Latin America in Popular U. S. Music

The following songs contain references to Latin American countries or to Latinos in the United States. Wherever available, dates, recording artists, lyrics and midi sound files have been included. Since more songs are being recorded every day, this page will be under construction forever.

A

A Banda...1967...Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass...Music
A Texan and a Girl From Mexico...1961...Anita Bryant
A Word in Spanish...Elton John...Lyrics...Music
Across the Alley from the Alamo...1962...Anita Bryant...Music...Lyrics
Adios...1989...Linda Ronstadt...Lyrics
Adios Amigo...1962...Jim Reeves...Lyrics
Affair in San Miguel...1978...The Rippingtons...Music
Ai No Corrida (I-No-Ko-ree-da)...Quincy Jones
Alibis...Sergio Mendes
All My Love...1950...Patti Page...Lyrics
Alma, Where Do You Live?...1910
Amapola...1941...Jimmy Dorsey...Music...Lyrics
Amelia...1967...Joni Mitchell...Lyrics
Amor...1961...Ben E. King...1962...Roger Williams...Music
Angela Mia...1928
Angelito...1964...Rene & Rene
The Argentines, the Portuguese and the Greeks...1920
Ay, Ay, Ay...1938

B

Bahama Mama...1957...Four Aces...Lyrics
Baja...1963...Atronauts
Balboa Blue...1957...Marketts
Ballad Of the Alamo...Marty Robbins
Bambaleo...Music
The Banana Boat Song...1957...Harry Belefonte...Music
Banana Republics...1976...Steve Goodman...Lyrics
Barracuda...Heart...Lyrics
Beans in My Ears...The Serendipity Singers
Bella Linda...The Grass Roots
Besame Mucho...1944...Jimy Dorsey...Music...Lyrics
Blame It on the Bossa Nova...1963...Eydie Gorme...Music
Blue Orchids...1939
Blue Tango...1952...1960...Billy Black's Combo...Music
Bongo Stomp...1962...Little Joey and the Flips
The Border...America
Border Song...1970...Aretha Franklin...Lyrics
Bossa Nova Baby...1963...Elvis Presley...Lyrics
The Bossa Nova Bird...1962...The Dells
Bossa Nova USA...1963...Dave Brubeck Quartet...Music
Brazil...1939...Xavier Cugat...Music
Brazilian Boogie...1944...Lena Horne
The Breeze and I... 1940...Jimmy Dorsey...Music...Lyrics
Buenos Aires...1976...Lyrics
Bungle in the Jungle...1974...Jethro Tull...Music
By the Sleepy Lagoon...1930

C

Calypso...1975...John Denver...Music
Can't Get Over the Bossa Nova...1964...Eydie Gorme
Cara Mia...1965...Jay & the Americans...Music...Lyrics
Caribbean...1959...Mitchell Trock...Music
Caribbean Blue...Enya...Music...Lyrics
Caribbean Queen...1984...Billy Ocean...Lyrics...Music
Carioca...1935...Music
Carmelita...1976...Warren Zevom
Cerveza...1961...Bert Kaempfert...1958...Boots Brown
The Cha Cha Cha...1962...Bobby Rydell...Lyrics
Cha-Hua-Hua...1958...Pets
Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes...Jimmy Buffett...Music...Lyrics
Chant of the Jungle...1928
The Charanga...1961...Merv Griffin
Chico Chico...1945
Chiquita...1928
Chiquitita...1979...Abba...Music...Lyrics
Cinco Robles...1957...Paul & Mary Ford...1957...Russel Ames
The Cisco Kid...War
Cocaine...1977...Eric Clapton...Music
Cocoanut Woman...Harry Belafonte
Coconut...1972...Nilsson
Coffee Song...1946...Lyrics
Colorado...1974...Linda Ronstadt
Come a Little Bit Closer...1964...Jay & The Americans...Music...Lyrics
Come Closer to Me (Acercate Mas)...Nat "King" Cole
Conga...Gloria Estefan...Music...Lyrics
Conquistador...1972...Procol Harum...Lyrics
Coo-Coo-U...1959...Kingston Trio
Copacabana...1978...Barry Manilow...Music...Lyrics
Corazon...1973...Carole King
Cortez the Killer...1975...Neil Young...Lyrics
Cuando Calienta el Sol...1963...Steve Allen...Music
Cuban Love Song...1931...Lawrence Tibbett
Cuban Slide...1981...Pretenders...Lyrics
The Cubanola Glide...1909

