A niche subgenre in the annals of R&B/soul, Latin soul was closely tied to the boogaloo and Latin jazz movements as chiefly pioneered in 1960s New York by Pucho & the Latin Soul Brothers. But while short-lived boogaloo played the jokey card and Latin jazz explored Tito Puente rhythms, Latin soul numbers were succinct statements that drew not only from African-American soul, but from pop and mambo as well. The touchstone Latin soul record arguably remains Joe Bataan's infectious late '60s hit "Gypsy Lady," while the Lat-Teens scored with the spliff-splattered "Mary Wanna" and "Smoke Shop (Almacen de Fumadores)."

Notable Artists: Joe Bataan, the Harvey Averne Dozen, the Latin Souls, the Lat-Teens