# Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album

The Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for releasing albums in the tropical latin music genres. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".
According to the 54th Grammy Awards description guide the award is intended "for albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental tropical Latin recordings". This category includes all forms of traditional tropical music, salsa and merengue.
This award has been handed out since 1984 and has had several name changes:
* From 1984 to 1991, and then again from 1995 to 1999 the award was known as Best Tropical Latin Performance
* From 1992 to 1994 it was awarded as Best Tropical Latin Album
* In 2000 it was awarded as Best Traditional Tropical Latin Performance
* From 2001 to 2010 it was awarded as Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album. From 2000 to 2003 two separate awards, the Best Salsa Album and Best Merengue Album, existed for salsa and merengue recordings respectively. Then from 2004 to 2006 the award for Best Salsa/Merengue Album existed.
* In 2011 the name Best Tropical Latin Album returned.
Salsa Queen Celia Cruz has the record for most nominations in this category with nine. Rubén Blades has the record for most wins in this category with seven accolades. He is followed by Israel López "Cachao" (one of which was a posthumous one, in 2012) and Celia Cruz with four wins. Gloria Estefan, Eddie Palmieri, and Tito Puente all have three wins. Two-time winners include Juan Luis Guerra and Bebo Valdés. Blades holds the record for most nominations with thirteen (up to the 2022 Grammy Awards). Willie Colón holds the record for most nominations without a win, with eight.

## Recipients

| Year | Performing artist(s) | Work | Nominees |
| 1984 | Tito Puente and his Latin Ensemble | On Broadway | Corazón Guerrero – Willie Colón El Que la Hace la Paga – Rubén Blades Mongo Magic – Mongo Santamaría Tremendo Trío – Ray Barretto, Celia Cruz and Adalberto Santiago |
| 1985 | Eddie Palmieri | Palo Pa' Rumba | Bien Sabroso! – Poncho Sánchez In Alaska: Breaking the Ice – El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico Buscando América – Rubén Blades Criollo – Willie Colón Y Ahora! – Los Socios del Ritmo |
| 1986 | Eddie Palmieri | Solito | Noche de Discothèque – Bonny Cepeda and Orchestra De Nuevo – Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco Free Spirit – Espiritu Libre – Mongo Santamaría and his Latin Jazz Orchestra Mucho Mejor – Rubén Blades |
| 1987 | Rubén Blades | Escenas | Afro-Cuban Jazz – Mario Bauza Especial No. 5 – Willie Colón Homenaje a Beny Moré, Vol. 3 – Celia Cruz and Tito Puente Nueva Cosecha – Willie Rosario |
| 1988 | Eddie Palmieri | La Verdad – The Truth | Agua de Luna (Moon Water) – Rubén Blades Aquí se Puede – Ray Barretto Caribbean Express – Caribbean Express Strikes Back – Héctor Lavoe The Winners – Celia Cruz and Willie Colón |
| 1989 | Rubén Blades and Son del Solar | Antecedente | La Salsa Soy Yo – Oscar D'León Mister E. – Pete Escovedo Salsobita – Johnny Pacheco and Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez Sigo Atrevido – Eddie Santiago |
| 1990 | Celia Cruz and Ray Barretto | Ritmo en el Corazón | Animation – Wilfrido Vargas "Azúcar" – Eddie Palmieri Irresistible – Ray Barretto Top Secrets/Altos Secretos – Willie Colón |
| 1991 | Tito Puente | "Lambada Timbales" | "Amiga" – Luis Enrique Color Americano – Willie Colón "Mama Guela" – Poncho Sánchez Tito Puente presents Millie P. – Tito Puente and Millie P. |
| 1992 | Juan Luis Guerra | Bachata Rosa | Caminando – Rubén Blades Luces del Alma – Luis Enrique A Night at Kimball's East – Poncho Sánchez The Mambo King 100th LP – Tito Puente |
