Congressman Castro Launches Inaugural Call for Texas Music Nominations to National Recording Registry

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) has announced the launch of his first-ever call for songs and albums by Texas artists to be nominated for the prestigious National Recording Registry, aiming to spotlight the state’s vast and influential music legacy.

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“Texas is a hub for creative talent and the birthplace of many iconic musicians in various genres,” said Congressman Castro. “From George Strait’s soul-stirring country to Beto Villa’s orquesta Tejana, Texas artists represent a blend of various cultures, styles, and languages. This year, I want to honor their legacy by nominating Texas artists who have shaped the music industry in Texas and beyond.”

I'll be nominating songs and albums by Texas artists to the prestigious National Recording Registry at the @librarycongress—and I need your help!

Which songs and albums by Texas artists (10+ years old) should be recognized as culturally significant? Submit your nominations by… pic.twitter.com/MekZiPodmw
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) September 9, 2025

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Music fans, artists, and cultural advocates can submit both songs and albums at castro.house.gov/texasmusic. Eligible works must be at least ten years old, and the deadline for submissions is Sunday, September 21, 2025, at 11:59 PM CT.

The National Recording Registry, created by Congress in 2000, preserves recordings with cultural, historic, or aesthetic significance. Each year, 25 additional works are inducted. Of the 675 recordings currently preserved, less than 5% are from Texas artists. Existing Texas entries include Mance Lipscomb’s Texas Sharecropper and Songster (1960), Narciso Martinez and Santiago Almeida’s La Chicharronera (1936), and Bob Wills’ New San Antonio Rose (1940).

Congressman Castro has made it a mission to amplify Latino and Texas voices in the Registry. Since 2022, seven of his submitted nominations have been added, including Juan Gabriel’s Amor Eterno, Héctor Lavoe’s El Cantante, Vicente Fernandez’s El Rey, Freddy Fender’s Before the Next Teardrop Falls, and more.

This new call for Texas submissions marks the first time Congressman Castro has opened the nomination process to the public, giving fans and communities across the Lone Star State the chance to honor the music that defines Texas’ cultural identity.

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