Latin Grammys to Honor José Alfredo Jiménez
The Latin Recording Academy will pay tribute to the Mexican composer at its 27th annual ceremony, marking his centennial of birth.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Latin
The Latin Recording Academy will honor José Alfredo Jiménez at the 27th Annual Latin Grammy Awards on November 12 in Las Vegas. The tribute celebrates the centennial of Jiménez's birth, which was January 19, 1926, in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato.
Why it matters
The tribute places a foundational figure of Mexican popular music at the center of the Latin music industry's biggest annual ceremony. It also highlights a songwriter who composed more than 1,000 songs.
Jiménez is credited with more than 1,000 songs, a catalog that the tribute will spotlight during the November 12 ceremony. Edgar Barrera, who has the most nominations at this year's ceremony, is serving as musical producer of the tribute.
The players
José Alfredo Jiménez
Mexican singer-songwriter born in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, whose more than 1,000 songs made him one of the most influential figures in Mexican ranchera music.
Latin Recording Academy
The organization that presents the Latin Grammy Awards and recognizes excellence in Latin music across genres and countries.
Edgar Barrera
Songwriter and producer who has the most nominations at this year's Latin Grammy ceremony and is serving as musical producer of the Jiménez tribute.
Maná
Mexican rock band that performed a version of Jiménez's "El Rey" during the halftime show of the 2026 World Cup match between Mexico and England.
The details
Jiménez composed melodies by humming or whistling them without formal training, relying on musicians to translate his ideas into arrangements. His father died when he was 10, after which his family moved to Mexico City, where he took on various jobs to support them.
Timeline
January 19, 1926: Jiménez is born in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato.
2026 World Cup: Maná performs a version of "El Rey" at the halftime of the Mexico vs. England match.
November 12: The tribute is held at the 27th Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas.
Legacy Tribute
The Latin Grammy tribute follows the pattern of honoring foundational Latin American songwriters on centennial anniversaries, placing Jiménez among figures whose catalogs continue to shape contemporary Latin music. Maná's 2026 World Cup performance of "El Rey" shows how his material is being reintroduced to new audiences.
Viewers can watch the 27th Latin Grammy Awards ceremony, where the Jiménez tribute will be presented on November 12 in Las Vegas. The tribute gives audiences a focused opportunity to revisit the catalog of a songwriter credited with more than 1,000 songs.
The takeaway
Jiménez's centennial tribute is a reminder that a composer who could not read music left a catalog large enough to keep being reinterpreted by new artists generations later. Listeners can explore his work and the artists keeping it alive.
What happens next
The tribute will be presented at the 27th Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas on November 12, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the genre's artists and history, explore the Latin music section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Remezcla.
