Tag Archives: Andy Montañez

Yuri Among the Latin Recording Academy’s 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees

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Yuri‘s achievements will be celebrated in November…

The Latin Recording Academy has revealed the list of artists who will receive the special awards at the 2018 Latin Grammys, with the 54-year-old Mexican singer, actress and TV host among the Lifetime Achievement Award honorees.

Yuri

Presented to performers who have made unprecedented contributions of outstanding artistic significance to Latin music, this year’s lifetime achievement award goes to seven artists with reputable music careers: Yuri, Erasmo Carlos, Dyango, Andy Montañez, José María Napoleón, Chucho Valdés, and Wilfrido Vargas.

Record label executives Horacio Malvicino from Argentina and Tomás Muñozfrom Spain will receive the Trustees Award, which is voted on by The Latin Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees and merited to individuals who have made significant contributions, other than in performance, to music during their careers.

“Our 2018 class has made outstanding contributions benefiting Ibero-American music, providing innovation, and a unique vision in favor of all music lovers,” said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., Latin Recording Academy president/CEO in a press statement.

The honorees will be celebrated during a private ceremony on Nov. 13 in Las Vegas. The 19th Annual Latin Grammys will be broadcast live from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas via Univision.

Here are the lifetime achievement award honorees below.

Yuri
The Mexican singer and actress gained fame across Latin America in the ‘80s. Throughout Yuri’s successful music career, she has sung heartfelt songs in many genres including Latin pop, tropical, rancheras, and Christian.

Erasmo Carlos
Erasmo is a Brazilian singer-songwriter, who besides his remarkable solo career in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s is also known for collaborating with Roberto Carlos.

Dyango
Born Jose Gomez Romero, Dyango is a Spanish musician and singer known as “The Voice of Love” for his romantic ballads released in the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Andy Montañez
Andy Montañez kicked off his solo career in the ‘80s after gaining international success as part of El Gran Combo. Known as “El Godfather de la Salsa,” the Puerto Rican singer is one of the most soulful and creative vocalists in the Afro-Caribbean genre.

José María Napoleón
Known as “El Poeta de la Cancion,” the Mexican singer-songwriter is a gem from the influential romantic ballad movement in the ‘70s. In additional to his solo career, he’s composed songs for Vicente Fernandez, Jose Jose, Pepe Aguilar, and more.

Chucho Valdés
As a Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer, and arranger, Chucho Valdes’ music career spans more than five decades. In the ’70s he founded the group Irakere, which became known as one of the best-known Latin Jazz bands in Cuba.

Wilfrido Vargas
Dominican singer Wilfrido Vargas kicked off his music career in the ‘70s and has since blessed us with timeless merengue songs such as “El Africano,” “El Jardinero,” and “El Baile del Perrito.”

Miranda Earns Second Career No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Songs Chart

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It may have taken some time, but Ismael Miranda is back at the top of the charts…

The 64-year-old Puerto Rican salsa singer crowns Billboard’s Tropical Songs chart with “Son 45,” earning him the second No. 1 on the airplay list of his career and his first in a decade.

Ismael Miranda

The track rises 5-1 in its 15th week with a 39 percent increase in plays in the week ending February 8, according to Nielsen Music. Miranda last capped the ranking in 2005 when “Se Fue Y Me Dejo,” featuring Cheka & Andy Montanez, spent a week at the helm.

The celebratory “Son 45,” written and produced by Victor Manuelle, is the title track from Miranda’s most recent album and recounts the salsa veteran’s 45-year career, proudly declaring his roots in the genre.

Miranda becomes only the second member of Fania All-Stars (the legendary musical ensemble formed by Fania Records in 1968) to have two No. 1s, matching Celia Cruz‘s tally. “I’m really proud and satisfied with the work done,” Miranda tells Billboard. “The message in this song represents what the salsa genre means for our culture, history and identity.”

On working with Victor Manuelle, who holds 24 No. 1s on the Tropical Songs chart of his own (the second-most in the chart’s history), Miranda says of Manuelle — who produced the “Son 45” album — “He never took me away from my traditional style of salsa or the social messages in my songs. Every single thing we did, we made sure to do it with quality. This is a big accomplishment for him as well because it is his first time producing an album for another artist and releasing it on his own label Kiyavi Records.”

Miranda humbly revels in the long-lasting success of salsa music, saying “The fact that this music is still played heavily on the airwaves worldwide is a testament to our message. I have been representing this genre for over forty-five years and salsa is here to stay,” leaving us with the hook of the single: “Yo llevo 45 y sigo con el mismo son!!“

Sergio George’s Salsa Giants to Perform in Latin America Beginning in October

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Sergio George’s Salsa Giants will have you moviendo tus caderas this fall…

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican pianist and noted record producer has announced plans for his music group to perform a series of concerts later this year.

Sergio George's Salsa Giants

The Salsa Giants kick off concert will take place on October 4th in Lima, Peru.

Oscar D’León, Luis Enrique, Cheo Feliciano, Andy Montañez, Willy Chirino, Jose Alberto “El Canario,” Tito Nieves, vocalist Nora from Orquesta de la Luz and Charlie Zaa make up the line up of the Salsa Giants concert at Lima’s San Marcos University.

The group’s tour will continue to Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia and Panama, with dates still to be announced.

Marc Anthony, a featured singer on the Salsa Giants debut album, which was recorded live at the Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival, will not be part of the group’s kick off concert, as he’s scheduled to play the same night at San Juan, Puerto Rico’s Coliseo de Puerto Rico José M. Agrelot, commonly referred to as el Choliseo.

Meanwhile, salsa pioneers the Fania All Stars will stage a rare reunion concert at the Choliseo on Oct. 18.

That line up will include Fania founder Johnny Pacheco, Ismael Miranda, Feliciano, Colón, Larry Harlow, Bobby Valentín and others who were present at the birth of salsa in 1960s in New York City.

The concert will include tributes to departed All Star members Hector Lavoe, Celia Cruz, Ray Baretto and others, with a special nod to Puerto Rican cuatro player Yomo Toro, who passed away last year.

The Fania musicians will continue on a world tour in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Fania Records, according to the company’s Chief Marketing Officer Michael Rucker. No other concert dates have been announced at this time.