The Grammy Award for Best Latin Recording was conceived and lobbied for by then NYC NARAS Chapter Board Member, salsa pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader, Larry Harlow. Through his gathering of 100,000 signatures and protesting in front of the Uris Theater in Manhattan it finally became a reality. It was presented from 1976 to 1983 and primarily encompassed progressive salsa and Latin-oriented jazz recordings. Starting from 1984 the Latin field was expanded to Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album, Best Tropical Performance (encompassing salsa and merengue), and Best Mexican/Mexican American Performance. Its first winner was Eddie Palmieri for the album, Sun of Latin Music.
Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.
1980s YearWinnerNominationsSource1983Machito and His Salsa Big Band '82 by MachitoRhythm of Life by Ray BarrettoCanciones del Solar de los Aburridos by Willie Colón and Rubén BladesEscenas de Amor by José FelicianoMomentos by Julio Iglesias1982Guajita Pa' La Jeva by Clare FischerGózame! Pero Yu... by Cal TjaderSummertime Digital at Montreaux, 1980 by Dizzy Gillespie with Mongo SantamaríaEddie Palmieri by Eddie PalmieriBrazilian Soul by Laurindo Almeida and Charlie Byrd1981La Onda Va Bien by Cal Tjader SextetIrakere 2 by IrakereHey! by Julio IglesiasRican/Struction by Ray BarrettoDancemania '80 by Tito Puente1980Irakere by IrakereCross Over by Fania All-StarsTouching You, Touching Me by Airto MoreiraEternos by Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco
1970s YearWinnerNominationsSource1979Homenaje a Beny Moré by Tito PuenteLucumi, Macumba, Voodoo by Eddie PalmieriCoro Miyare by Fania All-StarsLaurindo Almeida Trio by Laurindo AlmeidaMongo a la Carte by Mongo SantamaríaLa Raza Latina by Orchestra Harlow1978Dawn by Mongo SantamaríaMuy Amigos/Close Friends by Eydie Gormé and Danny RiveraFire Works by Machito Orchestra with Lalo RodríguezTomorrow: Barretto Live by Ray Barretto BandLa Leyenda by Tito Puente1977Unfinished Masterpiece by Eddie PalmieriLa Gormé by Eydie GorméSalsa - Soundtrack by Fania All-StarsCocinando la Salsa by Joe CubaEl Maestro by Johnny PachecoSofrito by Mongo Santamaría1976Sun of Latin Music by Eddie PalmieriPaunetto's Point by Bobby Paunetto"Quieres Ser Mi Amante" by Camilo SestoFania All-Stars Live at Yankee Stadium, Vol. 1 by Fania All-StarsAfro-Indio by Mongo SantamaríaBarretto by Ray BarrettoThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly by Willie Colón
References
See also
Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album