Draco Rosa to Receive The Latin Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Posted on July 18, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Draco Rosa will receive a special honor for his storied career…

The 55-year-old Puerto Rican singer, musician, songwriter and entrepreneur will be one of the recipients of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award from The Latin Recording Academy, as part of its annual Special Awards presentation.

Draco is among a roster of honorees that include Albita, Lolita Flores, Alejandro Lerner, Los Angeles Azules and Lulu Santos.

Additionally, Puerto Rican composer Ángel “Cucco” Peña and Mexican guitarist Chucho Rincón will receive the Trustees Award.

“It is with great pride that we honor these musical legends who continue redefining our Latin music and heritage, said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy, in a statement. “We look forward to celebrating them as part of our Latin GRAMMY 25th anniversary festivities in November.”

According to the Latin Academy, the Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to performers who have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to Latin music and its communities.

Meanwhile, the Trustees Award is given to artists who’ve made “significant contributions to Latin music during their careers in ways other than performance.”

Both are voted on by the Latin Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees.

Draco has evolved from boy band stardom to becoming a rock en español icon and global hitmaker.

He originally garnered fame as a member of boy band Menudo in the 1980s, singing lead on the band’s biggest stateside hit, “Hold Me” and featuring prominently in the accompanying music video.

After leaving the band he moved to Brazil where he released two albums, achieving mainstream success.

Following a brief subsequent stint in California, he returned to New York and joined the band Maggie’s Dream, which split after only one album, allowing him to resume his solo career.

The singer and composer has released numerous albums and has composed multiple songs for Ednita Nazario, Julio Iglesias and former Menudo band-mate, Ricky Martin.

He has also been featured on VH1‘s Behind the Music.

Renowned for her fiery vocal delivery, Albita has been championing Cuban music and tradition since the late ’80s.

Her career in the U.S. has produced success, including multiple Grammy and Emmy nominations and wins.

In 2005, Albita was cast for a major role in the Broadway-produced musical play The Mambo Kings, where she worked for six months to rave reviews.

Daughter of Spanish legends Lola Flores and Antonio “El Pescaílla” González, Lolita Flores has made significant contributions to modern flamenco with her stunning voice and diverse repertoire.

Flores started her career in the early 1970s and with the release of the album Amor, amor and a single of the same name in 1975 she achieved success in her native Spain, as well as in countries in Latin America.

Her songs “Sarandonga,” “Lo voy a divider” and “Si la vida son dos días,” among others, have become staples in Spanish radio.

In 2002, she won a Goya Award for Best New Actress for her performance in the movie Rencor. Flores has also appeared in several television programs such as Directísimo and Hostal Royal Manzanares. In February 2019, she received the Medalla de Oro al Mérito en las Bellas Artes.

Hailing from Buenos Aires, Alejandro Federico Lerner was a trailblazer in Argentine rock during the ’70s and is celebrated as a seminal figure in the genre.

From Iztapalapa to the world, Los Ángeles Azules have been instrumental in propelling Mexican cumbia to international acclaim since the ’70s, continually infusing the genre with a Latin alternative twist that keeps it vibrant and relevant.

Lastly, Lulu Santos, a gifted Brazilian guitarist, singer and composer, has enchanted audiences for over five decades with his distinctive contributions to Brazilian music.

The honorees will be celebrated at a private event on Sunday, November 10, in Miami during Latin Grammy Week. As in previous years, Latin Grammy Week will include the Latin Grammy Person of the Year gala, which this year honors Colombian sensation Carlos Vives, the Special Awards ceremony and a Leading Ladies of Entertainment luncheon, among other events.

Nominations for the 2024 Latin Grammys will be announced on September 17, and the awards ceremony will take place on November 14 at the Kaseya Center in Miami.

Karol G Makes History on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart with Most Entries by Female Artist

Posted on August 22, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is on a hot streak…

The 32-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter is making history on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart dated August 26), as the woman with the most entries in the list’s history.

On the chart, which dates back to 1986, Karol G lands nine debuts, all from her fifth-studio album, Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season).

She now has a total of 60 chart appearances, outpacing the previous recordholder among women, Ednita Nazario, with 53-career entries. Overall, Bad Bunny continues in command with 148 total entries

Hot Latin Songs ranks the most popular Latin songs of the week, blending airplay, steams, and digital sales.

“Mi Ex Tenía Razón” leads the new haul bursting in at No. 1. The song traces its high start to 15 million official U.S. streams earned in the week ending August 17, according to Luminate. The sum yields a No. 14 start on the overall Streaming Songs chart and an equal No. 1 launch on Latin Streaming Songs. It also sold 2,000 copies, allowing for a No. 1 debut on Latin Digital Song Sales.

