A South Texas singer beloved by San Antonians now has a song in the Library of Congress. Freddy Fender's "Before the Next Tear Drop Falls" has been selected to be included in the National Recording Registry, according to a social media announcement from United States representative Joaquin Castro.

Fender's ballad was one of three works by Latino musical artists selected for the honor this year. The others were Lin Manuel-Miranda's original cast recording of Hamilton and Vicente Fernández's "El Rey."

Tex-Mex superstar Fender needs no introduction to Alamo City audiences. Born Baldemar Huerta in San Benito, Texas, he became the second Mexican-American to earn a number-one country hit, following fellow Texan Johnny Rodriguez.

Joining locals Flaco Jiménez and Augie Meyers and San Antonio-born Doug Sahm, he was also a part of the Tejano supergroup Texas Tornados. Their 1990 hit "(Hey Baby) Que Paso?" still calls for a singalong when it's played at local bars.

Ranchero icon Fernández also has a song on the San Antonio playlist, the 1972 showstopper "Volver Volver." Although "El Rey" was initially composed by José Alfredo Jiménez, the song became synonymous with the late Mexican superstar.

"Anyone who has heard mariachi music knows 'El Rey' is like the staple mariachi song," said Castro in his announcement.

Rounding off the preserved Latino Library of Congress recordings is Manuel-Miranda's cast record of his blockbuster Hamilton. Since its debut in 2015, the musical has become a phenomenon, sweeping the Tony Awards and nabbing the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

"Anyone who has been to Broadway in the past 10 years will absolutely agree [it] should be on there," said the San Antonio Democrat.

Each year, Castro enlists the public's help in nominating Latino artists for the National Recording Registry. The congressman noted that only 5 percent of inductees currently represent the community. The three songs were among 25 included in the 2025 registry.

"Unfortunately, as I've said before, the Latino story and Latino achievements have often been left out of the larger American story," Castro said before inviting constituents to take part in the process next year.