| 1993 | Linda Ronstadt | Frenesí | Soy Dichoso – Ray Barretto Amor y Control – Rubén Blades Tributo a Ismael Rivera – Celia Cruz Gracias – El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico |
| 1994 | Gloria Estefan | Mi Tierra | Willie Colón – Hecho en Puerto Rico Celia Cruz – Azúcar Negra El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico – First Class International Juan Luis Guerra – Areíto Luis Enrique – Dilema |
| 1995 | Israel López "Cachao" | Master Sessions Vol. 1 | Fogaraté! – Juan Luis Guerra Luis Enrique – Luis Enrique La Aventura – Orquesta de la Luz Cara de Niño – Jerry Rivera |
| 1996 | Gloria Estefan | Abriendo Puertas | Tras la Tomenta – Willie Colón and Rubén Blades Irrepetible – Celia Cruz Master Sessions, Vol. 2 – Israel López "Cachao" Todo a su Tiempo – Marc Anthony |
| 1997 | Rubén Blades | La Rosa de los Vientos | Dicen Que... – Albita DLG – Dark Latin Groove El Sonero del Mundo – Oscar D'León Fresco – Jerry Rivera Tony Vega – Tony Vega |
| 1998 | Ry Cooder | Buena Vista Social Club | Una Mujer Como Yo – Albita A Toda Cuba le Gusta – Afro-Cuban All Stars Sobre el Fuego – La India Llévame Contigo – Olga Tañón |
| 1999 | Marc Anthony | Contra la Corriente | Mi Vida es Cantar – Celia Cruz Suavemente – Elvis Crespo El Rumbero del Piano – Eddie Palmieri Live at Birdland – Dancemania '99 – Tito Puente Babalú Ayé – Chucho Valdés and Irakere |
| 2000 | Tito Puente | Mambo Birdland | Late Night Sessions – Caravana Cubana Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer – Ibrahim Ferrer Songs from a Little Blue House – Juan Carlos Formell Sublime Ilusión – Eliades Ochoa El Amor de Mi Tierra – Carlos Vives |
| 2001 | Gloria Estefan | Alma Caribeña | Rhythms for a New Millenium – Alex Acuña y su Acuarela de Tambores Cuba Linda – Israel López "Cachao" Tribute to the Cuarteto Patria – Eliades Ochoa Buena Vista Social Club Presents: Omara Portuondo – Omara Portuondo |
| 2002 | Carlos Vives | Déjame Entrar | Las Flores de la Vida – Compay Segundo Chanchullo – Rubén González Canto – Los Super Seven La Charanga Eterna – Orquesta Aragón |
| 2003 | Bebo Valdés with Israel López "Cachao" and Carlos "Patato" Valdes | El Arte del Sabor | Generoso Qué Bueno Toca Usted – Grand Afro Cuban Orchestra of Generoso Jiménez En Route – Orquesta Aragón Mi Ritmo – Plena Libre Cuban Masters: Los Originales – various artists |
| 2004 | Ibrahim Ferrer | Buenos Hermanos | Poetas del Son – Septeto Nacional Ignacio Pineiro Pasado y Presente – Soneros de Verdad presents Rubalcaba Barbarito Torres – Barbarito Torres Bajando Gervasio – Amadito Valdés |
| 2005 | Israel López "Cachao" | Ahora Si! | Angel Meléndez and the 911 Mambo Orchestra – Angel Meléndez and the 911 Mambo Orchestra Inólvidable – Cándido & Graciela Flor de Amor – Omara Portuondo Recuerda a Beny Moré – Tropicana All Stars |
| 2006 | Bebo Valdés | Bebo de Cuba | Una Noche Inolvidable – Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra with Arturo O'Farrill Masters of Cuban Son – Conjunto Progreso Buena Vista Social Club Presents – Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal Tradición – Tropicana All Stars and Israel Kantor |
| 2007 | Gilberto Santa Rosa | Directo al Corazón | Fuzionando – Oscar D'León Salsatón: Salsa con Reggaeton – Andy Montañez Hoy, Mañana y Siempre – Tito Nieves What You've Been Waiting For – Lo Que Esperabas – Tiempo Libre |
| 2008 | Juan Luis Guerra | La Llave de Mi Corazón | Greetings from Havana – ¡Cubanisimo! En Primera Plana – Issac Delgado Arroz con Habichuela – El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico United We Swing – Spanish Harlem Orchestra |
