1970s in Latin music

1960s . 1970s in Latin music . 1980s

This article includes an overview of the major events and trends in Latin music in the 1970s, namely in Ibero-America (including Spain and Portugal). This includes recordings, festivals, award ceremonies, births and deaths of Latin music artists, and the rise and fall of various subgenres in Latin music from 1970 to 1979.

Overview By 1975, music market analysts predicted an 8 to 10% growth of Latin music internationally. This growth also expanded into the United States which led to record labels of promoting Latin artists in the country. According to Billboards Marv Fisher, " international labels are increasingly involved throughout Latin America".

Latin pop

Latin America went through the balada craze with balladeers from both the region and Spain having a huge Latin audience. Artists include José José, Roberto Carlos, Juan Gabriel, and Julio Iglesias. The latter artist would later become the best-selling male Latin artist of all time.

Regional Mexican

Mariachi music in 1970s, while still popular in the Regional Mexican music field, was named "the last great decade for mariachi music" according to the Los Angeles Times critic Augustin Gurza. The Mexican farmworkers movement since the 1960s led to the popularity corridos which dealt with their impoverished lives. Most notably, norteño group Los Tigres del Norte emerged having performed songs that deal with social commentary. Another emerging genre in the Regional Mexican field was Tejano. Rigo Tovar modernized the Mexican style of cumbia by combining it with rock including utilizing an electric guitar and a synthesizer.

Tropical/salsa

Salsa music was the dominant genre in the tropical field in the 1970s. Fania Records was the prime record label for popularizing and defining salsa music with artists such as Celia Cruz, Rubén Blades, Héctor Lavoe, and Willie Colón. The Colombian vallenato remains popular in the country with artists such as Diomedes Diaz. Likewise, the country's cumbia expanded its popularity outside of country into other Latin American nations including Mexico. Like its Mexican counterpart, the Colombia cumbia saw changes in the genre with the use of a bass guitar, organ, and less emphasis on brass instruments.

Nueva canción

During the 1970s in Latin America, the 1960s music influence remained strong and two styles developed from it one that followed the European and North American trends and Nueva Canción that focused on the renewal of folklore including Andean music and cueca. Some bands such as Los Jaivas from Chile mixed both streams and created a syncretism between folklore and progressive rock. The Nueva Canción movement got an even more marked protest association after all countries in the Southern Cone became (or were already) military dictatorships in the 1970s. In Chile, the Nueva canción styles developed through the 1970s would remain popular until the return to democracy in 1990.

Laitn rock/rock en español

In the 1970s, rock en Español began to emerge (especially in Argentina), and as imitation bands became fewer, rock music started to develop more independently from the outside, although many rock bands still preferred to sing in English. The Argentine defeat in the Falklands War in 1982 followed by the fall of the military junta that year diminished need of Nueva Canción as protest music there in favour of other styles. Santana and Malo pioneered the Latin rock movement by mixing rock music with Afro-Latino Caribbean music.

Brazilian/Portuguese

Jorge Ben's Fôrça Brutas fusion of Trio Mocotó's groove and Ben's more rockish guitar proved to be a distinctive feature of what critics and musicians later called samba rock. The 1970s also saw the rise of Música popular brasileira, a form of protest songs against the Brazilian military dictatorship. Among the key musicians in the genre was Chico Buarque who was exiled from the country.

1970 Events March 10-14Cláudya, representing Brazil, wins the second and final Festival Mundial de la Canción Latina with her song "Canção de amor e paz".

Notable singles

Album releases

Emmanuel: Entre Lunas Los Ángeles Negros: Y Volveré Freddie Martinez: Te Traigo Estas Flores Los Unicos: Los Unicos Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe and Yomo Toro: Asalto Navideño Nino Bravo: Nino Bravo Pedro Miguel Y Sus Maracaibos: Con Sabor A Cuba Santana: Abraxas Jorge Ben: Fôrça Bruta Os Mutantes: A Divina Comédia ou Ando Meio Desligado Tim Maia: Tim Maia João Donato: A Bad Donato José José: El Triste José José: La Nave del Olvido Mari Trini: Amores Quilapayún: Cantata de Santa María de Iquique Facundo Cabral: Facundo Cabral Eddie Palmieri: Superimposition Vinicius de Moraes, Maria Creuza, and Toquinho: La Fusa Paulinho da Viola: Foi um Rio Que Passou em Minha Vida Som Imaginário: Som Imaginário Ronnie Von: A Máquina Voadora Novos Baianos: É Ferro na Boneca O Terço: O Terço Egberto Gismonti: Sonho 70 Rita Lee: Build Up Elis Regina: ...Em Pleno Verão Roberto Carlos: Roberto Carlos Gal Costa: Legal Lucha Reyes: La Morena de Oro del Perú Manal: Manal Moris: Treinta minutos de vida Judith Reyes: Crónica mexicana Flor Pucarina: Corazón de piedra Guillermo Portabales with Los Guaracheros del Oriente: Sones cubanos Fruko y sus Tesos: Tesura

