“Amor Eterno” by Juan Gabriel and “El Cantante” by Héctor Lavoe will be safeguarded for posterity, the Library of Congress announced Tuesday.
The two tracks are among 25 “audio treasures” selected for inclusion in the National Recording Registry based on their “significance to the nation's recorded sound heritage.” Established in 2000, the registry is a collection of 650 audio recordings preserved by the Library of Congress that are considered “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Among this year's selections are “Ain't No Sunshine” by Bill Withers, “Parallel Lines” by Blondie and “Dookie” by Green Day.
For “Amor Eterno” and “El Cantante,” their cultural importance to Latino communities dates back decades.
Gabriel, the iconic Mexican singer-songwriter who died in 2016 at age 66, released “Amor Eterno” in 1990 as a tribute to his late mother. Since then, the mariachi ballad has become a symbol of pain and eternal love for those who have passed away.
In 2019, “Amor Eterno” was widely heard at memorials and funerals in El Paso in the wake of a mass shooting that killed 23 people. Authorities say the gunman drove more than 700 miles to the border area to specifically target Latinos and opened fire at a Walmart. At the time, singer and teacher Martha González told NPR that the song had become “not only an act of mourning but also an act of protest and saying, 'We're here and we're not going anywhere.'” .
Gabriel's son, Iván Gabriel Aguilera, who worked with the Library of Congress to have the song included in Spanish, said the recognition is a great honor for those who loved his father's music.
“I think future generations, that's what he always wanted, will see his music and make it relatable to their lives as well. He always said that 'as long as the public, the people, continue singing my music, Juan Gabriel will never die,' and it's nice to see that happen here,” Aguilera said.
“El Cantante” is considered one of salsa's most iconic anthems, recorded by one of the genre's biggest stars and released by arguably its biggest label.
Born in Puerto Rico, Lavoe moved to New York in the early '60s and quickly established himself as the face of the '70s salsa boom, first as a singer in bands led by Johnny Pacheco and Willie Colón and later as a solo artist. . Written by Rubén Blades and produced by Colón, both Fania Records colleagues, “El Cantante” became the first single from Lavoe’s 1978 album, “Comedia.”
In 1993, Lavoe died in Manhattan from complications of AIDS. She was 46 years old.
“Amor Eterno” and “El Cantante” now join songs like “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee, “Livin' La Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin and “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens as Latin songs included in the National Recording Registry .