D

Delicado...1952...Percy Faith
Desafinado...1962...Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd...Music...Lyrics
Desperado...1973...The Eagles...Music...Lyrics
Dolores...1941...Lyrics
Donde esta Santa Claus?...1958...Augie Rios
Donkey Serenade...1937...Allan Jones
Don't Cry for Me, Argentina...1980...Festival...Music...Lyrics
Down Among the Sheltering Palms...1915
Down Among the Sugar Cane...1929
Down Argentine Way...1940
Down in Jungle Town...1908

E

Ecuador...Music
El Condor Pasa...1970...Simon & Garfunkel...Music
El Matador...1960...Kingston Trio
El Paso...1959...Marty Robbins...Music...Lyrics
El Pussy Cat...1965...Mongo Santamaria
El Rancho Grande...1934
El Rancho Rock...1958...Champs
El Watusi...1963...Ray Barretto
Enamorado...1963...Keith Colley
Eres Tu...1974...Mocedades...Lyrics
Eso Beso...1962...Paul Anka
Estrellita...1923

F

Feeling (Dime)...1975...Morris Albert
Felicidad...1967...Sally Field
Ferdinand the Bull...1938
Fernando...1976...Abba...Music...Lyrics
Fiesta...1962...Dave Baby Cortez...Music
Flamingo...1941...1966
Fly Me to the Moon Bossa Nova...1962...Joe Harnell
Flying Down to Rio...1933
Frenesi...1941...Artie Shaw...Music...Lyrics

G

Gay Ranchero...1937
The Girl from Ipanema...1964...Gilberto Getz...Music...Lyrics
Green Eyes...1929
Gringo in Mexico...1975...Maria Muldar
Guantanamera...1966...Sandpipers...Music...Lyrics

H

Ha-Cha-Cha...1934
Havana Moon...Chuck Berry
Havana Daydreaming...1976...Jimmy Buffett
Hernando's Hideaway...1954...Archie Bleyer...Music
How Much Tequila (Did I Drink Last Night?)...Lyrics

I

I Get Ideas (Adios Muchachos)...1951...Tony Martin
I Go to Rio...1977...Peter Allen
I Got Mexico...1984...Eddy Raven
I Talk to the Tress Cha Cha...1959...Edmundo Ros
I Want to Be Happy Cha Cha...1958...Tommy Dorsey
In Acapulco...1945
In the Market Place of Old Monterey...1948
Island Girl...1975...Elton John...Music...Lyrics
Island in the Sun...1957...Cocoanut Woman...Lyrics
It's Impossible (Somos Novios)...1971...Perry Como...Music
It Happened in Monterey....1930...Lyrics
It Takes Two to Tango...Pearl Bailey

J

Jamaica Farewell...1956...Harry Belefonte...Music...Lyrics
Jamaica, Say You Will...1972...Jackson Brown
Jamaica Ska...1964...Ska Kings
Jimmy Martinez...1961...Marty Robbins
The Jive Samba...1963...Cannonball Adderley
Jose Cuervo...1983...Shelly West
Juanita...1926
Juanita Banana...1966...Peels
Julia...1969...Ramsey Lewis Trio
Jungle Boogie...1974...Kool & the Gang
Jungle Drums...1933
Jungle Fever...1972...The Chakachas
Jungle Love...1977...Steve Miller Band...Lyrics
Jungleland...1975...Bruce Springsteen...Music
Jura...1961...Les Paul & Mary Ford

K

Ka-Lu-A...1921
Katie Went to Haiti...1939
Kiss of Fire...1952...Georgia Gibbs...Lyrics
Kokomo...Beach Boys......Music...Lyrics