Deaths Births April 19Luis Miguel, Mexican pop singer November 24Julieta Venegas, Mexican alternative singer

1971 Events

Notable singles

Album releases

Joan Manuel Serrat: Mediterráneo Roberto Carlos: Roberto Carlos (1972)/Detalles Willie Colón: La Gran Fuga Cheo Feliciano: Cheo Raphy Leavitt: Payaso Cornelio Reyna: Cornelio Reyna El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico: De Punta a Punta Raphael: Algo Más... Juan Gabriel: El Alma Joven... Nelson Ned: Si Las Flores Pudieran Hablar Ray Barretto: The Message Raphael: Le Llaman Jesus Vikki Carr: Que Sea El Orchestra Harlow: Tribute To Arsenio Rodriguez Los Golpes: Olvidarte Nunca Nino Bravo: Nino Bravo Formula V: Formula V Ralfi Pagan: With Love / Con Amor Roberto Carlos: Roberto Carlos (1971) La Sonora Ponceña: Navidad Criolla Chico Buarque: Construção Gal Costa: -Fa-Tal- Gal a Todo Vapor Erasmo Carlos: Carlos, Erasmo... Os Mutantes: Jardim Elétrico Tim Maia: Tim Maia José José: Buscando Una Sonrisa Mari Trini: Escúchame Víctor Jara: El derecho de vivir en paz Ismael Miranda with Orquesta Harlow: Abran paso Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz: El bestial sonido de Ricardo Ray y Bobby Cruz Aníbal Troilo and Roberto Goyeneche: Te acordás... Polaco Inti-Illimani: Autores chilenos Nicomedes Santa Cruz: Los reyes del festejo Guadalupe Trigo: Guadalupe Trigo Dom Salvador and Abolição: Som, Sangue e Raça Raul Seixas, Sérgio Sampaio, Miriam Batucada, and Edy Star: Sociedade da Grã-Ordem Kavernista Apresenta Sessão das 10 Marcos Valle: Garra Antônio Carlos Jobim: Stone Flower Rosinha de Valença: Um Violão em Primeiro Plano Antônio Carlos & Jocáfi: Mudei de Ideia Cassiano: Imagem e Som Tony Tornado: Toni Tornado Caetano Veloso: Caetano Veloso Paulinho da Viola: Paulinho da Viola 1 Paulinho da Viola: Paulinho da Viola 2 Banda del Sol, Corimbo, Fiebre Amarilla, Jorge Delgadillo, and Kiriaps y Rolf: Unidad Vox Dei: La Biblia Grupo De Experimentación Sonora Del ICAIC: Cuba Va! La Revolución de Emiliano Zapata: La Revolución de Emiliano Zapata José Alfredo Jiménez: El Cantinero Aparcoa and Pablo Neruda:Canto General Jorge López Ruiz: Bronca Buenos Aires

Deaths Births March 9Diego Torres, Argentine pop singer April 16Selena, American Tejano singer (d. 1995) April 24Alejandro Fernández, Mexican ranchera and pop singer June 17Paulina Rubio, Mexican pop singer July 5Descemer Bueno, Cuban singer-songwriter July 30Elvis Crespo, Puerto Rican merengue singer August 26Thalía, Mexican pop singer November 25Tommy Torres, Puerto Rican pop singer December 24Ricky Martin, Puerto Rican pop singer December 31Claudio Bermúdez, Mexican pop singer

1972 Events November 11Billboard magazine announces a new section on its printed magazines titled "Latin Music Spotlight" (later known as "Latin Notas"), which covers three pages of Latin music-related news November 24The 1st OTI Festival, held at the , in Madrid, Spain, is won by the song "", written by Paulo César Pinheiro and Baden Powell, and performed by Tobias and Claudia Regina representing Brazil. December 9The first Latin albums chart are compiled by Billboard, under the title the Hot Latin LP's, which surveys sales of Latin LP's in selected regions in the United States including Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, New York, and Texas.

