Inside The Recording Academy's Hispanic Heritage Month 2025 Celebration On Capitol Hill: Latin Music History, Dancing Senators & Conga Lines

On Monday night (Sept. 29), lessthan a week after Music Advocacy Day 2025, the Recording Academy presented a celebration in the historic Kennedy Caucus Room on Capitol Hill honoring the global impact of Latin music and the wide-reaching influence of Latin and Hispanic creators. One of the Recording Academy's official Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, the event - titled An Evening In Harmony: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Through Music and presented in partnership with Sens. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH) and the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino - honored Latin and Hispanic heritage in music while uplifting creativity, representation, and belonging across the music industry.

The event opened with a reception and remarks from Sen. Padilla, Sen. Moreno, Recording Academy Chief Advocacy & Public Policy Officer Todd Dupler, and Estuardo Rodriguez, executive director of the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino. The program then shifted to a panel discussion moderated by Dupler and featuring Willy Rodriguez, Secretary of the Recording Academy's New York Chapterand co-founder of the International Salsa Museum, alongside percussionist and bandleader Tito Puente Jr., son of legendary six-time GRAMMY winner and "King of Latin Music" Tito Puente.

(L-R) Willy Rodriguez, Tito Puente Jr., and Todd Dupler of the Recording Academy discuss music traditions at an Evening of Harmony Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Through Music on Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington, D.C. | Photo: Shannon Finney/Getty Images for the Recording Academy

The panel explored the global impact of Latin music, the origins of salsamusic, and the vital role of institutions like the International Salsa Museum and the National Museum of the American Latino in preserving cultural history and empowering Latin artists. The discussion also explored the legacy of Tito Puente, a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Awardrecipient and a global ambassador for salsa music.

Dupler emphasized the Recording Academy's commitment to uplifting Latin creators. "We're working to ensure that Latin creators see themselves represented at every level of the Academy," he said during the panel. "Events like this one celebrate not only the incredible artistry of Hispanic creators, butalso highlight how Latin music has shaped and continues to shape the global soundscape."

The evening culminated in a lively performance by Tito Puente Jr. and his nine-piece orchestra, which drew members of Congress and staffers alike onto the floor to dance to the rhythms of Latin music and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. At the height of the performance, the Kennedy Caucus Room - a space that has hosted pivotal moments in American history, from the Titanic hearings to the Watergate investigation - brokeout into a conga line, likely the first to be seen in a Senate Office Building. Sens. Peter Welch (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chris Coons (D-DE) joined the jovial celebration.

Guests dance atAn Evening In Harmony: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Through Music on Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington, D.C. | Photo: Shannon Finney/Getty Images for the Recording Academy

As we continue celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, the Recording Academy recognizes the traditions, artistry, and enduring contributions of Hispanic and Latin communities and creators, which remain an essential part of music and culture worldwide.

Visit GRAMMY.com this Hispanic Heritage Month for more exclusive content and videos celebrating Latin and Hispanic music, legends and rising stars.

Learn more about the Recording Academy's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, recent DEI achievements, and year-round work to support artists, creators, and music professionals of all backgrounds.

Music Advocacy Initiatives & Issues To Know