Gabriel’s Final Album Remains No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums Chart

Posted on August 30, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Juan Gabriel’s legacy lives on…

The newest album by the late Mexican singer, Vestido De Etiqueta: Por Eduardo Magallanes, has logged a second week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart (dated Sept. 10).

The latest chart reflects sales data for the week ending August 25 — three days before Gabriel died. He passed away two days after a sold-out show and hours before he was set to perform a concert in El Paso, Texas.

It’s expected that the Latin American music legend will remain at the top of the list in the coming weeks, as the chart experiences the initial impact from his passing.

In the week ending August 25, Vestido De Etiqueta: Por Eduardo Magallanes sold 2,000 copies (up 28 percent).

Elsewhere, his former No. 1 Los Duo 2 climbs 8-5 with an 18 percent increase in sales (to 1,000 copies), reaching its best peak since the July 9-dated list when it ranked at No. 4. The set had previously crowned the chart for seven straight weeks (after debuting on the Jan. 2 tally).

Sales of his albums in the latest tracking week may have been spurred, in part, by Gabriel’s MeXXico Es Todo tour, which kicked off August 19. The singer played his last show at the Los Angles Forum on Friday, August 26.

Any uptick in album sales after Gabriel’s death, as well as track downloads and streaming, will be reflected on the September 17-dated charts which tracks activity from August 26 through September 1.

Gabriel, who began his career in the early 1970s, placed a total of 31 albums on the chart since its inception in 1993.

He is among just three solo acts to place as many titles on the chart, coming in just after Joan Sebastian (with 32 charted albums) and Vicente Fernandez (36).

Zaa Pulls Rare Double on Billboard’s Tropical Charts

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Charlie Zaa has pulled a rare tropical double…

The 41-year-old Colombian tropical singer tops both Billboard’s Tropical Albums and Tropical Songs charts (dated Dec. 5), becoming only the second act to simultaneously top the charts this year.

Zaa’s new album, the Sergio George-produced Mi Mejor Regalo, soars 18-1 in its second week with 1,000 copies sold in the week ending Nov. 19, according to Nielsen Music.

The album debuted a week earlier after pre-street date sales pushed it onto the list early.

The 10-track set is a tropical tribute to Mexican singer-songwriter Joan Sebastian, who died earlier this year (July 13, 2015). The concept to record the songs, in Zaa’s typical bachata/bolero style, was already in the works prior to Sebastian’s death.

Mi Mejor Regalo gives Zaa his fourth chart-topping album, the first of which was earned in 1997 when Sentimientos spent 15 weeks at No. 1. It’s also his best-selling album in the U.S., with 326,000 sold. His most recent No. 1 was in 2011, when De Bohemia reached the peak and spent 61 weeks in the top 20.

Meanwhile, on the Tropical Songs airplay chart, Zaa’s “Un Idiota” rises 52 percent in spins during the tracking week ending Nov. 22, according to Nielsen Music, shooting the track 9-1 and earning Zaa his first No. 1 (of his seven total charted tracks – which includes three top 10s).

Other than Zaa, salsa singer Victor Manuelle is the only other artist to concurrently top both Tropical lists. In 2015, “Agua Bendita” and Que Suenen Los Tambores each held the highest rank on the charts dated May 9.

Zaa to Release New Album “Mi Mejor Regalo,” a Tribute to the Late Joan Sebastian

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Charlie Zaa is offering up a special tribute to the late Joan Sebastian…

When the 41-year-old Colombian singer began working on his new album more than a year ago, he had no idea that the Mexican star would die within that time.

Now, Zaa’s new album, Mi Mejor Regalo, a tribute to Sebastian, will come out this Fall on Sony Music following Sebastian’s death in July.

The timing is bitter sweet, considering that the notion of covering Sebastian made perfect sense for Zaa, who back in 1996 catapulted to fame by covering the music of bolero singer Julio Jaramillo in the album Sentimientos.

For his first recording in several years, Zaa teamed up with producer Sergio George, and decided Sebastian’s repertoire would also suit him.

Mi mejor regalo was recorded between November and February 2015 and was always envisioned as a special homage to Sebastian’s life. It has now turned into a posthumous homage that includes songs like “Secreto de Amor” and “25 rosas,” recorded in a fusion-like bolero style that incorporates bachata percussion, Mexican horns and bolero strings.

A first single, “Un idiota,” went to radio last week.

Sebastian’s Music to be Celebrated at Star-Studded Musical Tribute

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Joan Sebastian is getting a star-studded musical tribute…

The late Mexican singer, one of most beloved entertainment figures in his homeland, will be remembered by his peers in an all-star musical tribute Wednesday at the Mundo Imperial Forum in Acapulco.

The three-hour concert, titled “¡Viva por siempre Joan Sebastian!,” will feature superstar names in Mexican music and television, including Marco Antonio Solís, Larry Hernandez, Lucía Mendez, Aracely Arámbula, Maribel Guardia, Yuri, Ana Bárbara, Banda El Limón and more. The late superstar’s two sons, José Manuel and Julián Figueroa, will also be part of the tribute.

