Latin Grammys
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Wednesday’s Latin Grammy Person of the Year celebration honored the great Marco Antonio Solís, and it was one for the books. A star-studded night replete with elegance, back-to-back surprise performances (including the POTY himself), and emotive speeches made the evening of Nov. 17 a night to remember.
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At the core of it was Marco Antonio Solís (and his transcendental body of work), there to affirm that his musical power is a force to be reckoned with; many of Solís’ generation- and genre-spanning musical peers in attendance at Mandalay Bay’s Islander Ballroom echoed that sentiment.
With 11 Hot Latin Songs No. 1 hits, there were plenty of MAS bangers to chose from, so the excitement was cranked up all the way. Laura Pausini said his name is synonymous with “México, elegance, and values”; Christian Nodal delivered an impassioned speech about how a man can shine so bright on and off stage; Edén Muñoz highlighted how the Mexican multi-hyphenate artist continues to be a role model for newer generations like himself; and Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Myriam Hernández said, “Only a soul like yours, with that sensibility and honesty, is capable of writing what you write.”
Aside from the numerous sentimental words his colleagues shared on stage, they also performed MAS’ hits. Argentine piano balladeer Fito Páez played “De Mil Amores” accompanied by a cello; Bronco amped up the vibe with a riveting grupera take of “Tu Me Vuelves Loco”; and Mexican emotional pop acts Camila and Sin Bandera teamed up to sing “Dónde Estará Mi Primavera” with gut-wrenching delivery.
Another impactful duet was with Carla Morrison and Ana Torroja of Mecano fame who beautifully sang “Como Tu Mujer,” a song originally sung by the late Rocio Dúrcal, and written by Solís. Bachata king Romeo Santos swooned the crowd with “Invéntame,” and the honoree’s daughter, Marla Solís, also made an endearing appearance on stage to sing for her legendary father.
The night took place one day before the 23rd annual Latin Grammys. Here are five of the most memorable moments that took place at the Person of the Year gala.
The Person of the Year performs his hits at his own gala. Since the first Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year in 2000, this is the first time that the celebrated person of the year performed at their own event, and Marco Antonio Solís had jaws dropped. The iconic singer with the golden voice blessed fans, peers and anyone else in attendance with three Latin smashes: “¿A Dónde Vamos a Parar?”; the ranchera classic “La Venia Bendita” backed by a mariachi troupe; and the timeless banger of “Tu Cárcel” by Los Bukis.
“When we started this adventure, I told Marco, ‘Let us surprise you,’ and he replied, ‘Let me also surprise them.’ Well, here is your surprise!” said the Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud, in front of a truly surprised crowed followed by a standing ovation. After nearly 20 acts took the stage to serenade the man of the hour with his own songs, Solís stole the show with a grand finale by performing one of the greatest Latin pop songs of all time, “Si No Te Hubieras Ido.”
Laura Pausini delivered a powerful performance and heartfelt speech. After Solís made his grand entrance on stage, the Italian singer Laura Pausini followed up with a powerful and heart-rending version of “Sigue Sin Mi.” Wearing a beautiful lace blouse and a black suit, this year’s Latin Grammy co-host motivated fans further, swaying them evocatively with each note. At the end of her performance, she gave one of the most beautiful speeches of the night, “I see that when they say the name Marco Antonio Solís, it is synonymous with Mexico,” said the artist. “What I admire so much about you, Marco, besides being the singer-songwriter that you are, is that you have a great responsibility through your name and your music, when you speak outside of Mexico, of your country, it is [also] synonymous with elegance, education, and values — [attributes] that not always the famous person can give to his country or outside of his country. I applaud you immensely.”
Christian Nodal brings his mariacheño swagger to the stage and honors his idol. Arriving to the stage rocking a sophisticated black norteño get-up and red silk shirt, Nodal instantly swooned the crowd with “Mi Eterno Amor Secreto.” Although in his early twenties, Nodal sang the song like he’s lived through lifetimes of love and loss, and the admiration he has for Solís truly resonated across the ballroom. At the end of his set, the Sonora singer said, “Marco Antonio Solís, it is an honor, pride, a dream come true to be able to sing one of my favorite songs in the world in front of one of the greatest idols. Three years ago in Guadalajara, I had the pleasure of watching you from the audience […] and meeting you backstage, and I asked myself, ‘How is it that you can shine so much on and off stage?’ […] ‘How can a great artist move so many masses and impact generations?’ I admire you so much, thank you so much for existing, for bringing us so much of your music, your lyrics, there is so much to learn from you.”
