Latin GRAMMY Awards
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The 24th Latin Grammy Week celebrations continue in Seville, Spain, with a unique tribute to Flamenco in The Plaza España on Monday (Nov. 13). Among the celebrities that assisted the gala were Anitta, Danna Paola, David Bisbal, Juanes, Lola Índigo, Pablo López and more.
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“Flamenco Is Universal” was held during the Santalucía Universal Music Week, where more than 130 artists gathered to perform and create an audiovisual work.
Jesús López, the Chairman and CEO of Universal Latin America and Iberian Peninsula, kicked off the evening with a powerful speech that resonated with the audience. He highlighted that Spanish music has traveled far and wide across the globe and stated unequivocally that flamenco, a proud national legacy, is indeed a universal art form.
Jesus Lopez
“Flamenco is a way of living, it is a way of expressing yourself, it is a way of behaving in life, it has many connotations, UNESCO declares it an intangible heritage of humanity. It is a music that is highly discussed because the purists want it to be one way. Still, today, a young generation is fusing flamenco with hip-hop, with reggaeton, with electronic music, and that shows you that flamenco is more alive than ever,” López told Billboard during the red carpet.
At the red carpet event, David Bisbal, Vanessa Martin, Pablo López, and other emerging pop flamenco artists such as Lola Índigo, spoke to Billboard to express how significant it is for them to share their folkloric music traditions with the world and what it means to them.
The evening began with a performance by Rosario, the daughter of the iconic Lola Flores. The artists graced the stage for almost four hours, starting with a beautiful rendition of Granaínas by Doña Carmen Linares, who was awarded the Latin GRAMMY of Honor in 2023.
All the flamenco families were seated in the front row: Camarón’s sons and widow, Paco de Lucía’s daughters and his widow, La Farruca surrounded by her children, and the Morente family. All of them attended with admiration for the tributes to their sagas, brought to the stage by Tomatito, la Macanita, Niño Josele, Rancapino Chico, Pedro El Granaíno or Marina Heredia, among others. Vicente Soto with his daughter Lela took Jerez to the stage; Dorantes played the piano for Alba Molina to pay tribute to her parents; and Lole and Manuel, and the Morente family (Estrella and Kiki), backed by their usual lineup, paid a heartfelt tribute to Enrique, whose voice was heard in his immortal Omega.
At the halfway point of the gala, Sara Baras appeared with her tribute to Carmen Amaya, who left the audience stunned after the cante and toque that characterized the first part of the show. She was followed by Israel Fernández and Diego del Morao, who paid tribute to the Niña de los Peines.
The president of the Junta de la Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, the mayor of Seville, José Luis Sanz, Sebastián Yatra, Juanes, Anitta, David Bisbal, Manuel Carrasco, Danna Paola, Lola Indigo, Pablo López, Joaquina, Greeicy, Vanesa Martín, Pastora Soler, Los Morancos, Nati Abascal, Morat, Antonio Carmona, Timø, Boris Izaguirre and a long eclectic list of personalities of music, acting, journalism and culture enjoyed a special sound: the flamenco.
Held for the first time outside the United States, the annual Latin Grammys will be broadcast from the Conference and Exhibition Centre in Seville, Spain, on Nov. 16 on Univision starting at 8 p.m. ET, UniMás and Galavisión in the U.S., and at 10:30 p.m. CET on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) in Spain. Danna Paola, Sebastián Yatra, Roselyn Sánchez and Paz Vega will serve as co-hosts.
The 24th Annual Latin Grammy Awards Week commenced its festivities in Seville, Spain on Sunday (Nov. 12) with the Special Awards presentation. The honorees of the evening included esteemed figures such as Carmen Linares, Mijares, Arturo Sandoval, Simone, Soda Stereo, Ana Torroja, Alex Acuña, Gustavo Santaolalla, and Wisón Torres, all recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Latin music landscape.
“We are extremely honored for the opportunity to recognize these great figures of Ibero-America, whose musical legacy continues to inspire new generations,” Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud said of the 2023 honorees.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is granted to artists who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in the field of Latin music. This year, the honorees include Spanish singer-songwriter Carmen Linares, renowned for her profound grasp of flamenco; Mexican artist Mijares, after spending three decades in the industry scoring international hits; and Arturo Sandoval, a Cuban-American trumpeter and co-founder of the groundbreaking group Irakere, who has displayed his versatility in Latin jazz and classical composition.
Also recognized were the iconic Argentine rock group Soda Stereo; Brazilian singer Simone, who left an indelible mark on the MPB movement with her prolific discography; and Ana Torroja, the voice of the Spanish pop trio Mecano, who embarked on a successful solo career and has experimented with a variety of musical styles.
The Trustees Awards are given to individuals who have made substantial contributions to Latin music beyond performance. This year’s winners were Argentine composer Gustavo Santaolalla, for his pioneering work in various genres, particularly Latin rock; Peruvian percussionist Alex Acuña, who left his mark on the tropical music scene; and Puerto Rican guitarist Wisón Torres, for his unique ability to arrange and harmonize vocal quartets, leaving a lasting impact on Latin American music throughout his more than 75-year career.