| 2009 | José Feliciano | Señor Bachata | Cuba: Un Viaje Musical – A Musical Journey – Albita, Donato Poveda and Rey Ruiz Renacer – Dark Latin Groove Frutero Moderno – Gonzalo Grau y la Clave Secreta Back on the Streets... Taste of Spanish Harlem Vol. 2 – New Swing Sextet |
| 2010 | Luis Enrique | Ciclos | Así Soy – Isaac Delgado Guásabara – José Lugo Orchestra Gracias – Omara Portuondo Bach in Havana – Tiempo Libre |
| 2011 | Spanish Harlem Orchestra | Viva La Tradición | El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico – Sin Salsa No Hay Paraíso Juan Luis Guerra 440 – A Son de Guerra Gilberto Santa Rosa – Irrepetible Various artists – 100 Sones Cubanos |
| 2012 | Israel López "Cachao" | The Last Mambo | Edwin Bonilla – Homenaje A Los Rumberos José Rizo's Mongorama – Monograma |
| 2013 | Marlow Rosado and La Riqueña | Retro | Raúl Lara y sus Soneros – Cubano Soy Eddie Montalvo – Desde Nueva York a Puerto Rico Romeo Santos – Formula, Vol. 1 |
| 2014 | Pacific Mambo Orchestra | Pacific Mambo Orchestra | Marc Anthony – 3.0 Los Angeles Azules – Como te Voy a Olvidar Various artists – Sergio George Presents Salsa Giants Carlos Vives –Corazón Profundo |
| 2015 | Carlos Vives | Más Corazón Profundo | El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico – 50 Anniversario Aymeé Nuviola – First Class to Havana PALO! – Live Totó La Momposina – El Asunto |
| 2016 | Rubén Blades with Roberto Delgado & Orquesta | Son de Panamá | José Alberto "El Canario" & Septeto Santiaguero – Tributo a Los Compadres: No Quiero Llanto Guaco – Presente Continuo Juan Luis Guerra and 4.40 – Todo Tiene Su Hora Victor Manuelle – Que Suenen los Tambores |
| 2017 | Jose Lugo & Guasábara Combo | Donde Están? | Fonseca - Conexión Juan Formell & Los Van Van – La Fantasia Homenaje a Juan Formell Grupo Niche – 35 Aniversario La Sonora Santanera – La Sonora Santanera En Su 60 Aniversario |
| 2018 | Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta | Salsa Big Band | Albita – Albita Doug Beavers – Art of the Arrangement Silvestre Dangond – Gente Valiente Diego El Cigala – Indestructible |
| 2019 | Spanish Harlem Orchestra | Anniversary | Charlie Aponte - Pa' Mi Gente Formell Y Los Van Van - Legado Orquesta Akokán - Orquesta Akokán Felipe Peláez - Ponle Actitud |
| 2020 | Aymée Nuviola | A Journey Through Cuban Music | Luis Enrique & C4 Trio - Tiempo al Tiempo Vicente Garcia - Candela Juan Luis Guerra & 4.40 - Literal |
| 2020 | Marc Anthony | Opus | Luis Enrique & C4 Trio - Tiempo al Tiempo Vicente Garcia - Candela Juan Luis Guerra & 4.40 - Literal |
| 2021 | Grupo Niche | 40 | José Alberto "El Ruiseñor" - Mi Tumbao Edwin Bonilla - Infinito Jorge Celedon & Sergio Luis - Sigo Cantando al Amor (Deluxe) Víctor Manuelle - Memorias de Navidad |
| 2022 | Rubén Blades & Roberto Delgado & Orquesta | SALSWING! | El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico - En Cuarantena Aymée Nuviola - Sin Salsa No Hay Paraíso Gilberto Santa Rosa - Colegas Tony Succar - Live in Peru |
| 2023 | Marc Anthony | Pa'lla Voy | La Santa Cecilia - Quiero Verte Feliz Victor Manuelle - Lado A Lado B Tito Nieves - Legendario Spanish Harlem Orchestra - Imágenes Latinas Carlos Vives - Cumbiana II |
| 2024 | Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta | Siembra: 45º Aniversario (En Vivo en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 14 de Mayo 2022) | Grupo Niche & Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia - Niche Sinfónica Omara Portuondo - Vida Luis Figueroa - Voy A Ti Tony Succar & Mimy Succar - Mimy & Tony Carlos Vives - Escalona Nunca Se Habia Grabado Así |
| 2025 | Tony Succar & Mimy Succar | Alma, Corazón y Salsa (Live at Gran Teatro Nacional) | Marc Anthony - Muevense Sheila E. - Bailar Juan Luis Guerra - Radio Güira Kiki Valera - Vacilón Santiaguero |
* Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.