George W. Bush | Hispanically Yours

She’s the only Hispanic artist to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony… And, now Rita Moreno will be honored with a much-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Recording Academy.

The 80-year-old Puerto Rican actress/singer/dancer, who was only the second Puerto Rican to win an Academy Award, is being heralded for her nearly 70-year career in entertainment, including her awe-inspiring turn as Anita in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical West Side Story.

Born Rosa Dolores Alverío in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Moreno is one of an elite group of performers who’ve won the industry’s five most prestigious awards: an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, Tony Award and Golden Globe. And she received the highest honor bestowed upon a U.S. civilian when former President George W. Bush awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004.

Moreno’s professional repertoire includes starring in more than 135 feature films and TV series and countless stage productions in the United States and abroad.

Moreno is also an esteemed lecturer who shares her insight on various cultural and industry-related topics with organizations and universities throughout the country; and she’s actively involved in several charities.

But Moreno isn’t the only Hispanic entertainer being recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Other recipients of the coveted award include:

Spanish born singer, songwriter and composer Luz Casal
Argentinian singer, songwriter and actor Leo Dan
Brazilian singer/songwriter Milton Nascimento
Mexican singer, actress and television host Daniela Romo
Mexican-American conguero, Latin jazz bandleader and salsa singer Poncho Sánchez
Brazilian composer, singer and guitarist Toquinho.

Meanwhile, Spanish virtuoso and flamenco guitarist Juan Carmona “Habichuela” and the Puerto Rican-born “King of the Cuatro” Yomo Toro will receive the prestigious Trustees Award.

“This year’s exceptional group of honorees not only beautifully represent our diverse music communities but exemplify the meaning of being a true pioneer of one’s craft as well as being internationally recognized within their respective musical genres,” said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “We continue the privilege of honoring and celebrating these iconic individuals whose contributions and accomplishments continue to leave an indelible legacy in the world of Latin music and will continue to inspire future generations of musicians and music fans for many years.”

Moreno and her fellow honorees will be saluted at a special invitation-only ceremony on Wednesday, November 14, as part of the weeklong Latin Grammy Awards celebration.

The 2012 Republican National Convention is officially underway in Tampa… And in its quest to woo more Hispanic voters, the GOP is shining a spotlight on the Republican Party’s rising Latino stars, including Marco Rubio, the senator from Florida.

Currently fewer than three in 10 Latino voters prefer Mitt Romney to President Barack Obama. If Romney can’t expand that number in the next two and a half months, he’ll have to run up a large percentage of the white vote to win the presidential election come November.

In 2004, President George W. Bush received more than 40% of the Hispanic vote, and won a narrow re-election. Four years later, Senator John McCain received less than a third of Latino voters, and lost the race.

So the RNC and an array of groups—the Hispanic Leadership Conference, the Latino Coalition, the Libre Initiative—are sponsoring several parties and events dedicated to Latino themes, with a never-before-seen level of attention being placed on Hispanic issues.

Only eight people will deliver primetime speeches that will be carried live on all three national networks on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. Three of them will be Hispanics: Lucé Vela, the first lady of Puerto Rico; Susana Martinez, the governor of New Mexico; and Rubio.

Rubio, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Cuba, has been given what could be considered the biggest assignment of all.

Rubio, who was named this spring as one of the most influential people in the world by Time magazine, will speak right before Romney takes the stage to accept his party’s nomination. In announcing his high-profile appearance, Romney campaign manager Matt Rhoads praised Sen. Rubio as “the future of the Republican Party.”

Meanwhile, Puerto Rico’s first lady Vela, a native of the island who attended college in Maryland, is scheduled to introduce Romney’s wife, Ann, at the convention on Tuesday night.

The high-profile post is a prime opportunity for Vela to introduce herself to Republicans — especially women and Hispanics — nationwide.

And finally, Martinez—the first Hispanic female governor in the U.S.—will take the stage before keynote speaker Gov. Chris Christie at the convention. The critical time slot, second only to that of the keynote speaker has been consistently reserved for the party’s up-and-coming talent – Mike Huckabee in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2004.

Other Latinos expected to speak at the convention include U.S. Senate nominee Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican and Tea Party favorite, and Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuño.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: George W. Bush

Moreno to Receive LatinRecording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Rubio Tops List of Latino Speakers at the Republican National Convention