The honorees were celebrated during a private event in the Teatro Lope de Vega in Sevilla, Spain. Below are quotes and more information about the nine honorees.
Alex Acuña
Image Credit: Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images for Latin Recording Academy
When Richard Bravo attends the Latin Grammy Awards in Seville, Spain on Thursday (Nov. 16), the ceremony will be a somewhat bittersweet moment. Nominated for the first time for his own work with his dear friend Camilo Valencia, for their instrumental album Made In Miami, the Venezuelan drummer and percussionist — a three-time-Latin Grammy winner — couldn’t be more proud. But he will have to travel without the composer and main architect of the album: After undergoing a third heart transplant, Valencia died on Sept. 6, just a few days before the nominations were announced.
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“It made me very happy” to receive the nomination, Bravo tells Billboard Español, saying that he found out from friends who sent him screenshots in which his and Valencia’s names appeared. “I was in Europe and I was like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this!’
“The first person I thought of was Camilo,” adds the artist, who is currently on tour with Juanes and will also perform with the Latin Grammys band at the awards show. “I said, ‘Wow, all the effort on this record and all the sacrifice, the time, the energy, the money, everything, and it happened.’”
Valencia, an award-winning Miami-based multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer born in Cuba, worked throughout his career with stars like Carlos Santana, Ricky Martin, Shakira, José Feliciano and many others. He was also the musical director of TV shows such as La Voz Kids, A Oscuras Pero Encendidos and Viva El Sueño, and created countless jingles for commercials with Bravo and Carlos Oliva.
“Here in Miami, not a day goes by that I turn on the radio or the TV and something that he did doesn’t come out,” says his brother, bassist Rafael Valencia, also an experienced musician who worked on the album and received a nomination for best arrangement for “Songo Bop,” his only song on Made In Miami.
He says that, before he was hospitalized, Camilo went to his house for lunch and told him that they had submitted Made In Miami for the Latin Grammy nomination for best instrumental album, and that they also sent his song for the best arrangement category. “I thought, ‘Why!?’ I liked his arrangements better,” he recalls with a laugh, before adding with emotion: “That was a gift that Camilo gave me before he left.”
Nominations were announced on Sept. 19, 13 days after his death due to unexpected complications. He was about to turn 64.
Camilo Valencia and Richard Bravo.
Made In Miami is the only album of his own that Camilo Valencia got to record. Comprised of 11 songs, the project pays tribute to the cultural diversity of his adoptive Miami, fusing elements of pop, jazz, funk, R&B, bebop, songo, salsa, samba and Afro-Cuban. Renowned musicians from Arturo Sandoval and Ed Calle, to Milton Salcedo, Philip Lassiter and Luis Enrique, participated in the album. All of the songs, except for “Songo Bop,” were written by Valencia over the course of two decades.
It all started with the first heart transplant, says Bravo, his friend for over 30 years: “I told him, ‘Camilo — because he always had music in his head — why don’t you make use of your time in the hospital, while you recover, and start writing songs?’ The first one he wrote was called ‘CCU,’ which is the hospital’s cardio unit, and that’s how it started. Little by little he wrote the songs, and in recent years we started recording the entire album.”
In addition to “CCU (Coronary Care Unit),” which opens Made In Miami, there are songs like “Hurricane Jiménez,” dedicated to his cardiologist, and “One Heart at a Time,” dedicated to his second donor, “a teenager from Puerto Rico who was murdered by robbers to steal his car,” says his brother Rafael. But there are also titles that pay tribute to the family, such as “Café Union,” which is named after the restaurant his father owned in Cuba, and “Papadin,” a song in honor of Bravo’s father, with whom Valencia was also close.
Family is an important element that’s also very present musically on the album. “It’s very special, because not only are all the Valencias, but all the Bravos here,” explains Bravo. “There’s my brother, my son and my nephew, who recorded the same song [‘Papadin’],” as well as Rafael and his son Ralfy.
When talking about his feelings the day of the nomination, Bravo recalls that he always thought that he and Valencia would travel to Seville together. “I thought he was going to leave the hospital,” he says. “He did it three times [before], and I thought it was going to happen.”
Valencia is survived by his son Eric, his brother Rafael, his sisters Barbara and Maria, and a large extended family. In his honor, many of them will attend the Latin Grammy Awards ceremony.
Stream Made In Miami below:
The 2023 Latin Grammys are coming up next week, and this year they’re being held for the first time in Seville, Spain. Some of the biggest names in Latin music are competing for album of the year (one of the four main awards, along with song of the year, record of the year and best […]
Antonio Banderas will receive the 2023 President’s Award from the Latin Recording Academy, it was announced Wednesday (Nov. 8.) The Spanish actor will be recognized during the Latin Grammy Awards ceremony, which for the first time will be held outside the United States, in Seville, Spain. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See […]
Nominees Pablo Alborán, Edgar Barrera, Camilo, Manuel Carrasco, Iza, Juanes and Ozuna will perform at the 2023 Latin Grammy Awards, the Latin Recording Academy announced Tuesday (October 24). Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma, meanwhile, will share the stage to perform their hit “Ella Baila Sola” for the first time together on TV.
