Maná

As MTV came to Latin America in the 1990s and helped transform the underground music scene, Maná were one of the first Mexican rock bands to build an international fan base, win Grammy Awards, sell out arenas and become major stars with million-selling albums and massive radio hits. Formed in Guadalajara, frontman Fher Olvera originally started out playing covers of Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones songs with brothers Ulises and Juan Diego Calleros in a band called Sombrero Verde in the 1970s, before deciding to fuse traditional Latin styles with their classic rock riffs and form Maná in 1981. With drummer Alex Gonzalez completing the original line-up, the band released their first self-titled album in 1987. The band were also part of a campaign known as "Rock en tu Idioma," which sought to encourage rock and roll bands to develop a true Latin identity. Ulises Calleros left in 1991 and was later replaced by Sergio Vallin, but their fan base grew across the Spanish-speaking world with the giant success of album ¿Dónde Jugarán los Niños? in 1992 and they made the Top 10 of the US Latin charts in 1995 with hit single "No Ha Parado de Llover." With its Bossa nova beats and flamenco melodies, 1995's Cuando los Angeles Lloran was another landmark record and the band won their first Grammy award in 1999 for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Performance with their fifth album Sueños Líquidos (1997) and recorded a hugely successful acoustic session in 1999 for MTV Unplugged. In the 2000s they topped the US Latin charts with a string of anthems including "Mariposa Traicionera," "Labios Compartidos," "Bendita Tu Luz," and "Manda una Señal." They made it into the Top 5 of the main US chart with albums Amar Es Combatir in 2006, Drama y Luz in 2011, and Cama Incendiada in 2015 - a groundbreaking feat at the time for a Spanish language group. Widely recognised as Mexico's most successful ever pop band, they have also collaborated on tracks with superstars such as Santana, Shakira and Prince Royce, were given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and were honoured with a Billboard Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. The band launched a major U.S. tour in 2019 under the name Rayando el Sol Tour, preceded by a new version of the classic hit featuring Pablo Alborán. In 2021, they were honored with the Billboard Latin Music Icon Award and performed a new rendition of “El Reloj Cucú” with young singer Mabel. In 2025, Maná became the first Spanish-language rock group to be nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and released the collaborative album Noches de Cantina. Featuring new renditions of their greatest hits and contributions from Sebastián Yatra, Christian Nodal, Alejandro Fernández, and Eden Muñoz, the album's lead single "Vivir Sin Aire" with Carín León peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Latin Pop Airplay chart.