Legendary Latinos Score Lifetime Achievement Grammys

By Michael Lopez

Long before there was Shakira, Aventura, and Prince Royce, popular Latin musicians were few and far between. Back in the day it was extremely rare to see a Spanish album score on the American Billboard charts, though a few artists were able to successfully break through. And now, a handful of those musical trailblazers are getting recognized with the Latin Grammys’ Lifetime Achievement Award.

Joe Arroyo, Gal Costa, Jose Feliciano, Alex Lora, Les Luthiers, Ruben Rada and Linda Ronstadt are the names the Latin Grammys decided to honor this year and we couldn't be happier with their decision. Each of these artists has left an indelible mark on the music world and influenced generations of young singers.

Sadly Colombian singer Joe Arroyo passed away today, but his musical stamp will not be forgotten. His group Fruko y sus Tesos released several landmark singles. Brazilian songstress Gal Costa has sold millions of records on her own, changing the face of tropical music. Les Luthiers is one of the only bands being honored, and deservedly so. Their innovative fusion of comedy, rock, and Latin rhythms represent pure sonic perfection.

Alex Lora is considered a Mexican rock pioneer. His guitar work is legendary and has earned him multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations. And anyone who's a fan of percussion is well aware of Ruben Rada. His groundbreaking Afro-Uruguayan style has been admired by everyone from Paul McCartney to Maná.

Jose Feliciano has been embraced by U.S. audiences since the 1960's. His classic renditions of "Light My Fire" and "Feliz Navidad" are radio standards and have gone platinum around the world. Linda Ronstadt has similarly been embraced by a massive audience. She's won Grammys, Emmys, and even a Tony Award for her work. Her 1987 Spanish-language LP, Canciones de mi Padre, was a certified smash and opened up mariachi music to millions of American ears.

Now that you've had your history lesson, we highly recommend picking up a few of these artists' classic albums. And you can see them all get honored this coming November at a special ceremony from the Las Vegas Four Seasons.

Which classic Latin musicians do you most admire? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Alex Lora, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Gal Costa, Joe Arroyo, Jose Feliciano, Latin Grammys, Les Luthiers, Lifetime Achievement Awards, Linda Ronstadt, Música, Ruben Rada