Pop culture in Puerto Rico, it can be said, has been historically affected both by the political changes the island has gone through, and by the changes in popular culture around the world.
Timeline of changes in Puerto Rican pop culture
- Miss Puerto Rico, Marisol Malaret, wins the Miss Universe pageant.
- Panamerican Games are held in San Juan in the summer of 1979.
- The beginning of the teenager Spanish rock groups era: La Pandilla is a very popular group in Puerto Rico, and their manager, Edgardo Diaz, forms Menudo in 1976.
- Luis Vigoreaux becomes one of the most popular figures of Puerto Rican television
- Tommy Muniz's Los Garcias is Puerto Rico's most popular television show.
- Telenovelas such as Cristina Bazan gain popularity in Puerto Rico.
- The disco era begins: popular musical acts of that time in Puerto Rico: The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, Diana Ross, The Village People.
- Roberto Clemente dies in 1972. He has been considered by many to be one of Puerto Rico's greatest sports legends.
- Wilfredo Gomez begins his six-year reign as boxing's WBC world Jr. Featherweight champion. He is also considered by many to be one of Puerto Rico's greatest sports legends.
- At the age of 17, Wilfred Benitez becomes the youngest world champion in boxing history, defeating Antonio Cervantes by a 15 round split decision to take the WBA world Jr. Welterweight title.
- Iris Chacon is the leading veddette of Puerto Rico.
- Menudo becomes a world-wide sensation, hitting record sales in many countries around the world. Soon, many other teen bands try to imitate Menudo's success.
- Los Chicos become Menudo's top competitors. Female groups like Las Cheris and Monedas aim to become the "female version" of Menudo.
- Many meeting places like restaurants, bars and entertainment have the "Viernes Social" (Social Friday) which planned activities right after 5pm.
- Deborah Carthy-Deu becomes the second Miss Puerto Rico to win the Miss Universe crown.
- Neon's Discoteque in San Juan becomes a popular dance club.
- Wilfred Benitez becomes boxing's first three time world champion in four decades, the first Hispanic to win three world titles, and the youngest one to do so.
- Popular TV showman Luis Vigoreaux is murdered in 1983.
- Actress Lydia Echevarria is accused and jailed for the murder of Vigoreaux.
- Television show A Millon obtains the biggest ratings in Puerto Rican television history.
- Latin American and Puerto Rican films begin fading away from local theaters. Most theaters in the island show only Hollywood releases with subtitles. Fine Arts Cinema opens in Santurce showing international films and art movies.
- Juliana's and Isadora are popular hotel dance clubs.
- TV shows produced in Mexico like El Chavo del Ocho and El Chapulín Colorado became top rated shows and gained a huge following.
- Mexican and Venezuelan soap operas become popular during daytime TV while Puerto Rican soap operas are shown in primetime with big ratings.
- McDonalds, American Airlines, Taco Bell, The Gap and other American companies make significant movements in the island, and Plaza las Americas becomes the biggest mall in the Caribbean. American Airlines makes San Juan one of its major hubs.
- The last Puerto Rican telenovela to date is produced, in 1989.
- The Cerro Maravilla case becomes the first trial to be televised in Puerto Rican history.
- The festivities of San Sebastián in the historic city of San Juan become popular.
- The fashion industry makes significant strides towards making Puerto Rico one of its strongest places where to make money worldwide.
- Pop rock gains popularity in the early 80s, Heavy metal music in the middle 80s and Rap in the late 80s. English musical acts popular during the 80s that visited the island included: Duran Duran, Boy George and Culture Club, Def Leppard, Judas Priest; other acts like Ruben DJ, LL Cool J and Vico C were popular.
- Many international singers from other Hispanic countries, such as José Luis Rodríguez, Celia Cruz, Juan Gabriel and Juan Luis Guerra, among others continued to visit Puerto Rico. Locals Jose Nogueras and Chayanne also enjoy success in Puerto Rico. Chayanne becomes an international teen-idol.
- Politically inspired music groups such as Fiel a la Vega surface.
- Mana, Los Enanitos Verdes and Grupo Bronco are some of the international groups that become famous in Puerto Rico.
- Dayanara Torres becomes the third Miss Puerto Rico to win the Miss Universe crown.
- Merengue becomes the most popular music style in the dance halls and in the radio. Olga Tañon, Grupomania and many others become international exports of this music genre.
- Rappers such as Ivy Queen, Don Chezina and others also enjoy success.
- Félix Trinidad reigns as boxing's world Welterweight champion for 6 years. He is considered by many to be one of Puerto Rico's greatest sports legends.
- In 1999, the death of Viequense David Sanes provockes many Puerto Ricans to protest the U.S. military's presence in that Puerto Rican island-municipality. "Paz para Vieques" ("Peace for Vieques") becomes a popular slogan.
- Such television shows as Mira Que Tvo and Sunshine Logrono's El Club de Sunshine become viewer favorites.
- Pop acts such as the Spice Girls, NSYNC, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and The Backstreet Boys gain popularity in Puerto Rico along with Alejandra Guzman, Ricardo Montaner, Yuri, and Shakira.
- Former Menudo member Ricky Martin becomes famous worldwide; his songs "Livin' la Vida Loca," "Maria" and "The Cup of Life," among others, making it to the top of the charts in many countries.
- El Reencuentro, a reunion of former Menudo members Rene Farrait, Johnny Lozada, Charlie Masso, Miguel Cancel, Ricky Melendez and Ray Reyes, begins with only one concert at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, and expands that single date into a worldwide tour.
- Denise Quiñones becomes the fourth Miss Puerto Rico to win the Miss Universe crown.
- Teenage Spanish pop/rock makes a comeback, and singers such as Belinda Peregrin and Melody enjoy large success in Puerto Rico.
- The U.S. military leaves Vieques.
- Puerto Rican John Ruiz becomes the first hispanic in history to be boxing's world Heavyweight champion.
- Reggaeton becomes a popular music genre among young people, with artists such as Tego Calderón crossing over to U.S. markets.
- Puerto Rico's national basketball team wins 79-66 against Canada in the pre-olympic tournament, wins bronze and qualifies for the summer Olympic Games of Athens in 2004, where they went on to beat the U.S. Dreamteam 92-73.
- Jose Miguel Agrelot dies at the age of 77, in January 2004. His death had been preceded by a few weeks by that of popular Ponce mayor Rafael Cordero.
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