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A visual history · Grammys

The winners who defined Tropical Latin Album.

42 ceremonies, 1984–2025. 30 different winners. The longest run belongs to Eddie Palmieri, with 2 straight wins.

Who won most recently?
Tony Succar & Mimy Succar in 2025 for Alma, Corazón y Salsa (Live at Gran Teatro Nacional).
Who has won the most?
Eddie Palmieri, Gloria Estefan and Israel López "Cachao", tied on 3 wins each.
  1. Alma, Corazón y Salsa (Live at Gran Teatro Nacional)Tony Succar & Mimy Succar
  2. Siembra: 45º Aniversario (En Vivo en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 14 de Mayo 2022)Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta
  3. Pa'lla VoyMarc Anthony
  4. SALSWING!Rubén Blades & Roberto Delgado & Orquesta
  5. 40Grupo Niche
  6. A Journey Through Cuban MusicAymée Nuviola
Years explored
1984–2025
Different winners
30
Category leader
Eddie Palmieri · 3
About this record

Best Tropical Latin Album was first awarded in 1984, so it does not run the full 1959–2025 window.

It was previously known as Best Traditional Tropical Latin Performance, then Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album.

Traditional came out of the name at the 2011 ceremony, once separate salsa and merengue awards had been gone for four years.

It took over from Best Salsa/Merengue Album.

2000–2025

26 ceremonies

19842025

01 / The reigns

22 winners shaped this category.

The timeline turns the 2000–2025 record into a sequence of reigns. Longer bands reveal sustained runs; color shows the credited label.

  1. 01
    Carlos Vives2 wins
  2. 02
    Israel López "Cachao"2 wins
  3. 03
    Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta2 wins
  4. 04
    Spanish Harlem Orchestra2 wins
One band per year, because no winner has gone back-to-back in the years on record. Colored by label; scroll sideways for the full run.
Tito Puente'00
Gloria Estefan'01
Carlos Vives'02
Bebo Valdés with Israel López "Cachao" and Carlos "Patato" Valdes'03
Ibrahim Ferrer'04
Israel López "Cachao"'05
Bebo Valdés'06
Gilberto Santa Rosa'07
Juan Luis Guerra'08
José Feliciano'09
Luis Enrique'10
Spanish Harlem Orchestra'11
Israel López "Cachao"'12
Marlow Rosado and La Riqueña'13
Pacific Mambo Orchestra'14
Carlos Vives'15
Rubén Blades with Roberto Delgado & Orquesta'16
Jose Lugo & Guasábara Combo'17
Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta'18
Spanish Harlem Orchestra'19
Aymée Nuviola'20
Grupo Niche'21
Rubén Blades & Roberto Delgado & Orquesta'22
Marc Anthony'23
Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta'24
Tony Succar & Mimy Succar'25

02 / The power map

Who stood behind the winners?

Sony leads the recorded label credits with 3 wins, 2000–2025. The full distribution shows whether power was concentrated or shared.

Sony3 wins
EMI Televisa Music1 win
PPM Records1 win
RMM1 win
Ruben Blades Productions1 win
Rubén Blades Productions1 win
Wins by label
  1. Sony325%
  2. EMI Televisa Music18%
  3. PPM Records18%
  4. RMM18%
  5. Ruben Blades Productions18%
  6. Rubén Blades Productions18%
  7. Other433%

14 further wins have no label on record and are not counted in the 12 above.

14 of these 26 wins have no label on record, so the chart covers the other 12.

03 / The near misses

The names that kept coming back without the ending they wanted.

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2025. Excludes 3 nominations credited to Various artists, which names a compilation rather than an act.

Most nominated, never won this award

  1. 01
    El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
    4 noms
  2. 02
    Omara Portuondo
    4 noms
  3. 03
    Edwin Bonilla
    2 noms
  4. 04
    Eliades Ochoa
    2 noms
  5. 05
    Orquesta Aragón
    2 noms
  6. 06
    Tiempo Libre
    2 noms

Most losses in this category

  1. 01
    Carlos Vives
    4L · 2W
  2. 02
    El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
    4L · 0W
  3. 03
    Omara Portuondo
    4L · 0W
  4. 04
    Marc Anthony
    3L · 1W
  5. 05
    Edwin Bonilla
    2L · 0W
  6. 06
    Eliades Ochoa
    2L · 0W

04 / The archive

Every year.
Every winner.