Notable singles

Album releases

Vikki Carr: En Español Lucha Villa: Puro Norte, Vol. 2 Los Muecos: Que Ironía Gerardo Reyes: Gerardo Reyes Victor Yturbe: Condición Los Diablos: Vol. III Estela Nuñez: Estela Nuñez Con Mariachi Cornelio Reyna: Aqui Está Otra Vez el Amo y Señor de la Canción Norteña Carmela y Rafael: Remite Los Freddy's: Con Tu Adiós Malo: Dos Victor Yturbe: Noches En La Posada Vallarta Vicente Fernández: ¡Arriba Huentitàn! Fania All-Stars: Our Latin Thing Fania All-Stars: Live at the Cheetah, Vol. II Roberto Sasian: Mariachi con Organo Los Blue Angels: Espera Los Baby's: ¿Por Qué? El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico: Por el Libro Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe: El Juicio Ray Barretto: Que Viva la Música Rodolfo Aicardi: Sufrir José Miguel Class: El Ausente Ramón Ayala: Hits 1972 Augustine Ramirez: El Gusto es Suyo Yoyito Cabrera: La Carne Lo Mato Roberto Roena & Su Apollo Sound: Roberto Roena & Su Apollo Sound Julio Iglesias: Por una mujer Tito Rodríguez: En Algo Nuevo Rolando Laserie: El Rey Guapachoso Nelson Ned: El Pequeño Gigante Porfi Jiménez: La Machaca Ismael Rivera: Esto Fue Lo Que Trajo el Barco Juan Torres: Organo Melodico, Vol. 15 Juan Torres: Organo Melodico, Vol. 16 Los Ángeles Negros: Vol. 5 : Porque Te Quiero Juan Gabriel: El Alma Joven II Yolanda del Río: La Hija de Nadie Camilo Sesto: Algo de mí Sandro de América: Te Espero Raphael: Volveré a Nacer Tito Puente: Para Los Rumberos Andy Harlow: Sorpresa La Flauta Elio Roca: Contigo Y Aquí Yayo el Indio: El Nuevo Yayo Johnny Ventura: En Alas De Quisqueyana La Lupe: Stop! I'm Free Again Coke: Coke Celia Cruz and Tito Puente: Algo Especial Para Recorda Johnny Ventura: El Pingüino Cheo Feliciano: La Voz Sensual De Cheo Charlie Palmieri: El Gigante Del Teclado Virginia Lopez: Volverá el Amor Carlos Javier Beltrán: Será Teddy Trinidad: Teddy Trinidad Norman Ponce: Norman Ponce Antonio Aguilar: Corridos de Caballos Famosos Los Camperos: "El Super Mariachi Los Camperos" En La Fonda Típica 73: Típica 73 Los Solitarios: Nunca Digas Juan Marcelo: Yo Te Quiero, Nos Queremos Ismael Miranda with Orchestra Harlow: Oportunidad Joey Pastrana: Don Pastrana Los Alegres de Terán: Corridos Famosos Con Los Alegres De Teran Tata Ramos: Dama Dama Los Muecos: Indita Mía Los Socios del Ritmo: Vida Vamos A Platicar Lucho Barrios: El Trotamundo Danny Rivera: Danny Rivera/Dos Amantes El Super Trio: 73 Enrique Cáceres: Una Voz Y Un Romance Sophy: Yo Soy Mujer y No Soy una Santa Manny Perez & Los Cachiros: El Chamaco Moderno Vicente Fernández: Vicente Fernandez Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz: Jammin' Live Bobby Valentín: Soy Boricua Camilo Sesto: Sólo un hombre Sonora Ponceña: Sonora Ponceña Victor Yturbe: Imágenes Nino Bravo: Un Beso y una Flor Nino Bravo: Mi Tierra René y René: El Mexicano Anthony Ríos: Anthony Ríos José Alfredo Jiménez: Gracias The Royal Jesters: Yo Soy Chicano Chris Montez and Raza: Let's Dance Roberto Carlos: Un gato en la oscuridad Juan Gabriel: El Alma Joven II Jairo: Jairo Novos Baianos: Acabou Chorare Milton Nascimento and Lô Borges: Clube da Esquina Caetano Veloso: Transa Gilberto Gil: Expresso 2222 Paulinho da Viola: A Dança da Solidão Elis Regina: Elis José José: De pueblo en pueblo José José: Cuando tú me quieras Joan Manuel Serrat: Miguel Hernandez Rigo Tovar: Matamoros querido Jards Macalé: Jards Macalé Lô Borges: Lô Borges Os Mutantes: Mutantes e Seus Cometas no País do Baurets Arthur Verocai: Arthur Verocai Maria Bethânia: Drama - Anjo Exterminado