Castro Announces Texas and Latino Artist Nominations for Preservation in the National Recording Registry

Castro Announces Texas and Latino Artist Nominations for Preservation in the National Recording Registry

SAN ANTONIO, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released his nominations of songs and albums to be considered for the prestigious National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress. This year, in addition to his fourth annual call for Latino artists, Castro made an inaugural call for Texas artists and received more than 400 submissions from the public.

"Latino and Texas artists have played an important role in contributing to our country's musical canon," said Congressman Castro. "Beloved artists like Selena and Luis Miguel remind us of the power of Latino's story told through song and the importance of recognizing and preserving our voices. In our state, Texans like Gene Autry, Beyoncé, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and the Texas Tornados have captured listener's hearts and made their mark on genres from country and R&B to rock and Tejano. I will continue pushing for the National Recording Registry to reflect the country's immense talent and musical genres.

Nomination List of Songs and Albums by Texas artists:

1. Deep In the Heart of Texas - Gene Autry (1942)
2. Baduizm - Erykah Badu (1997) (Album)
3. Strait Country - George Strait (1981) (Album)
4. Dangerously In Love - Beyoncé (2003) (Album)
5. Amor Prohibido - Selena (1994) (Album)
6. Come Away with Me - Norah Jones (2002) (Album)
7. Three Days - Pat Green (2001) (Album)
8. Delta Dawn - Tanya Tucker (1972)
9. Luckenbach, Texas - Waylon Jennings Feat. Wilie Nelson (1977)
10. Coming Home - Leon Bridges (2015) (Album)
11. Same Trailer, Different Park - Kacey Musgraves - (2013) (Album)
12. La Grange - ZZ Top (1973)
13. Heaven - Los Lonely Boys (2003)
14. Lookin' For Love - Johnny Lee (1980)
15. June 27th Freestyle - DJ Screw (1996) (Mixtape)
16. Clumsy Sky - Girl in a Coma (2007)
17. The Late Great Townes Van Zandt - Townes Van Zandt (1972) (Album)
18. A Moment Like This - Kelly Clarkson (2002)
19. Texas Flood - Stevie Ray Vaughn (1983) (Album)
20. Say My Name - Destiny's Child (1999)
21. El Indio - Isidro Lopez (1993) (Album)
22. Trini Lopez At PJ's - Trini Lopez (1963) (Album)
23. Las Nubes - Little Joe y La Familia (1972)
24. (Hey Baby) Que Paso - Texas Tornados (1990)
25. It Must Be Him - Vicki Carr (1963)
26. Quiero Ser Tu Amante - Shelly Lares (2003) (Album)
27. Blue - LeAnn Rimes (1996) (Album)
28. Butthole Surfers - Butthole Surfers (1983) (Album)
29. Mr. Bojangles - Jerry Jeff Walker (1968)

Nomination List of Songs and Albums by Latino artists:

1. First Full Time Spanish-Language Radio Station Broadcast in the United States based in San Antonio, TX (formerly KCOR-TV and later known as KWEX-TC) (1946) (Broadcast)
2. Diamonds and Rust - Joan Baez (1975) (Album)
3. Suavemente - Elvis Crespo (1999) (Song)
4. Caminos Chuecos - Sunny and The Sunglows (1963) (Song)
5. Cien Años - Pedro Infante (1953) (Song)
6. Don Luis El Tejano - Latin Breed (1991) (Song)
7. La Chona - Los Tucanes De Tijuana (1995) (Song)
8. Tu Pum Pum - El General (1989) (Song)
9. Chilanga Banda - Café Tacvba (1996) (Song)
10. Mambo No. 5 - Perez Prado (1952) (Song)
11. Hips Don't Lie - Shakira (2005) (Song)
12. Regalo del Alma - Celia Cruz (2003) (Album)
13. Introducing Johnny Rodriguez - Johnny Rodriguez (1971) (Album)
14. Blue Bayou- Linda Ronstadt (1977) (Song)
15. Romance - Luis Miguel (1991) (Album)
16. Simplemente Amigos - Ana Gabriel (1988) (Song)
17. Conga - Gloria Estefan, Miami Sound Machine (1992) (Song)
18. The Last - Aventura (2009) (Album)
19. Cypress Hill - Cypress Hill (1991) (Album)
20. Desvelado - Bobby Pulido (1995) (Album)
21. ¿Dónde Jugarán los Niños? - Maná (1992) (Album)
22. Julio Iglesias - 1100 Bel Air Place (1984) (Album)
23. Los Lobos - Will the Wolf Survive? (1984) (Song)
24. Just Another Day - Jon Secada (1992) (Song)
25. No Te Olvidaré - Mazz (1989) (Album)

Background

The U.S. Congress established the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress in 2000 to preserve sounds and recordings with cultural, historic, or aesthetic significance to life in the United States. Since then, 675 titles have been inducted. However, as of 2025, approximately 4 percent of current recordings can be attributed to Texas artists and less than 5 percent to Latino artists.

In 2022, Congressman Castro began submitting nomination lists to the National Recording Preservation Board to increase visibility of Latino artists. So far, the board has inducted 7 of his selections-Juan Gabriel's "Amor Eterno" (1990), Héctor Lavoe's "El Cantante" (1978), Irene Cara's "Flashdance…What A Feeling" (1983), Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina" (2004), Vicente Fernandez's "El Rey" (1973), Freddy Fender's "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" (1974), and Lin Manuel Miranda's album "Hamilton" (2015). This year, Congressman Castro is also pushing for increased visibility for Texas music giants like Little Joe y La Familia and Beyoncé.