L

La Bamba...1959...Ritchie Valens...Music...Lyrics
La Cucaracha...1934...Music
La Fiesta...Chic Corea...Music
La Isla Bonita...Madonna...Music...Lyrics
La La La...1966...Gerry & Pacemakers...1969...Bobby Sherman
La Montana...1960...Frank DeVol
La Pachanga...1961...Audry Arno & Hazy Osterwald Sextet
La Paloma...1958...Billy Vaughn...Music
La Paloma Twist...1962...Chubby Checker
Lambada...Kaoma...Music
Last Tango in Paris...1973...Herb Alpert & Tijauna Brass
Lemon Tree...Peter, Paul & Mary
Let's Go Calypso...1957...Rusty Draper
Let's Limbo Some More...1963...Chubby Checker
Like An Inca...1983...Neil Young
Like Columbus Did...1983...Reflections
Limbo...1962...Caprices
Limbo Dance...1962...Champs
Limbo Rock...1962...Chubby Checker...Music...Lyrics
Lindy, Lindy, Sweet As Sugar Cane...1904
The Lion Sleeps Tonight...1961...Tokens...Music...Lyrics
Little Coco Palm...Jerry Wallace
Little Latin Lupe Lu...1964...Kingsmen...1963...Righteous Brothers...Lyrics
Living Through Another Cuba...1982...XTC...Lyrics
Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero...1968...Rene & Rene
The Lonely Bull...1962...Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass...Music
The Loneliest Night of the Year (Sobre las Olas)...1951
Love Me With All Your Heart (Cuando Calienta El Sol)...Ray Charles Singers

M

Macarena...1996...Los Del Rio...Music
Macho Man...1978...The Village People...Lyrics
Magdalena...1974...Danny O'Keefe
The Magic Tango...Hugo Winterhalte
The Magnificent Seven...1960...Al Carola...Music
Mama Guitar...1957...Don Cornell...1957...Julius LaRosa
Mama Inez...1930...Xavier Cugat
Mambo Italiano...1954...Rosemary Clooney...Lyrics
Mambo Number 5...1999...Lou Bega...Music
Managua, Nicaragua
Mangos...1957...Rosemary Clooney
Manzanillo Bay...1976...Arlo Guthrie
Mañana...1948...Peggy Lee...Lyrics
Margaritaville...Jimmy Buffett...Music
Maria...1960...Johnny Mathis
Maria Elena...1941...Jimmy Dorsey...1963...Los Indios Trabajaras...Music...Lyrics
Marianne..1955...Terry Gilkyson...Lyrics
Marimba Charleston...1956...Marimba Chiapas
Marta...1931...Arthur Tracey
Martinique...1959...Martin Denny
Mas Que Nada...1966...Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
The Matador...1963...Johnny Cash...1964...Major Lance
Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard...1972...Paul Simon...Lyrics
Memories of Maria...1962...Jerry Byrd
Mendocino...1975...Kate & Anna McGarrigle...1969...Sir Douglas Quintet
Message From Maria...1968...Joe Simon
Mexicali Rose...1938...Bing Crosby
Mexican Drummer Boy...1964...Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass
Mexican Hat Rock...1958...Applejacks
Mexican Joe...Music...Lyrics
The Mexican Shuffle...1964...Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass...Music
Mexican Pearls...1966...Billy Vaughn
Mexican Voodoo...1983...Wall of Voodoo
Mexico...1975...James Taylor
Mi Casa Su Casa...1957...Perry Como
The Mighty Quinn...1970...Bob Dylan
Mission Bell...1960...Donnie Brooks...Lyrics
Montego Bay...1970...Bobby Bloom...Music
Monterey...1967...Eric Burdon & The Animals
Moon Over Miami...Eddy Duchin...Lyrics
My Adobe Hacienda...1941
My Maria...1973...B. W. Stevenson...Music
My San Domingo Maid...1903

N

Nuevo Laredo...1956...Les Paul & Mary Ford

O

Oh My Maria...1956...Eddie Fisher
Old Sanish Town...1959...Bell Notes
Oo-La-La-Limbo...1963...Danny & The Juniors
Orchids in the Moonlight...1933
Orinoco Flow...Enya...Music...Lyrics
Oye Como Va...1971...Santana...Music

P

Padre...1958...Tom Arden
Paloma Blanca...1976...George Baker Selection
Panama...1984...Van Halen...Music
Pancho and Lefty...1977...EmmyLou Harris
Papa Loves Mambo...1954...Perry Como...Music
Pata Pata...1958...Miriam Mahela
Patricia...1958...Perez Prado...Music
The Peanut Vendor...1960...Ventures...Music
Pepper-Hot Baby...Jaye P. Morgan
Perfidia...1960...Ventures...Music
The Pina Colada Song...Rupert Holmes...Lyrics
Poco-Loco...1959...Gene & Eunice
Poinciana......Music...Lyrics
Por Favor...1955...Vic Damone
Port Au Prince...1956...Nelson Riddle
Postcard From Jamaica...1967...Camel Sopwith
Pour Me Another Tequila, Sheila...Bobby Bare...Lyrics
Pretty Flamingo...1966...Manfred Mann

