Latin pop, also called pop latino or pop en español, is a type of popular music that is mainly performed in Spanish. It is based on the same rules as international pop music, such as having catchy melodies, a steady beat, and using electric instruments. However, it also includes musical styles from Latin America and Spain.
Latin pop was created by Spanish-speaking musicians. It is different from other Latin music types like rock en español, tropical, reggaeton, and dance music. Even though it sometimes uses elements from these styles, its main feature is that it is pop music in Spanish. Mixing these styles is common but not the main part of Latin pop.
History
Latin pop first reached people around the world in the mid-1960s through the work of bandleader Sergio Mendes. Earlier, artists like Carmen Miranda helped make Latin samba music famous in Hollywood. In the 1970s, Latin pop became known for romantic ballads created by artists such as Julio Iglesias and Roberto Carlos.
Today, Latin pop is one of the most popular Latin music styles. Well-known artists include Los del Río, Jennifer Lopez, Alejandro Sanz, Thalía, Luis Miguel, Selena, Paulina Rubio, Shakira, Carlos Vives, Ricky Martin, Gloria Trevi, and Enrique Iglesias. Ricky Martin is called the King of Latin Pop.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Latin pop became the most popular Latin music style in the United States. Groups like the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo achieved success with both Latino and non-Latino audiences in the late 1990s. Although Latin pop is not limited to the United States, it was greatly influenced by American music styles and production techniques. Tejano music, which started in Texas and the U.S.-Mexico border area, introduced new sounds like synthesizers and a more modern style to traditional music forms such as norteño and conjunto.
In New York and Miami, lively Latin club scenes helped create Latin freestyle, a dance music style that used Latin rhythms and electronic instruments like synthesizers and drum machines. These styles influenced Latin pop, which kept Latin rhythms in upbeat songs but used mainstream pop melodies.
Gloria Estefan was Latin pop’s first major crossover star. In the mid- to late 1980s, she had many dance-pop hits that were not limited to clubs. Later, she became known for emotional ballads. This mix of dance-pop and ballads shaped Latin pop during the 1990s. Most artists sang in Spanish for Latino audiences, but some performers had success in English. Jon Secada had pop hits in the mid-1990s, and Selena’s album Dreaming of You reached number one on the charts after her death in 1995.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, artists like Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Paulina Rubio, Thalía, and others achieved success with both Latino and non-Latino audiences. Other pop artists, such as Debelah Morgan and 98 Degrees, tried Latin pop and found success. Some, like Christina Aguilera and Jessica Simpson, recorded Spanish versions of their songs or albums.