Garcia to Perform at This Year’s ASCAP Latin Music Awards

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Kany Garcia is preparing for her great ASCAP…

The 34-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter will perform at the 25th annual ASCAP Latin Music Awards.

Garcia, a two-time Latin Grammy winner, including Best New Artist in 2008, joins a lineup of confirmed performers that includes Jacob Forever, Noel Schajris, Joss Favela and Silverio Lozada.

The awards ceremony will take place at the Vanderbilt Hotel in Condado in Puerto Rico on March 15.

This year, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers will honor iconic salsa group El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico and singer/songwriter Vico C during the ceremony hosted by José Santana.

El Gran Combo will be honored with the ASCAP Latin Heritage Award in recognition of their “unique and enduring contributions to Latin music” while urban music pioneer Vico C will receive the ASCAP Vanguard Award.

ASCAP will also present accolades to songwriter of the year, singer/songwriter of the year, publisher of the year, independent publisher of the year and Latin song of the year.

Last year, the annual awards show was hosted at the Ritz Carlton in South Beach, Miami, with standout performances by Natalia Lafourcade, Favela, who became the youngest-ever songwriter of the year winner, and Gente de Zona.

Blacc to Appear at This Year’s ASCAP “I Create Music” Expo

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Aloe Blacc is about to Expo himself…

The 38-year-old Panamanian American singer-songwriter is among the 17 hit songwriters and producers announced for the 12th annual ASCAP “I Create Music” Expo, which runs April 13-15 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles.

Blacc joins a roster that includes Desmond Child, Ashley Gorley, Darrell Brown and ASCAP president Paul Williams.

The Expo will also feature sessions with a new generation of songwriters, including: Bibi Bourelly and Deputy who teamed up for Rihanna‘s “Bitch Better Have My Money” (Deputy was also a producer on J.Cole‘s 2016 4 Your Eyez Only); the production trio Captain Cuts, whose hits include a co-write on Walk The Moon‘s “Shut Up and Dance;” and country songwriter Matt Jenkins, whose wrote “Setting the World on Fire,” recorded by Kenny Chesney featuring P!nk.

“We are elated to have some of today’s top songwriters and producers joining us for this year’s ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO,” said Williams in a statement. “Some have been creating music for a long time; others have just enjoyed the success of their first hit song. All will be excited and ready to share their personal experiences and hard-won knowledge with ASCAP EXPO attendees.” Williams, a multiple-Grammy and Oscar winning songwriter, will moderate EXPO’s annual legislative panel.

Other panelists include: London-based producer Harmony Samuels (Fifth Harmony, Ariana Grande, Chris Brown, Jennifer Lopez, Maroon 5); Ryan Leslie, a Grammy-nominated producer and musician who founded SuperPhone and has produced songs for Britney Spears, Beyonce and New Edition; Brett McLaughlin and Britten Newbill were co-writers on Daya’s 2015 single “Hide Away;” songwriter/producers Matt Rad and Steve James (“In the Name of Love,” Martin Garrix feat. Bebe Rexha); Big Taste (“Company,” Justin Bieber); and Rooty (“Too Little Too Late,”Jojo).

As for the veterans: Blacc attended his first Expo in 2010 and soon after worked with Avicii on their hit “Wake Me Up,” which sold over 11 million units worldwide.

At 2015’s Expo Blacc interviewed the legendary Bill Withers;

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) has some 600,000 members and represents more than 10 million copyrighted works. It is owned and governed by its writer and publisher members.

Jesse & Joy Honored at the ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Jesse & Joy have a new premio to add to their trophy case…

The Mexican pop group, comprised of the brother-sister tandem of Jesse Huerta and Joy Huerta, was honored by its peers Monday at ASCAP‘s 30th annual Film & Television Music Awards, which honor the composers behind the top films at the box office, the most-performed television music and the top video game music of 2014.

Jesse & Joy were honored for penning their single “Mi Tesoro,” which served as the theme song for the Mexican telenovela Qué Pobres Tan Ricos, starring Jaime Camil and Zuria Vega. The duo previously earned a Best Theme Novelero at the 2014 Premios Juventud.

But Jesse & Joy weren’t the only Latino honorees…

Enrique Iglesias and Descemer Bueno were also honored at the ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards.