“Mi Ex Tenía Razón” makes a mark on radio airplay in line with its big streaming and sales splash. It’s the only new song from Bichota Season to debut on the overall Latin Airplay, at No. 28, with 4 million in audience impressions earned during the same tracking week.

Meanwhile, “Qlona,” Karol G’s first collaboration with Peso Pluma, debuts at No. 2 with 12 million official U.S. streams and 1,000 downloads sold.

Those two tracks join “S91” in the chart’s top 10. The latter previewed Bichota Season as the first single, debuting at No. 10 in July. On the current ranking, it rises 20-6 with the Greatest Gainer Sales/Streaming honors, fueled by 8.9 million streams, up 73%. It also re-enters at No. 37 on the overall Streaming Songs list, and rallies 25-6 on Latin Streaming Songs.

Three other tracks outside Bichota Season hold steady on Hot Latin Songs, making a total of 13 simultaneous songs on the current ranking.

Here’s the recap:

No. 1 “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” (debut)
No. 2 “Qlona,” with Peso Pluma (debut)
No. 6, “S91”
No. 12, “Una Noche En Medellín (Remix)” with Cris MJ & Ryan Castro (debut)
No. 13, “TQG,” with Shakira
No. 15, “Okidoki” (debut)
No. 18, “Amargura”
No. 19, “Me Tengo Que Ir,” with Kali Uchis (debut)
No. 22, “Dispo,” with Young Miko (debut)
No. 26, “Bichotag” (debut)
No. 29, “Gatita Gangster,” with Dei V (debut)
No. 36, “Provenza (Remix),” with Tiesto (debut)
No. 44, “Watati,” featuring Aldo Ranks

Karol G’s new personal records arrive amidst her Mañana Será Bonito Tour, in support of the eponymous album which scored her the best performance on the Billboard 200, and the first all-Spanish-language record by a female artist to debut at No. 1.

Ednita Nazario Launches New “De Corazón a Corazón” Podcast

Posted on March 13, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Ednita Nazario’s latest project has a lot of heart…

The 65-year-old Puerto Rican star has made her debut as a podcaster, with the new podcast titled De Corazón a Corazón that will air on her Facebook, YouTube and Spotify.

In the podcast, Nazario will “open her heart to talk about life with special guests that could range from personal friends to celebrities,” according to a press release. A new episode will be released across all the aforementioned platforms every Tuesday at 7:30 pm ET.

“This podcast will allow me to show fans another side of me and it will be a good opportunity to be close to all of you,” the singer-songwriter said in a statement. “I am so excited about this new project that I will pour all my heart into.”

https://twitter.com/EdnitaNazario/status/1370405911571931143

Ednita Nazario Releases Steamy New Single “La Más Loca, La Más Bella”

Posted on August 9, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Ednita Nazario is bringing the crazy-beautiful…

The 65-year-oldPuerto Rican singer-songwriter has released a new single “La Más Loca, La Más Bella.”

Nazario, a diva who has made a career singing soaring ballads, sets this new song to a medium-tempo rock arrangement where electric guitars and drums dominate, as she belts out the song about a woman in love and bent on driving her man mad.

“I am the devil that burns you, but you see the glory when you are inside me,” is one of the most representative verses of Nazario’s personality on the new song.

The song’s video was directed by Pablo Croce, another creative who’s managed to translate Nazario’s songs into equally intense stories. The video was recorded in a studio in Puerto Rico under new protocols for health security and social distancing.

Erika Ender Signs Global Multimedia Deal with BMG

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Erika Enderhas a new global deal…

The 45-year-old Panamanian & Brazilian singer-songwriter has signed a global multimedia partnership deal with music company BMG.

The wide-ranging deal includes a new recording agreement for her upcoming studio album, a book deal to publish her autobiography, a first-look documentary film agreement and development deal with her multi-platform company, Endertainment.

“Over the years, my career has diversified into multiple branches of entertainment and different markets within the music industry and with my new BMG family, I feel I found a home that not only sees the world of music and music entertainment from a global perspective, but also, like me, believes that the world is unlimited and that makes me feel free to create and be the best I can in all the things I love to do…BMG lets me be me…,” said the “Despacito” co-writer about the deal.

Having written hit singles for Gloria Trevi(“Cinco Minutos“), Chayanne(“Candela“) and Ednita Nazario(“La Pasión Tiene Memoria“), Ender’s music career spans over 27 years.

