Joan Sebastian Essentials

While the sheer number of the songs he wrote for himself and fellow greats like Rocío Dúrcal and Vicente Fernández is impressive—over 1,000—it's his unparallelled wordsmanship that is truly marvelous. His autobiographical songs of love and tragedy made Sebastian an undeniable poet, but his 2015 death solidified him as one of Mexico's most enduring regional music legends. His ravishing rancheras honor Mexican tradition and its chivalrous nature, and his soul-baring ballads are uncannily confessional, often intensified by his heartfelt belting and tender guitar plucking.