The Spanish superstar and the Cuban singer were honored for Iglesias’ duet with Marco Antonio Solis, “El Perdedor,” which served as the opening theme to Mexican telenovela Lo que la vida me robó. It’s the fifth time that an Iglesias song was chosen as an opening theme of a telenovela after “Cosas del Amor“, “Nunca Te Olvidaré“, “Cuando Me Enamoro” and “Marisol.” The song was composed by Iglesias and Bueno.

Meanwhile, Gustavo Santaolalla was honored in the Top Box Office Films category. The legendary Argentine musician and film composer was honored for his work on the animated film The Book of Life.

Other Latino honorees in the film category include Brazilian composer Pedro Bromfman for his work on RoboCop, Brazilian composer Heitor Pereira for If I Stay, and Spanish composer Fernando Velázquez for Hercules.

Bisbal to be Honored at the ASCAP Latin Music Awards

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

David Bisbal has is the voice…

The 35-year-old Latin pop star will receive special honors during ASCAP‘s 23rd annual Latin Music Awards.

Bisbal is receiving ASCAP’s Voice of Music Award, given to artists whose music represents the spirit of a generation. Past honorees include Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks and Luis Fonsi.

Mexican singer/songwriter Mario Domm, the lead singer for Camila and also the author of many hits for other acts, will receive the Golden Note Award, given to songwriters, composers and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones. Past recipients include Jose Feliciano, Victor Manuelle and Pharrell Williams.

Regional Mexican group La Original Banda El Limon de Salvador Lizarraga will receive the ASCAP Latin Heritage Award, presented to music creators in recognition for their unique and enduring contributions to Latin music. Past recipients include Ricardo Arjona, Celia Cruz and Alejandro Sanz.

The awards will also honor top Latin publishers and songwriters of 2014, with awards given to the Songwriter of the year, Publisher of the year, Independent publisher of the year and Latin song of the year, as well as awards in pop, tropical, regional Mexican, urban and television categories.

The dinner ceremony will take place March 11 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

Nazario Among This Year’s Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame Finalists

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Ednita Nazario may soon earn a special spot in Latin music history…

The 59-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter has been named a finalist for the third annual La Musa Awards 2015. The eventual winners will be inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame in a ceremony on October 15 at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach.

Nazario, a Latin Grammy nominee, received the Latin Heritage Award from ASCAP in 2004, as well as the Recording Academy Honors from NARAS in 2005.

A total of 12 nominees were announced in both the performers (or singer/songwriters) and non-performers categories. Other names included Joan Sebastian, Diego Torres, Juan Gabriel Myriam Hernandez, Roberto Carlos and Ruben Blades in the performers category and Lalo Schifrin, Gustavo Santaolalla, Leo Brouwer and Ramon Arcusa in the composers category.

Voting, which is open to LSHOF members at latinsonghall.com, began January 28, immediately following the finalist announcement during a press conference at the YoungArts Jewel Box in Miami, and will close March 15 at midnight. The artists and composers chosen for induction in the Hall of Fame will be announced during the 2015 Billboard Latin Music Conference in April.

Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization founded by renowned songwriter/producers Desmond Child and Rudy Pérez in 2012 to honor and celebrate Latin music creators. Created under the auspices of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, its nominating committee is comprised by songwriters, performers, musicians, producers, engineers, music critics, and industry executives.

Many of these were present during the press conference announcing the nominees. Those in attendance included Latin Grammy winner for best new artist Mariana Vega, Colombian singer/songwriter Cabas, singer/songwriter Yunel Cruz, composer/producer Julio Reyes and both Child and Perez.

LSHOF 2015 Full List of Nominees

PERFORMERS

Diego Torres               (Argentina)
Roberto Carlos             (Brazil)
Caetano Veloso            (Brazil)
Myriam Hernandez      (Chile)
Pablo Milanes               (Cuba)
Álvaro Torres                (El Salvador)
Juan Gabriel                  (México)
Joan Sebastian              (México)
Rubén Blades                (Panamá)
Ednita Nazario              (Puerto Rico)
Camilo Sesto                 (Spain)
Franco de Vita              (Venezuela)

