alma Rocío Roberto Chiofalo colspan=2 1994 "" Héctor Galaz Omar Sánchez 11 0 1995 "" Silvia Bezi José Villarreal Roy Velásquez colspan=2 1996 "" Raffy Jorge Marcos colspan=2 1997 "" Luis Damón Víctor Salazar 1998 "" Carlos Abac Carlos Abac Diego Fiamingo 1999 Contest cancelled ◇ 2000 "" Hermanas Chirino 1
Hosting Year City Venue Hosts 1983 Washington, D.C. DAR Constitution Hall 1989 Miami James L. Knight Convention Center 1990 Las Vegas Caesars Palace
References