Hispanic Heritage Month: 20 Latin Music Icons & Their Cultural Relevance Today

Billboard is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting 20 of the most iconic musical figures in Latin music who are no longer here but continue to have impact on the charts and/or have cultural relevancy.

Such is the case for Celia Cruz, who died in 2003 and now appears on a U.S. quarter. The late Cuban artist, known as The Queen of Salsa, was chosen as part of the American Women Quarters Program this year, making history as the first Afro-Latina to appear on the coin. Known for salsa anthems like “Quimbara” and “Guantanamera,” Cruz’s legacy is undeniable.

Meanwhile, Mexican singer-songwriter Ariel Camacho has gone on to influence and inspire a whole new generation of regional Mexican artists. From Christian Nodal to Natanael Cano and Junior H, the sierreño act went from being one of the most promising música mexicana acts to a legend after dying in a car accident in 2015 at 22 years old. “When Ariel Camacho passed away, he left us with that mentality that you can fulfill your dreams if you put a lot of heart into it, and he was just a guy with his guitar,” Nodal previously told Billboard. “He invited us to dream and think I can be something, too.”

Other Latin music icons include Mexico’s emblematic mariachi and ranchera singer Antonio Aguilar to Puerto Rico’s Héctor Lavoe and Texas’ memorable Selena Quintanilla. Below, check out 20 Latin music icons and their relevancy today.

Billboard Latin Music Week is returning to Miami Beach on Oct. 14-18, with confirmed superstars including Gloria Estefan, Alejandro Sanz and Peso Pluma, among many others. For tickets and more details, visit Billboardlatinmusicweek.com.