The complete reference behind the story, showing 2000–2025. Open any year to see the rest of the field when nominee records are available.

YearWinnerLabel
2025Tony Succar & Mimy Succar (Alma, Corazón y Salsa (Live at Gran Teatro Nacional))
beat 4 others
  • Marc Anthony (Muevense)
  • Sheila E. (Bailar)
  • Juan Luis Guerra (Radio Güira)
  • Kiki Valera (Vacilón Santiaguero)
Unity Entertainment
2024Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta (Siembra: 45º Aniversario (En Vivo en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 14 de Mayo 2022))
beat 5 others
  • 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)
Unknown
2023Marc Anthony (Pa'lla Voy)
beat 5 others
  • La Santa Cecilia (Quiero Verte Feliz)
  • Victor Manuelle (Lado A Lado B)
  • Tito Nieves (Legendario)
  • Spanish Harlem Orchestra (Imágenes Latinas)
  • Carlos Vives (Cumbiana II)
Sony Music Latin
2022Rubén Blades & Roberto Delgado & Orquesta (SALSWING!)
beat 4 others
  • El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico (En Cuarantena)
  • Aymée Nuviola (Sin Salsa No Hay Paraíso)
  • Gilberto Santa Rosa (- Colegas)
  • Tony Succar (- Live in Peru)
Ruben Blades Productions
2021Grupo Niche (40)
beat 4 others
  • José Alberto "El Ruiseñor" (Mi Tumbao)
  • Edwin Bonilla (Infinito)
  • Jorge Celedon & Sergio Luis (Sigo Cantando al Amor (Deluxe))
  • Víctor Manuelle (Memorias de Navidad)
PPM Records
2020Aymée Nuviola (A Journey Through Cuban Music)
beat 4 others
  • Marc Anthony (Opus)
  • Luis Enrique & C4 Trio (Tiempo al Tiempo)
  • Vicente Garcia (Candela)
  • Juan Luis Guerra & 4.40 (Literal)
Unknown
2019Spanish Harlem Orchestra (Anniversary)
beat 4 others
  • Charlie Aponte (Pa' Mi Gente)
  • Formell Y Los Van Van (Legado)
  • Orquesta Akokán (Orquesta Akokán)
  • Felipe Peláez (Ponle Actitud)
Unknown
2018Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta (Salsa Big Band)
beat 4 others
  • Albita (Albita)
  • Doug Beavers (Art of the Arrangement)
  • Silvestre Dangond (Gente Valiente)
  • Diego El Cigala (Indestructible)
Rubén Blades Productions
2017Jose Lugo & Guasábara Combo (Donde Están?)
beat 4 others
  • 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)
Unknown
2016Rubén Blades with Roberto Delgado & Orquesta (Son de Panamá)
beat 4 others
  • 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)
Unknown
2015Carlos Vives (Más Corazón Profundo)
beat 4 others
  • El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico (50 Anniversario)
  • Aymeé Nuviola (First Class to Havana)
  • PALO! (Live)
  • Totó La Momposina (El Asunto)
Sony Music Latin
2014Pacific Mambo Orchestra (Pacific Mambo Orchestra)
beat 4 others
  • Marc Anthony (3.0)
  • Los Angeles Azules (Como te Voy a Olvidar)
  • Various artists (Sergio George Presents Salsa Giants)
  • Carlos Vives (Corazón Profundo)
Unknown
2013Marlow Rosado and La Riqueña (Retro)
beat 3 others
  • Raúl Lara y sus Soneros (Cubano Soy)
  • Eddie Montalvo (Desde Nueva York a Puerto Rico)
  • Romeo Santos (Formula, Vol. 1)
Unknown
2012Israel López "Cachao" (The Last Mambo)
beat 2 others
  • Edwin Bonilla (Homenaje A Los Rumberos)
  • José Rizo's Mongorama (Monograma)
Unknown
