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

Legendary Latin artists Vicente Fernández and Freddy Fender are among this year’s inductees into the National Recording Registry, a prestigious honor from the Library of Congress.

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.”

“El Rey” (meaning “The King”), from the 1973 album El Ídolo de Mexico, is one of the most recognizable songs in regional Mexican music. Written by Mexican composer José Alfredo Jiménez in 1971, the song gained even greater prominence when Fernández recorded his definitive version two years later.

With its kingly themes of resilience and pride, “El Rey” has become emblematic of Chente’s enduring legacy, even inspiring a 2022 Netflix bioseries of the same name that celebrates his life and career. The mariachi singer — who died in 2021 — remains one of Mexico’s most celebrated musical figures, and his induction into the Registry further solidifies his enduring legacy.

Meanwhile, Fender’s “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” stands as a testament to the singer’s ability to bridge cultures and genres. The 1975 single — which features verses sung in both English and Spanish — broke boundaries in the music industry by becoming a crossover hit, reaching No. 1 on both the Hot Country Songs chart and the Billboard Hot 100.

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. See the complete 2025 National Recording Registry inductees here.

See the complete list of Latin recordings in the Registry here.