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Vicente Fernández’s Ranchera Classic ‘El Rey’ Added to National Recording Registry


Vicente Fernández's "El Rey" & Freddy Fender's "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" join the National Recording Registry, honoring iconic Latin music.

Fernández’s ranchera anthem “El Rey” and Fender’s bilingual country crossover hit “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” join a select group of recordings recognized for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Fender’s emotive performance and heartfelt delivery turned the song into a classic, showcasing the power of Latin voices in country music — a genre that initially had limited representation from Hispanic artists. As for non-Latin artists, the list also includes Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black,” Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”, Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Mary J. Blige’s My Life, and the cast album for the Broadway hit Hamilton: An American Musical.

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