Q

Quando, Quando, Quando...1962...Pat Boone...Music
Que Sera, Sera...1955...Doris day...1963...High Keys...Music...Lyrics

R

Rainy Night in Rio...1927
Ramona...1979...Gene Austen
Rhumba Girl...1979...Nicholette Larson
Rio...1984...Duran Duran...Music
Rio de Janeiro...1944
Rio Rita...1928...J. Harold Murray & Ethelind Terry
Rocka-Conga...1958...Applejacks
Romancing the Stone...1984...Eddy Grant...Music
Rosalita...1973...Bruce Springsteen
Rum and Coca Cola...1945...Andrew Sisters...Music
Run Through the Jungle...1970...Creedence Clearwater Revival

S

San-Ho-Zay...1961...Fredy King
Sausalito...1969...Al Martino
Sausalito Summernight...1981...Diesel
Say Si, Si...1936
Senor Santa Claus...Lyrics
Senorita...1948
The Shade of the Palm
Sierra Sue...Bing Crosby...Lyrics
Sleepy Lagoon...1942...Tommy Dorsey...Lyrics
Sneaking Things Across the Border
South America, Take It Away...1946...Bing Crosby
South American Way...1939
South of the Border...1939...Gene Autry...Music...Lyrics
Spanish Eyes...1965...Al Martino...Music
Spanish Flea...1966...Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass...Music
Spanish Harlem...1961...Ben E. King...Music...Lyrics
Spanish Johnny...1981...EmmyLou Harris
Spanish Lace...1962...Gene McDaniels
Spanish Nights and You...1966...Connie Francis
Speedy Gonzales...1962...Pat Boone...Lyrics
Stranded in the Jungle...1956...Cadets...1956...Gadabouts
Suavecito...1972...Suave
Sweet Chile...1959...Sheb Wooley
Stranger from Durango...1960...Richie Allen

T

Talk to Me of Mendocino...1982...Linda Ronstadt
Tampico...1945...Stan Kenton
Tangerine...1942...Jimmy Dorsey...Music...Lyrics
Tango of the Drums...1956...Les Baxter
Tango Tzigane (Jalousie)...1938...Arthur Fiedler
Te Amo...1956...Dick Jacobs
Tea for Two Cha Cha...1958...Tommy Dorsey...Music
Teach Me Tonight Cha Cha...1959...DeCastro Sisters...Music...Lyrics
Tequila...1958...Champs...1964...Bill Black's Combo...Music
Tequila Sunrise...1973...The Eagles...Music
Tequila Twist...1962
Theme From Chico and the Man...1975...Jose Feliciano
There's A Great Day Coming Manana...1940
They Were Doin' the Mambo...Vaughn Monroe
Tico-Tico...1943...Xavier Cugat...Music
That Acapulco Gold...1967...Rainy Daze
The Tijuana Jail...1959...Kingston Trio...Lyrics
Tijuana Taxi...1965...Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass...Music
Ti-Pi-Tin...1938...Horace Heidt...Lyrics
To My Ranch (El Rancho Grande)...1934
Too Much Tequila...1960
Torero...1958...Renato Carosone
Touch the Wind (Eres Tu)...1974...Mocedades...Lyrics
Trade Winds...Bing Crosby...Lyrics
Twist, Twist, Senora...1962...Gary US Bonds

U

V

Valley Valparaiso...1956...Percy Faith
Vaquero...1960...Fireballs
Vaya Con dios...1953...Les Paul & Mary Ford...1964...Drifters...Music...Lyrics
Viva Tirado...1970...El Chicano
Voodoo Chili...Jimi Hendrix...Music
Voodoo Woman...1965...Bobby Goldsboro

W

The Wang Dang Taffy Apple Tango...1962...Pat Boone...Lyrics
Wango Tango...1980...Ted Nugent
What A Diff'rence A Day Made (Cuando Vuelva a tu Lado)...1958...Lyrics
When Rock "N Roll Comes to Trinidad...1957...Nat King Cole
When Yuba Plays the Rhumba on the Tuba...1931
Who's That Girl?...Madonna...Music...Lyrics

X

Y

You Belong to My Heart...1945...Dora Luz...Music...Lyrics
You Don't Have to Know the Language...1947
You, Me and Mexico...1970...Edward Bear
Yours (Quiereme Mucho)...1941...Jimmy Dorsey...Lyrics

Z

Zazuera...1969...Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass
Zorro...1958...Chordettes...Lyrics

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