The list of performers also includes best new artist nominees Borja, Natascha Falcão, GALE, Paola Guanche, Joaquina and León Leiden. All of them join previously announced performances by Maria Becerra, Bizarrap, Feid, Kany García, Carin León, Christian Nodal, Rauw Alejandro and Alejandro Sanz, in addition to Laura Pausini, who will be honored as Person of the Year 2023.
For the first time held outside the United States, the annual Latin Grammys will be broadcast on Thursday, Nov. 16, from the Conference and Exhibition Centre in Seville, Spain. Danna Paola, Sebastián Yatra, Roselyn Sánchez and Paz Vega will serve as co-hosts.
This year, Mexican songwriter and producer Edgar Barrera leads the list of nominees with 13 nods, followed by Colombian stars Camilo, Karol G, Shakira and songwriter Kevyn Mauricio Cruz (also known as Keityn), each with seven nods. Argentine producer and DJ Bizarrap has six, Pablo Alborán five, and Juanes four. For a full list of nominees, click here.
The ceremony will be broadcast in the U.S. from 8 p.m. ET via Univision, UniMás and Galavisión, and in Spain at 10:30 p.m. CET on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE). Other international partners and local stations will be announced soon, said the Latin Recording Academy.
The 2023 Latin Grammy Awards are set to go forward on Nov. 16 in Seville, Spain.
“At this time, no modification of the Latin GRAMMY Week calendar is planned,” a representative of the Latin Recording Academy told Billboard Español on Friday (Oct. 20) when asked about any possible changes after the cancellation of MTV EMAs, which were set for Nov. 5 in Paris, “given the volatility of world events.”
In its Thursday announcement, Paramount, the parent company of MTV, said: “As we watch the devastating events in Israel and Gaza continue to unfold, this does not feel like a moment for a global celebration. With thousands of lives already lost, it is a moment of mourning. We look forward to hosting the MTV EMAs again in November of 2024.”
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On Thursday, Danna Paola, Sebastián Yatra, Paz Vega and Roselyn Sánchez were announced as hosts of the 24th annual Latin Grammys, which for the first time are scheduled to take place outside the United States. Maria Becerra, Bizarrap, Feid, Kany García, Carin León, Christian Nodal, Rauw Alejandro and Alejandro Sanz have also been confirmed as performers.
The Latin GRAMMY Week includes several events leading up to the big awards show, where Ana Torroja, Mijares, Carmen Linares, Arturo Sandoval, Simone and Soda Stereo will receive this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and Alex Acuña, Gustavo Santaolalla and Wisón Torres the Trustees Award. The star- studded Person of the Year benefit gala will honor Italian pop legend Laura Pausini.
This year, Mexican songwriter and producer Edgar Barrera leads the list of nominees with 13 nods, followed by Colombian stars Camilo, Karol G, Shakira and songwriter Kevyn Mauricio Cruz (also known as Keityn), each with seven nods. Argentine producer and DJ Bizarrap has six. For a full list of nominees, click here.
Mexican singer Danna Paola, Colombian superstar Sebastián Yatra, Puerto Rican actress Roselyn Sánchez and Spanish actress Paz Vega are set to host the 24th annual Latin Grammy Awards. The ceremony will be broadcasted from the Conference and Exhibition Centre (FIBES) in Seville, Andalucía in Spain, on Thursday, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m. ET via Univision, UniMás and Galavisión in the U.S., and at 10:30 p.m. CET on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) in Spain.
Racking up a total of 15 Latin Grammy nods throughout his career, Sebastián Yatra is nominated for best pop song for “Contigo,” featuring Pablo Alborán. A host staple for the award show, Roselyn Sánchez returns for the sixth time after presenting the 16th, 17th, 18th, 20th and 22nd Annual Latin Grammys. Also, previously nominated for a Latin Grammy, Danna Paola joins the lineup of hosts for the first time. Last but not least, award-winning actress Paz Vega returns for a second time after hosting the 20th annual ceremony.
The first round of performers were announced earlier this week, which includes Maria Becerra, Bizarrap, Feid, Kany García, Carin León, Christian Nodal, Rauw Alejandro and Alejandro Sanz.
This year, Mexican-American super producer Edgar Barrera leads the list of nominees with 13 nods, including songwriter of the year, producer of the year and song of the year. Barrera is followed by Colombian stars Camilo, Karol G, Shakira and composer Kevyn Mauricio Cruz (also known as Keityn), each with seven nominations. See the full list of 2023 Latin Grammy nominations here.
Prior to the Latin Grammys, the Latin Recording Academy will bestow the Person of the Year title to Italian icon Laura Pausini. Marco Antonio Solís received this prestigious honor last year.