Along with Luis Fonsiand Daddy Yankee, Ender co-wrote chart-topping “Despacito” which spent 16 weeks atop the BillboardHot 100. The song’s Grammy nomination for Song of the Year earned Ender the honor of being the first Latina to earn a nod in that category.

In 2017, Ender became the youngest inductee into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame.

“We are honored that Erika has chosen BMG as both her new label and publishing home,” added Thomas Scherer, BMG executive vp, repertoire & marketing, Los Angeles. “Together we have a highly ambitious team that all share in the same global vision for the future. As one of entertainment’s most inspiring entrepreneurs, she has embraced all we have to offer beyond publishing and records, to television, for her show TalenPro, and also books as an author. She is truly an inspiration and we are proud to welcome Erika to the BMG family and look forward to working alongside her.”

Leila Cobo to Release New Book Offering Inside Look into the Latin Music Industry

Posted on December 23, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Leila Cobo is doing some decoding…

The Colombian journalist/writer, a vice president at Billboard, will release a new book next year with Penguin Random House titled Decoding Latino: The Real Story of Latin Music.

The book will offer an insider’s view into the Latin music industry, tracking the stories behind 15 of the biggest hits of the past 50 years featuring some of the biggest names in music, including Emilioand Gloria Estefan, Enrique Iglesias, J Balvinand Luis Fonsi, among others.

“Bringing to life these stories and these songs is an honor and a pleasure,” said Cobo, who is also a classically trained pianist. “We’ve had so much fun reliving the making of these landmark songs.”

Decoding Latino will also explore areas such as the birth of Salsa, which was bred on the streets of Spanish Harlem, as well as Puerto Rican reggaetonand the bilingual chart-toppers making history.

It will be published in English and Spanish, and will also be available as an audio book.

Cobo, who has previously written four books in addition to co-writing the 2017 memoir Una Vida with recording artist Ednita Nazario, is Billboard‘s chief Latin music expert, writer and editor who has secured some of the magazine’s most iconic cover stories highlighting names like pop star Jennifer Lopez, urban king Ozuna and the recent cover story featuring Spain’s flamenco-inspired hip-hip artist Rosalía, who this month was celebrated at Billboard’s 14th annual Women in Music event for her contributions to female empowerment.

Previously, Cobo published two novels with Grand Central Publishing/Hatchette Book Group, which were translated to German, Italian and have won multiple awards. The Second Time We Met, Cobo’s 2012 novel, won the Latino Book Award for best popular fiction and was chosen as one of the top summer reads by MSN and Latina.

Cobo’s biography on the late Jenni Rivera (Penguin Random House) stayed on the U.S. top 10 list of most-sold books in Spanish for more than 25 consecutive weeks. The book on the Diva of Banda music was named a top-read by several publications, including People en Español.

Mau y Ricky Renew Publishing Deal with Sony/ATV

Posted on December 6, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Mau and Ricky Montaner’s music won’t be finding a new home…

The Venezuelan brothers, better known as Mau y Ricky, have renewed their publishing deal with Sony/ATV, according to Billboard.

“We are happy to remain part of the Sony/ATV family where our songs have a house and are well maintained,” Mau and Ricky tell Billboard. “It’s been many years now. [President and CEO, Latin America and U.S. Latin] Jorge Mejia trusts in our talent and we trust him.”

The Latin Grammy-nominated duo, sons of music icon Ricardo Montaner, officially joined Sony/ATV in 2014 and since then have been working with many stars including Thalia,Karol G,Sofia Reyes,Lali,Ednita Nazario and Miguel Bosé, to name a few.

On the Billboard charts, Mau and Ricky have also scored hits as songwriters, including Ricky Martin’s “Vente Pa’ Ca,” which debuted at No.1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplaychart in 2016, and “Sin Pijama” by Becky Gand Natti Natasha, which also topped that chart in 2018.

“They are part of our house, composers who are part of the company’s DNA and we trust them,” concludes Mejia.

Kany Garcia to Be Honored at This Year’s La Musa Awards

Posted on September 4, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Kany Garcia is seriously A-Muse-d!

The Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced its honorees for the 2019 La Musa Awards, with the 26-year-oldPuerto Rican singer and songwriter making the list.

Garcia, a three-time Latin Grammy winner, will be awarded the Elena Casals La Musa Award.

Garcia has penned all the songs for her albums. And she’s also written songs for other artists like Ha*Ash, Ednita Nazario, Pedro Capó, Fabiola and Chayanne.

José José, referred to as El Príncipe de la Canción, will receive the Living Legend Award, The 71-year-old Mexican crooner, who began his musical career in his early teens, has released more than 30 albums, his last Tenampa in 2001.

