Jorge Drexler: The Big Winner at This Year’s Latin Grammys

It’s a moment to remember for Jorge Drexler

The 54-year-old Uruguayan musician, who won an Oscar winner for composing the song “Al Otro Lado del Río” from The Motorcycle Diaries, proved to be the big winner at the 2018 Latin Grammys at Thursday’s awards show, which aired live from the MGM Grand Arena Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Univision.

Jorge Drexler

Drexler, who’d previously won two Latin Grammys in 2015, took home the Song of the Year and Record of the Year awards for his single “Telefonía,” as well as the Best Singer/Songwriter Album for Salvavidas de hielo.

Drexler’s wins in the record and song categories came as a major surprise. He was up against favorites J Balvin — who had eight nominations — and Rosalía, whose captivating single “Malamente” was up for five awards.

The 25-year-old Spanish singer/songwriter, whose full name is Rosalía Vila Tobella, has gained global acclaim with her surprising fusion of flamenco and urban music. And she picked up the first two Latin Grammys of her career, winning Best Alternative Song and Best Urban/Fusion Performance for “Malamente.”

Also taking home two Latin Grammys was Victor Manuelle, who won Best Tropical Song and Best Salsa Album. It was, surprisingly, the first Latin Grammy wins for the 50-year-old Puerto Rican salsa singer, a veteran who has often been nominated.

Mexican superstar Luis Miguel, who’s had an enormous resurgence following the successful mini-series based on his life, also won two awards for his album ¡MÉXICO Por Siempre!  The set won Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album and, surprisingly, Album of the Year, a prize Luis Miguel hadn’t claimed since 2000’s Amarte es un placer.

Karol G is a first-time winner…

The 27-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer-songwriter, who skyrocketed to fame with her hit single “Mi Cama,” was named Best New Artist.

Meanwhile, J Balvin took home the award for Best Urban Music Album for Vibras, while Maluma won the Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album for F.A.M.E.

Here’s a look at this year’s Latin Grammy winners:

RECORD OF THE YEAR
“Telefonía,” Jorge Drexler

BEST URBAN SONG
“Dura,” Daddy Yankee

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
¡MÉXICO Por Siempre!, Luis Miguel 

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Telefonía,” Jorge Drexler, songwriter (Jorge Drexler) .

BEST NEW ARTIST
Karol G

BEST CONTEMPORARY POP VOCAL ALBUM
F.A.M.E. – Maluma 

BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
Hazte Sentir, Laura Pausini​

BEST URBAN FUSION/PERFORMANCE
“Malamente,” Rosalía

BEST URBAN MUSIC ALBUM
Vibras, J Balvin

BEST SALSA ALBUM
25/7, Víctor Manuelle

BEST NORTEÑO ALBUM
Guerra De Poder, Calibre 50
Los Ángeles Existen, Pesado 

BEST CHRISTIAN ALBUM (PORTUGUESE)
Som Da Minha Vida, Fernanda Brum​ 

BEST PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE CONTEMPORARY POP ALBUM
Noturno – Anaadi 

BEST PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE ROCK OR ALTERNATIVE ALBUM
Lenine Em Trânsito, Lenine 

BEST SAMBA/PAGODE ALBUM
Amor E Música, Maria Rita

BEST MPB (MUSICA POPULAR BRASILEIRA) ALBUM
Caravanas, Chico Buarque 

BEST SERTANEJA MUSIC ALBUM
Elas Em Evidências, Chitãozinho & Xororó 

BEST PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE SONG
“As Caravanas,” Chico Buarque, songwriter (Chico Buarque)

BEST INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
Identidad, Miguel Siso 

BEST FOLK ALBUM
Musas (Un Homenaje Al Folclore Latinoamericano En Manos De Los Macorinos), Vol. 2, Natalia Lafourcade​ 

BEST TANGO ALBUM
Vigor Tanguero, Pedro Giraudo 

BEST FLAMENCO ALBUM
Al Este Del Cante, Arcángel 

BEST LATIN JAZZ/JAZZ ALBUM
Natureza Universal, Hermeto Pascoal & Big Band 

BEST PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE ROOTS ALBUM
+AR, Almir Sater & Renato Teixeira 

BEST CHRISTIAN ALBUM (SPANISH LANGUAGE)
Setenta Veces Siete, Alfareros 

BEST LATIN CHILDREN’S ALBUM
Imaginare, Claraluna 

BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM
Mágica y Misteriosa, Claudia Montero; José Manuel Domenech & Claudia Montero, album producers 

BEST CLASSICAL CONTEMPORARY COMPOSITION
“Luces y Sombras. Concierto Para Guitarra y Orquesta De Cuerdas,” Claudia Montero

BEST ARRANGEMENT
“Se Le Ve,” Milton Salcedo, arranger (Milton Salcedo feat. Amaury Gutiérrez, Carlos Oliva y Michel Puche)

BEST RECORDING PACKAGE
“Diferentes Tipos De Luz,” Carlos Sadness, art director (Carlos Sadness)

BEST CUMBIA/VALLENATO ALBUM
Esto Es Vida, Silvestre Dangond 

BEST CONTEMPORARY TROPICAL ALBUM
Vives, Carlos Vives​ 

BEST TRADITIONAL TROPICAL ALBUM
A Mí Qué – Tributo A Los Clásicos Cubanos, José Alberto El Canario & El Septeto Santiaguero 

BEST TROPICAL FUSION ALBUM
Como Anillo Al Dedo, Aymee Nuviola 

BEST TROPICAL SONG
“Quiero Tiempo,” Juan Carlos Luces & Víctor Manuelle, songwriters (Víctor Manuelle feat. Juan Luis Guerra)

BEST SINGER-SONGWRITER ALBUM
Salvavidas De Hielo, Jorge Drexler

BEST RANCHERO/MARIACHI ALBUM
¡MÉXICO Por Siempre!, Luis Miguel 

BEST BANDA ALBUM
Los Gustos Que Me Doy, Banda Los Recoditos

BEST TEJANO ALBUM
Tex Mex Funk, Roger Velásquez & The Latin Legends 

BEST REGIONAL MEXICAN SONG
“Probablemente,” Christian Nodal, songwriter (Christian Nodal)

BEST ROCK ALBUM
Expectativas, Enrique Bunbury 

BEST POP/ROCK ALBUM
Geometría del Rayo, Manolo García

 BEST ROCK SONG
“Tu Vida Mi Vida,” Fito Páez, songwriter (Fito Páez)

BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
Claroscura, Aterciopelados 

BEST ALTERNATIVE SONG
“Malamente,” Antón Alvarez Alfaro, Pablo Diaz-Reixa & Rosalía, songwriters (Rosalía)

BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM
50 Años Tocando Para Ti, Rafa Sardina, engineer; Rafa Sardina, mixer; Eric Boulanger, mastering engineer 

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Linda Briceño

BEST SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO
“Pa Dentro,” Juanes

BEST LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO
“En Letra De Otro” (Documentarry), Pedro Capó Diego Álvarez, video director; Vicente Solís, video produce