NON-PERFORMERS

Chico Navarro (Argentina)
Gustavo Santaolalla                            (Argentina)
Lalo Schifrin (Argentina)
Erasmo Carlos (Brazil)
Alberto Plaza                                       (Chile)
Héctor Ochoa Cárdenas (Colombia)
Leo Brouwer                                       (Cuba)
Rubén Fuentes                                    (México)
Ramón Arcusa                                     (Spain)
Luis Gomez Escolar                             (Spain)
Jose Maria “Chema” Puron (Spain)
Jose Enrique “Chelique” Sarabia (Venezuela)

Daddy Yankee’s “Limbo” Recognized at the ASCAP Latin Music Awards

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee has plenty of reason to celebrate…

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton singer-songwriter’s “Limbo” has been named Song of the Year at the ASCAP Latin Music Awards.

The track, released as a Spanish-language song and bilingual track, peaked at number one on Billboard’s Latin Songs and Latin Pop Songs charts.

“Limbo” was written specially for Zumba Fitness to highlight the dance fitness company’s presence in the Latin music industry.

Daddy Yankee said he wanted “Limbo to invite the imagination, ignite creativity, to step away from the norm and bring something completely different.”

But that wasn’t the only prize Daddy Yankee picked up…

He also received ASCAP’s Voice of Music award. Looking visibly emotional, Daddy Yankee accepted his award and addressed the crowd in general and his fellow musicians in particular.

“It’s such an honor to be here. For me everything began as a young guy in Santurce, Puerto Rico in the 90s. I still have that passion in my heart,” he said.

Meanwhile, legendary musicians Fania All-Stars, this year’s Heritage award recipients, shared the stage with today’s stars in what became a true once-in-a-lifetime musical moment.

“I want to thank these boys for being with me so many years,” said 78-year-old Fania founder and bandleader Johnny Pacheco when accepting the award. “To me, this is the best salsa orchestra in existence.”

Colombian Andres Castro shared the Songwriter of the Year award with Romeo Santos (who was on tour but sent a video greeting).

Held in New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, the awards celebrate the most-performed songs, publishers and composers of 2013, with Sony/ATV winning publisher of the year and Mayimba Music winning Independent Publisher of the year.

Torres Launches World Tour in His Native Puerto Rico

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Tommy Torres is making music on the road…

The 41-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter kicked off his 12 historias world tour this weekend, which will take him to several countries in Latin America, the United States and Spain.

Torres opened his tour with a concert at the Jose M. Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, where he performed such songs as “El abrigo,” “Vinito pal’ corazon,” “Mar adentro” and “Un poquito.”

“How great to return home. How beautiful you look from here,” Torres told the crowd of 12,000 who came to his first show in Puerto Rico.

Torres then proceeded to sing “Por un beso tuyo,” “Un dia mas,” “11:11” and “Imparable,” and announced that the concert was being taped to be sold as a DVD.

He continued by performing a number of songs that other artists had written for him that he made into smash hits.

After launching the tour, Torres – who has won Grammys and Latin Grammys – will travel to Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Chile, several U.S. cities and then will perform in Spain in June.

Torres was named producer of the year by Billboard in 2007 and composer of the year by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, or ASCAP, in 2009.

Torres Releases Latest Album, 12 Historias

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Tommy Torres is back with new music…

The 40-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter has just released his fourth album, 12 Historias, which includes collaborations with Ricardo Arjona and Nelly Furtado.

Torres, a Grammy-winning music producer says the 12 subjects of his new album are anecdotes “of love, of friends, of acquaintances, about some very personal things,” as well as other stories from his Twitter account about happenings and feelings.

In particular, Torres notes the song “El Abrigo,” in which he worked with Juanes on guitar, deals with the problems of young college students after they take their degree and try to get a job in the field they studied.

“It’s a reality that many are going through right now,” Torres told EFE. “Going to college used to guarantee getting a job, now it’s about growing and learning.”

The first single to be released to promote the new disc, “Querido Tommy,” was inspired by a Chilean follower who told him on Twitter that he was madly in love and asked the artist to help him declare his love to the girl of his dreams.

While he considers himself a fan of social media, when he has to compose new music Torres disconnects from them entirely. He did say, however, that he uses them to get a little “relief.”

Torres was named “#1 Hot Latin Tracks Producer” of 2007 by Billboard magazine and Composer of the Year at 2010 ASCAP‘s Latin Music Awards.

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