Gente de Zona and Taboo enliven the moment with a cumbia dance-off. The Cubatón duo Gente de Zona and Chicano artist Taboo joined forces to perform the thrilling cumbia song of “Más Que Tu Amigo,” and oh boy, did they deliver. As soon as the instantly recognizable horn melody of the hit began to play, audiences lit up. By the time Alexander Delgado got to the verse to sing “Me gustas tanto me elnoqueces” (I really like you it drives me wild), his beaming pipes were almost on par with Solís’, and the entire audience got up on their feet for a cumbia dance-off. Bravo!
Emilio Estefan, CEO of the Latin Recording Academy Manuel Abud, and honoree Marco Antonio Solis onstage during the 2022 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Honoring Marco Antonio Solis at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on November 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
John Parra/GI for The Latin Recording Academy
MAS receives his POTY award and reminisces on his 40-plus-year career.
Right after Marco Antonio Solís received his award for Person of the Year, handed by Abud and Emilio Estefan, everyone in attendance got on their feet to pay their respects to a truly astounding and influential career. But the impassioned acceptance speech that Solís delivered was just spine-chilling.
Translated from Spanish, he said: “It’s been a long time since I’ve been as excited as I was tonight for so much love. So many familiar faces to greet, so many people I have met throughout my career, íjole. I feel very honored with the [Latin Recording] Academy for this recognition. I don’t even know how I got here, that’s the truth. The only thing I know is that life has always let me be guided by my intuition — That little voice was the spark that ignited everything, my intuition.
“Imagine, a 12-year-old boy leaving his hometown, Ario de Rosales, Michoacán, back in Mexico. A child separated from his parents, his six siblings, his friends — a little scared but with his heart full of illusions, carrying no more than a suitcase and his guitar, and with no other company than his cousin, Joel Solís, heading to Mexico City, without any promise of shelter but our dreams. We celebrate a career crowned successfully by the grace of God, and all the followers who have identified with my songs. I am eternally grateful.”
The Latin Recording Academy on Wednesday (Nov. 16) celebrated the fruitful careers of eight artists from diverse genres and nationalities who have left a deep mark on Latin music.
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Rosario Flores from Spain, Myriam Hernández from Chile, Rita Lee from Brazil, Amanda Miguel from Argentina and Yordano from Venezuela received the Lifetime Achievement Award, given to performers who have made contributions of outstanding artistic value to Latin music and their communities. While Spanish musician and executive Manolo Díaz, Cuban jazz player Paquito D’Rivera and Mexican bassist Abraham Laboriel received the Trustees Award, which recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Latin music, though not necessarily in an interpretive capacity. (D’Rivera and Laboriel, for example, are renowned instrumentalists).
“These are industry professionals who, with their work and life example, forge the true meaning of the word excellence,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of the Latin Recording Academy, as he opened the ceremony in Las Vegas. “This is one of those events that fills you with very special pride, because this award celebrates not a song or a specific achievement, but a great journey, a life journey that we know and remember forever.”
There was laughter — mainly courtesy of D’Rivera — and also tears from the honorees and the audience. The emotional ceremony was hosted by salsa singer Víctor Manuelle and included artists such as Fito Páez, Carlos Vives, Cami, Ana Victoria, Ricardo Montaner and Sebastián Yatra as presenters. The only one missing was the Brazilian star Rita Lee, who sent word that she was “happy as a partridge,” according to Giulia Be, who presented her award.
The event preceded the 2022 Latin Grammy Awards, which take place on Thursday (November 17) at the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The show will be broadcast live on Univision at 8 p.m. (Eastern Time) and will also be available on HBO Max.
Here are the five best quotes from the Latin Grammys Special Awards honorees:
Amanda Miguel, on finding peace after the passing of her husband, singer-songwriter Diego Verdaguer: “This is an award that gives me peace and fulfillment and the love that music returns to you. Music is that, it is God. It is the way to express ourselves without speaking, but with such beautiful, distinguished sounds. I thank God for making me a musician, a singer, a composer, for having given me that pleasure. Eternal thanks to all the people who made me who I am, because I did not do it alone — first and foremost my husband, Diego Verdaguer […] I share this with him because he was the creator, he was my biggest fan.”
Myriam Hernández, on the recent wave of female singer-songwriters hailing from Chile: “I come from a wonderful country, Chile, where making it in the music industry was very difficult for us. […] But today I see with great optimism and joy that there are many women from my country who are in music and I hope that one day they too will achieve this recognition that I am receiving today. I thank my country for having supported me, and above all, I thank God for giving us this gift.”
