The Best Latin Music CDs

Looking for the best Latin music CDs? Check out our top picks, including albums by Shakira, Gloria Estefan, and Ricky Martin.

Tito Puente- Top Timba Hits

One of the all-time greats of Latin Jazz, Tito Puente was a master of the timbales, and helped to define the New YorkLatin sound. On this compilation of his greatest hits, he is joined by an all-star cast including trumpet legend Maynard Ferguson, trombone virtuoso J.J. Johnson, flutist Hubert Laws, and many others. The results are some of the most explosive and danceable Latin Jazz ever recorded.

Celia Cruz- The Queen of Salsa

Celia Cruz was a Cuban singer of Latin music who became one of the most popular salsa performers of the 20th century. She recorded more than 70 albums and won three Grammy Awards. Her voice was described as “vitality, emotion and power”.

Cruz was born in Havana, Cuba, on October 21, 1925. She began her career singing with the Sonora Matancera orchestra in 1950. She later moved to Mexico, where she recorded with the band La Sonora Santanera. In the 1960s, she toured Latin America and the United States with Tito Puente’s orchestra. In 1962, she released her first album as a solo artist, La Vida Es un Carnaval.

Cruz’s popularity increased in the 1970s and 1980s with recordings such as “Azúcar Negra” (1979), “Celia & Johnny” (1984), and “Salsa y Control” (1986). She toured extensively throughout this period, performing in countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico and the United States.

Cruz’s final album was Mi Tierra (1993), which won a Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album. She died of brain cancer on July 16, 2003.

Gloria Estefan- The Rhythm of Love

It’s no surprise that the Cuban-American crossover artist is on this list, given her massive success in both the Latin and mainstream markets. The superstar’s 1994 album The Rhythm of Love was her third consecutive record to go Platinum in the U.S., cementing her place as one of the top-selling Latin artists of all time. The lead single “Turn the Beat Around” became one of Estefan’s signature hits, and its infectious danceable sound is representative of the entire album, which features a mix of English and Spanish-language tracks.

Marc Anthony- Mended

Marc Anthony is a popular Latin musician who has released several successful albums, including Mended. This album features a mix of ballads and up-tempo tracks that showcase Anthony’s vocal range and versatility. Mended was well-received by critics and fans alike, praised for itscatchy tunes and lyrical depth. If you’re a fan of Latin music, or just looking for something new to listen to, be sure to check out Marc Anthony’s Mended.

Ricky Martin- Sound Loaded

If you’re a fan of Ricky Martin, this is the album for you. It features some of his biggest hits, including “She Bangs,” “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” and “Shake Your Bon-Bon.” It’s the perfect album to get you dancing, and it’s sure to get your toes tapping.