Jesús López, chairman & CEO for Universal Music Latin Americaand the Iberian Peninsula, will receive the Desi Arnaz Pioneer Award, while music executive Nestor Casonuwill be honored with the Ralph S. Peer Publisher Award.

Additional honorees will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

In addition to unveiling the first wave of honorees, LSHOF has also announced that Spotify is returning as the official title sponsor of the awards ceremony. According to an official statement, the “continuing partnership aligns with Spotify’s unparalleled commitment to supporting and highlighting Latin music and songwriters on its global platform.”

In May, Ivy Queen, Willie Colón, Michael Sullivan, Chico Novarro, and Armando Larrinaga were announced as the five songwriters who will be inducted at the prestigious hall this year.

The 2019 group of inductees, which were selected by the general public from a previously announced list of 24 nominated songwriters and composers, is comprised of some of the greatest performers, lyricists, and musicians in Latin music today.

The 2019 honorees will be officially inducted at the seventh annual La Musa Awards ceremony and gala, taking place October 24 at the James L. Knight Centerin Miami.

Tickets for the 7th annual La Musa Awards are now on sale via Ticketmaster.com.

Erika Ender Inducted Into the Latin Song Writers Hall of Fame

Posted on October 22, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

She’s the woman behind the song of the summer… And, now Erika Ender has earned her place in Latin music history.

At the fifth annual La Musa Awards gala last week — hosted by Jane the Virgin‘s Jaime Camil – the Panamanian-Brazilian singer/songwriter was inducted into the prestigious Latin Song Writers Hall of Fame, the youngest inductee in the hall’s history.

Along with Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, Ender is co-writer of the biggest hit of the year, “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber, which spent 16 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100.

Born in Panama to a Brazilian mother and a U.S.-born father of German ancestry, Ender speaks fluent Portuguese and Spanish, and moves easily between cultures.

Before “Despacito,” she had written hits for Chayanne, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Gloria Trevi, Ednita Nazario and Los Tigres del Norte. She also is a TV personality in Latin America, where she has been a judge for a Latin version of American Idol.

Along with Ender, Ana Gabriel, Roberto Livi, Martin Urieta, Carlos Vives and Camilo Sesto were also inducted into hall of fame.

Each was presented at the James L. Knight Center with the coveted hand-crafted trophy, originally inspired by “the muse” of the late Cuban songwriter and poet, Elena Casals.

Additionally, Vives was presented with the Icon Award, while Wisin, the late Julio Jaramillo and “La Bamba” garnered the Victory Award, Legacy Award and Song of All Time, respectively.

Amid a political climate currently riddled with anti-immigrant rhetoric, as well as the devastating aftermaths of hurricanes Irma and Maria throughout the Caribbean, Urieta offered words and sentiments in support of immigrants, while Nazario performed a brilliant tribute to the island of Puerto Rico.

The Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame is dedicated to educating, preserving, honoring and celebrating “the lives and music of the world’s greatest Latin songwriters, composers and lyricists in every genre while developing and inspiring new generations of music creators through master classes, workshops, scholarships and digital initiatives.”

Marc Anthony Among Artists to Perform at “Unidos Por Puerto Rico” Concert & Telethon Event

Posted on September 27, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Marc Anthony is ready to unite for a cause…

Puerto Rico’s First Lady, Beatriz Rosselló, announced the resumption of “Unidos Por Puerto Rico” concert and telethon event, with the 49-year-old Puerto Rican salsa singer among the featured artists.

The charitable initiative was originally organized in early September to help those affected by Hurricane Irma and now joins the effort to raise funds for damages caused by Hurricane Maria.

In addition to Anthony, the concert-telethon will feature Luis Fonsi, Juan Luis Guerra, Ednita Nazario, Olga Tañón, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Zion & Lennox, Carlos Vives, Maluma, La Secta, Tito el Bambino, Vico C, Nicky Jam, Jowell & Randy, Pirulo y La Tribe, Víctor Manuel, Wisin, Ozuna and Yandel, among others.

The artists will also unite for a song and video titled “Isla Bendita“, which will honor the event.

“United for Puerto Rico” will air on October 22 directly from Puerto Rico through more than 20 Spanish Broadcasting System radio stations and on television through Telemundo, Univision and Mega TV in the U.S.

“Puerto Rico needs us now more than ever after suffering the scourge of two consecutive hurricanes,” said the Rosselló in a statement.

To make a donation for the victims of Irma and Maria visit www.unidosporpuertorico.com for more information.

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