Paquito D’Rivera, on his idol Benny Goodman and the “carne y frijol” (meat and beans): “I remember one day my father, who was a saxophonist, came home with a Benny Goodman record and I asked him ‘What is that!?’ I fell in love with that music. He told me: ‘That’s swing, that’s jazz, and that’s New York, and that’s Carnegie Hall’. When he said Carnegie Hall, I understood ‘carne y frijol’ (meat and beans). […] Well, the point is that many years later I celebrated my 50th anniversary in music at the ‘carne y frijol’, the Carnegie Hall. And I remember once when Benny Goodman, who was my idol, was awarded a statuette like this one, he said something I could never forget: ‘It’s incredible to me that they’re giving me such an important award just for doing the only activity that I really enjoy doing’. Thank you […] for helping me to do the only thing that really interests me in life: playing music for you.”
Rosario Flores, on growing up in a family of artists: “For me today is an exceptional day because today I receive the award for my art, for my dedication since I was born. To my inspiration. To the energy of my mother (Lola Flores) […] of my brother Antonio and my sister Lolita. I take all of them with me, and because of them I am an artist, because they were all artists and they taught me what art was. I have many angels with me that are them. I honor art with every pore of my skin.”
Yordano, on singing what is hard for him to say: “I was a big stutterer when I was a kid. During my childhood and adolescence it was difficult for me to speak, and that was terrible because I would fall in love and it would become even worse. Every summer we would go to the beach and every summer I would fall madly in love, since I was 12 years old. I suffered a lot. I think that, thanks to that accumulated suffering, I managed to create many love songs.”
The Latin Recording Academy hosted its inaugural “Best New Artist Showcase” Tuesday evening (Nov. 15) at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, where this year’s 11 nominees were present.
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Each of the nominees — Angela Álvarez, Sofía Campos, Cande y Paulo, Clarissa, Silvana Estrada, Pol Granch, Nabález, Tiare, Vale, Yahritza y Su Esencia, and Nicole Zignago — had the opportunity to perform in front of industry leaders, VIPs, and special guests during the hour-long private event.
The up-and-coming talents represent different regions of the world such as Mexico, Brazil, and Peru, and ages ranging from 15 to 95 years old.
“We like to support and open spaces for new artists and what better opportunity than this for the mission to come to life?” Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy, said in his opening remarks. “At the Latin Grammys, what we want is to open diverse and inclusive spaces to all the artists that we have the opportunity to help.”
The nominees really shined on a two-part stage, where they were presented by dearest artists who have supported their rising careers, such as English singer-songwriter and record producer Elvis Costello who presented Colombian twin sisters Vale, and Miami-based artists Periko & Jessi Leon who presented Venezuelan songstress Tiare, whom they also manage under their indie label PJ Records.
Tiare performs onstage at 2022 Best New Artist Showcase during the 23rd annual Latin Grammy Awards on November 15, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
David Becker/GI for The Latin Recording Academy
Musica popular artist Nabalez crooned the crowd with his 2020 debut single “La Correcta,” which happens to be a collab with Colombian pop group Morat; Silvana Estrada brought her authentic Mexican folk to Vegas with “Te Guardo;” and Angela Alvarez, the oldest-nominated artist for best new artist at 95, had all the attention on her when she powerfully sang a bolero dedicated to her country, Cuba, to name a few.
Meanwhile, Peruvian singer-songwriter Nicole Zignago kicked off the showcase with a rocking performance, while Spanish-French singer and actor Pol Granch closed the set after Alejandro Sanz presented him via a video message.
“You have been chosen among many proposals and this is the first step with which you begin to fulfill your dreams as musicians,” the evening hosts Jesse y Joy expressed.
The showcase, in partnership with MasterCard and produced by Ayleen Figueras, Nelson Albareda, and Loud and Live Entertainment, will evolve into a Latin American tour in 2023, to give fans a priceless night of new music.
The Latin Grammy Awards — which “promise to honor the legacy, celebrate the present and embrace the future of Latin music, with deliberate consciousness, paying-it-forward to the next generations of music creators,” according to a press statement — will be held Nov. 17 at the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, and will air live on Univision beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Nicole Zignago performs during the 2022 Best New Artist Showcase during the 23rd annual Latin Grammy Awards on November 15, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
David Becker/GI for The Latin Recording Academy
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