In the wake of the crossover mania that characterized the Latin music industry at the end of the 90s Ricky Martin Shakira Paulina Rubio Thala -- all of whom released English-language albums around this time came Juanes a Latin artist so great he didn…

An exceptionally well-regarded Spanish poprock band La Oreja de Van Gogh are also one of the most commercially successful with each of their albums selling around a million copies worldwide Driven by electric guitar and keyboard their music is easily…

Blessed with a melodic touch that made them a sensation right out of the gate Sin Bandera enjoyed enormous acclaim and commercial success with their self-titled debut in 2002 and continued to record superlative romantic Latin pop in the years that fo…

Born in Mexico, Thalia Sodi started her performing career before the age of 10, and she quickly went on to become a popular teen singer and soap opera actress in her native country. In 2002, Thalia began work on crossing over to a wider American audi…

b. Elmer Figueroa de Arce, 28 June 1968, San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. Chayanne is one of the leading figures in contemporary Latin music, receiving numerous gold and platinum awards and selling millions of records around the world. He first started sing…

This photogenic Colombian singer began her recording career at the tender age of 13. It wasn't long before her eclectic brand of Latin pop became a sensation in numerous Spanish-speaking countries. In 1998, without making the concession of singing in…

b. Paulina Rubio Dosamantes, 17 June 1971, Mexico City, Mexico. The daughter of Mexican film and soap opera actress Susana Dosamantes, Rubio's music career has followed a similar course to another Latin star of the new millennium, Colombian singer Sh…

b. Luis Miguel Gallegos, 19 April 1970, Puerto Rico. Undoubtedly the most successful Latin star of the 90s, singer Luis Miguel has won four Grammys and sold over 36 million records worldwide. Born in Puerto Rico, but raised in Spain and Mexico, Migue…

There may be little that is musically authentic about RBD a prefabricated poprock act that was initiated on television yet the group of Mexican teens achieved astounding commercial success quickly becoming a multilingual pop culture juggernaut whose …

b. 18 December 1968, Madrid, Spain. Balladeer and pop singer Alejandro Sanz began recording for WEA Latina in 1991 with Viviendo Deprisa. His fourth long player, 1997's Más, emerged as the success story of 1997 in Spain. Indeed, the album is widely a…

Probably the biggest of the Rock en Espanol bands, Mexican group Mana has a long history. The core members started recording together under another name in the early 1980s, finally releasing the debut Mana album in 1988. Their sound mixes traditional…

Initially molded as a traditional Latin balladeer one who sings romantic songs with much dramatic flair over sweeping string arrangements Luis Fonsi enjoyed much success as such though he began to break from that mold steadily beginning with Paso a P…

b. Eros Ramazotti, Italy. Ramazotti began his professional career in 1982, when he was spotted at the Castrocaro talent contest. Roberto Gallanti, at that time managing director at Italian independent label DDD Records, immediately signed him. In 198…

One of the most gifted and accomplished -- and certainly one of the most respected -- artists in the Latin music sphere during the late 90s and into the next century Julieta Venegas enjoyed enormous acclaim during her run and though commercial succes…

Italian Euro-pop vocalist Nek b Filippo Neviani began playing guitar and drums at the age of nine and studied music for several years in the early 80s By the later half of the decade he had begun singing professionally and two of his early singles Wi…

b. 19 January 1964, Antigua, Guatemala. This singer-songwriter broke into the upper regions of the Latin American charts in the late 90s with a series of well received and often controversial albums. Arjona was born and raised in rural Guatemala, and…

Italian pop singersongwriter Tiziano Ferro became involved in music while attending a local conservatory taking guitar and piano classes in addition to improving his vocal skills At the age of 16 he joined a gospel chorus uncovering his passion for A…

One of Mexicos most famous performers of romantic songs ballads and traditional mariachi favorites Alejandro Fernandez has played New Yorks Madison Square Garden and routinely sells out Mexico Citys Auditorio Nacional once for 12 dates within three w…

Pop singer David Bisbal rose to fame quickly after competing on Spains Operation Triumph a reality program similar to the UKs Pop Idol The five-month program pitted young hopefuls against one another in a series of singing contests Bisbal eventually …

This Miami, Florida, USA-based Latin alternative pop band was formed in the mid-90s by University of Miami students Jorge Villamizar (b. Colombia; vocals/guitar), André Lopes (b. Brazil; bass), and José Javier Freire (b. Puerto Rico; percussion). Des…