2011Spanish Harlem Orchestra (Viva La Tradición)
beat 4 others
  • 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)
Unknown
2010Luis Enrique (Ciclos)
beat 4 others
  • Isaac Delgado (Así Soy)
  • José Lugo Orchestra (Guásabara)
  • Omara Portuondo (Gracias)
  • Tiempo Libre (Bach in Havana)
Top Stop Music
2009José Feliciano (Señor Bachata)
beat 4 others
  • Albita, Donato Poveda and Rey Ruiz (Cuba: Un Viaje Musical – A Musical Journey)
  • Dark Latin Groove (Renacer)
  • Gonzalo Grau y la Clave Secreta (Frutero Moderno)
  • New Swing Sextet (Back on the Streets... Taste of Spanish Harlem Vol. 2)
Unknown
2008Juan Luis Guerra (La Llave de Mi Corazón)
beat 4 others
  • ¡Cubanisimo! (Greetings from Havana)
  • Issac Delgado (En Primera Plana)
  • El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico (Arroz con Habichuela)
  • Spanish Harlem Orchestra (United We Swing)
EMI Televisa Music
2007Gilberto Santa Rosa (Directo al Corazón)
beat 4 others
  • Oscar D'León (Fuzionando)
  • Andy Montañez (Salsatón: Salsa con Reggaeton)
  • Tito Nieves (Hoy, Mañana y Siempre)
  • Tiempo Libre (What You've Been Waiting For – Lo Que Esperabas)
Unknown
2006Bebo Valdés (Bebo de Cuba)
beat 4 others
  • Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra with Arturo O'Farrill (Una Noche Inolvidable)
  • Conjunto Progreso (Masters of Cuban Son)
  • Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal (Buena Vista Social Club Presents)
  • Tropicana All Stars and Israel Kantor (Tradición)
Unknown
2005Israel López "Cachao" (Ahora Si!)
beat 4 others
  • Angel Meléndez and the 911 Mambo Orchestra (Angel Meléndez and the 911 Mambo Orchestra)
  • Cándido & Graciela (Inólvidable)
  • Omara Portuondo (Flor de Amor)
  • Tropicana All Stars (Recuerda a Beny Moré)
Unknown
2004Ibrahim Ferrer (Buenos Hermanos)
beat 4 others
  • Septeto Nacional Ignacio Pineiro (Poetas del Son)
  • Soneros de Verdad presents Rubalcaba (Pasado y Presente)
  • Barbarito Torres (Barbarito Torres)
  • Amadito Valdés (Bajando Gervasio)
Unknown
2003Bebo Valdés with Israel López "Cachao" and Carlos "Patato" Valdes (El Arte del Sabor)
beat 4 others
  • Grand Afro Cuban Orchestra of Generoso Jiménez (Generoso Qué Bueno Toca Usted)
  • Orquesta Aragón (En Route)
  • Plena Libre (Mi Ritmo)
  • various artists (Cuban Masters: Los Originales)
Blue Note/Lola Records (Spain)
2002Carlos Vives (Déjame Entrar)
beat 4 others
  • Compay Segundo (Las Flores de la Vida)
  • Rubén González (Chanchullo)
  • Los Super Seven (Canto)
  • Orquesta Aragón (La Charanga Eterna)
Sonolux/EMI Music/Virgin Records
2001Gloria Estefan (Alma Caribeña)
beat 4 others
  • Alex Acuña y su Acuarela de Tambores (Rhythms for a New Millenium)
  • Israel López "Cachao" (Cuba Linda)
  • Eliades Ochoa (Tribute to the Cuarteto Patria)
  • Omara Portuondo (Buena Vista Social Club Presents: Omara Portuondo)
Epic
2000Tito Puente (Mambo Birdland)
beat 5 others
  • Caravana Cubana (Late Night Sessions)
  • Ibrahim Ferrer (Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer)
  • Juan Carlos Formell (Songs from a Little Blue House)
  • Eliades Ochoa (Sublime Ilusión)
  • Carlos Vives (El Amor de Mi Tierra)
RMM