Artists like La Sonora Matancera
Kindred artists that sit next to La Sonora Matancera on the star chart — same era, adjacent sound, or overlapping influence. Tap any card to open its full page.
Bienvenido GrandaartistBienvenido Granda, born Rosendo Bienvenido Granda Aguilera, was a Cuban vocalist, songwriter and musician, singing boleros, son montunos, guarachas and other Cuban rhythms. He was best known for having been the lead singer of the Cuban ensemble Sonora Matancera in the 1940s and 50s. He had a distinctive voice, relaxing and sensual.
Celia CruzartistCelia Caridad Cruz Alfonso, known as Celia Cruz, was a Cuban-American singer and one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century. Cruz rose to fame in Cuba during the 1950s as a singer of guarachas, earning the nickname La Guarachera de Cuba. In the following decades, she became known internationally as the "Queen of Salsa" due to her contributions to Latin music. She sold over 30 million records, making her one of the best-selling Latin music artists.
Johnny PachecoartistJuan Pablo Knipping Pacheco, known as Johnny Pacheco, was a Dominican musician, arranger, composer, bandleader, and record producer. Born in the Dominican Republic, Pacheco became a leading figure in the New York salsa scene in the 1960s and 1970s as the founder and musical director of Fania Records.
Oscar D'LeónartistÓscar Emilio León Simosa, known as Oscar D'León, and affectionately called The Pharaoh of Salsa, The Lion of Salsa, and the World's Sonero, is a Venezuelan musician and bassist best known for his salsa music. He is the author of "Llorarás", which he recorded in 1974 with his group, Dimensión Latina. He is also an ambassador for Operation Smile.
Tommy Olivenciaartist
Fruko Y Sus Tesosartist
El Gran Combo De Puerto Ricoartist
Fania All Starsartist
Billo's Caracas Boysartist
Rubén Bladesartist
Grupo NicheartistGrupo Niche is a salsa group founded in 1978 in Bogotá, Colombia. It enjoys great popularity throughout Latin America. It was founded by Jairo Varela and Alexis Lozano. Varela remained with the group throughout his life, serving as producer, director, songwriter, vocalist, and guiro player. Alexis Lozano, trombone player and arranger later left to form Orquesta Guayacán. The group also included Nicolas Cristancho "Macabi" on the piano, Francisco Garcia "Porky" on the bass, Luis Pacheco, on the congas, and vocalists Jorge Bazán and Hector Viveros.
Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Soundartist
Joe Cuba Sextetartist
Héctor LavoeartistHéctor Juan Pérez Martínez, better known as Héctor Lavoe, was a Puerto Rican salsa singer. Widely regarded as one of salsa's most important and influential vocalists, Lavoe played a pivotal role in popularizing the genre throughout the 1960s, '70s, and '80s. His charismatic persona and artistic vision propelled him to become one of the most successful Latin music artists of all time.
Ray BarrettoartistRaymundo "Ray" Barretto Pagán was an American percussionist and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent. Throughout his career as a percussionist, he played a wide variety of Latin music styles, as well as Latin jazz. His first hit, "El Watusi", was recorded by his Charanga Moderna in 1962, becoming the most successful pachanga song in the United States. In the late 1960s, Barretto became one of the leading exponents of boogaloo and what would later be known as salsa. Nonetheless, many of Barretto's recordings would remain rooted in more traditional genres such as son cubano. A master of the descarga, Barretto was a long-time member of the Fania All-Stars. His success continued into the 1970s with songs such as "Cocinando" and "Indestructible". His last album for Fania Records, Soy dichoso, was released in 1990. He then formed the New World Spirit jazz ensemble and continued to tour and record until his death in 2006. He is the father of American vocalist and saxophonist Chris Barretto, best known for being the former singer of progressive metal bands Monuments and Periphery.
Los Tres Diamantesartist
Alci AcostaartistAlci Acosta is a Colombian bolero singer, pianist, and performer of Latin American music including pasillos, corridos, valses, and rancheras.
The Latin Brothersartist
Tito RodriguezartistPablo Rodríguez Lozada, better known as Tito Rodríguez, was a Puerto Rican singer and bandleader. He started his career singing under the tutelage of his brother, Johnny Rodríguez. In the 1940s, both moved to New York, where Tito worked as a percussionist in several popular rhumba ensembles, before directing his own group to great success during the 1950s. His most prolific years coincided with the peak of the mambo and cha-cha-cha dance craze. He also recorded boleros, sones, guarachas and pachangas.
Joe ArroyoartistÁlvaro Arroyo González was a Colombian salsa and tropical music singer, composer and songwriter. He is considered one of the greatest performers of Caribbean and salsa music in his country and across Latin America. In 2018, Billboard counted Arroyo's song "La Rebelión" as one of the "15 Best Salsa Songs Ever".
Jerry RiveraartistJerry Rivera is a Puerto Rican salsa singer and songwriter.
Eliades OchoaartistEliades Ochoa Bustamante is a Cuban guitarist and singer from Loma de la Avispa, Songo La Maya in the east of the country near Santiago de Cuba.
Eddie SantiagoartistEddie Santiago is a salsa singer from Puerto Rico. He is one of the great figures of this musical genre, with popular songs such as "Tù Me Haces Falta" on Soy el Mismo, "Lluvia" on Sigo Atrevido, "Mía" on Invasión de la Privacidad, and "Tú Me Quemas" on Atrevido y Diferente.
La Lupeartist