Hits on the Top 40 Charts

Besides Los Lobos (“La Bamba,” No. 1, 1987), only a handful of Latino artists have made the national Top 40 singles charts singing in Spanish. They include:

* Ritchie Valens, “La Bamba,” No. 22 in 1959.

* Ray Barreto, “El Watusi,” No. 17 in 1963.

* Santana, “Oye Como Va,” No. 13 in 1971.

* Mocedades, “Eres Tu,” No. 9 in 1974.

* Malo, “Suavecito,” No. 18 in 1972.

No group or artist--except Elvis Presley--has surpassed Perez Prado’s 1955 hit “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” with its 10 weeks as the nation’s No. 1 song. Perez Prado’s hit was an instrumental mambo. Other instrumental Top 40 hits by Latino groups include:

* Perez Prado, “Patricia,” No. 1 in 1958.

* Los Indios Trabajaras, “Maria Elena,” No. 6 in 1963.

* El Chicano, “Viva Tirado--Part 1,” No. 28 in 1970.