Latin pop
Also known as Latin pop
A broad Latin pop entry anchored in documented crossover history rather than a rigid sound template.
Origins and context
Documented as a transnational pop style that grew through Latin American artists, U.S. Latin club scenes, Tejano production, and crossover success on Spanish- and English-language markets.
The sound
- Production
- Dance-pop production
Instrument palette
The voices and tools most associated with this sound.
- Keyboards
- Drum machines
- Percussion
- Horns
Vocal style
- Spanish-language pop vocals
- Occasional English-language crossover vocals
History
AllMusic places Latin pop’s rise in the U.S. during the 1980s and 1990s, shaped by Tejano production, Latin club scenes in New York and Miami, and a growing blend of Latin rhythms with mainstream pop songwriting. Gloria Estefan is widely documented as an early crossover figure, while Ricky Martin and Shakira helped turn Latin pop into a global commercial force at the end of the 1990s and beyond.
Notable artists
- GEGloria Estefan
- RMRicky Martin
- SShakira
Essential listening
- 1
- 2
- 3
Explore connected genres
Sources and further reading
- Latin Pop Genre Overview
- grammy.com
Ricky Martin is described by the Recording Academy and Apple Music as a key Latin pop figure whose 1998 and 1999 releases helped cement his megastardom.
- Shakira
- Latin Pop category history at the GRAMMYs
- Gloria Estefan
- Ricky Martin