Veteran Mexican actor Alfredo Adame will serve as the host for the evening. He’ll be joined by other telenovela actors who will pay their respects to Sebastian, who himself participated in dozens of Spanish soaps, both as an actor and songwriter.

“There will be more than 30 stars who will be with us,” the event’s executive producer, Alex Ruiz, told El Universal. “And others whom we have yet to confirm so that it will be a dignified tribute, fit for Joan Sebastian.”

Other A-listers who could join the tribute to “El Rey del Jaripeo” include Vicente Fernandez, Enrique Iglesias and Thalía, all of whom have reportedly been invited.

The tribute will be televised August 29 on Bandamax. All proceeds will benefit the Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos organization, which helps children with cancer, in Sebastian’s home state of Guerrero.

The Mexican icon’s death on July 13 after a long battle with cancer sparked a record surge on the Billboard charts. His new posthumous single “Volví Pa’l Pueblo” celebrates life at home in his native Juliantla. Sony Music Latin has said it will release a full album in the near future.

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)

Ortiz Earns 14 Billboard Mexican Music Awards Nominations

Posted on August 24, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Gerardo Ortiz is this year’s king of Mexican Music…

The 23-year-old Mexican American norteño singer leads the list of finalists for the for the third annual Billboard Mexican Music Awards, which will air live on Telemundo on October 9 at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.

Ortiz earned 14 nods in 13 categories, highlighting his overwhelming success in every arena of the business, from album sales and digital downloads to airplay and songwriting.

Ortiz is nominated for Artist of the year, Songs Artist of the Year, Airplay Artist of the Year, Digital Download Artist of the Year, Albums Artist of the Year and Songwriter and Producer of the Year, among other categories.

In the Norteño Album of the Year category, his El Primer Ministro will compete against another of his own albums, Sold Out: En Vivo Desde El NOKIA Theatre L.A. Live.

Right behind Ortiz in number of nods is the late Jenni Rivera, a 10-time finalist in eight categories thanks to the huge surge of sales following her death last December.

Rivera’s finalist nods include Artist of the Year; Artist of the Year, Female; Albums Artist of the Year, Songs Artist of the Year and Digital Download Artist of the Year.

Two of her albums, La Misma Gran Señora and Joyas Prestadas are vying for Album of the Year and Banda Album of the Year.

The list of top finalists, which also include banda star Roberto Tapia, norteño trio Voz de Mando, Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga, Calibre 50, 3BallMTY and Joan Sebastian, represent the diverse nature of regional Mexican music, which has long been the top-selling genre of Latin music in the U.S.

Next up, La Arrolladora Banda el Limón de René Camacho, the super-popular traditional banda known for registering massive radio hits. The group will vie for seven awards, including Artist of the Year; Artist of the Year, Duo or Group; Songs Artist of the Year; Airplay Artist of the Year and Banda Artist of the Year. Their song “Cabecita Dura” from their hit album Irreversible is a finalist for Song of the Year and Banda Song of the Year.

The Billboard Mexican Music Awards are given in 32 award categories—including honors in the subgenres of Banda, Norteño, ranchero/mariachi and duranguense/grupero/cumbia—as well as awards for top labels and publishers.

Finalists and winners are determined by chart performance as chronicled in Billboard magazine and on Billboard.com during the eligibility period of August 18, 2012 through August 10, 2013. Award categories are based on album and digital track sales data provided by Nielsen SoundScan and radio airplay monitored by Nielsen BDS.

Click here to see the complete list of nominees.

3Ball MTY Receives 12 Billboard Mexican Music Award Nominations

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

The three members of 3Ball MTY are probably blowing Besos al Aire to their fans after earning the most Billboard Mexican Music Award nominations.

The Mexican DJ collective, which is comprised of Erick Rincon, Sergio Zavala (Dj Sheeqo Beat) and Alberto Presenda (Dj Otto), earned nods in 12 categories. 3Ball MTY’s mix of cumbia and electronica is currently at the forefront of the new tribal music movement.

3BallMTY, who had its national television debut at last year’s Mexican Music Awards, broke ground with their infectious single “Inténtalo,” a finalist in the Song of the Year, Song of the Year-Vocal Event and Duranguense/Grupero/Cumbia Song of the Year categories.

Following right behind 3Ball MTY: hard-hitting corrido singer/songwriter Gerardo Ortiz, a finalist in 11 categories, and eclectic singer/songwriter Espinoza Paz, with 11 nods in 10 categories (he competes against himself in the Banda Album of the Year category).

Other leading finalists include perennial hitmakers La Arrolladora Banda el Limón de René Camacho, competing for nine awards, including Artist of the Year and Songs Artist of the Year. La Arrolladora’s hit “Llamada de mi Ex” is also a finalist for Song of the Year and Banda Song of the Year. La Arrolladora’s director, Fernando Camacho Tirado is also a finalist in the Producer of the year category, an award he won in 2011.

Meanwhile, Julión Alvarez y Su Norteño Banda received six nods-including Artist of the year-Duo or Troup and Airplay Artist of the Year– and América Sierra, the featured vocalist in 3BallMTY’s hit “Inténtalo” with five. Alvarez is also a finalist for Producer of the Year.

Finalists up for four awards include Jenni Rivera, Shaila Durcal, Vicente Fernandez and Joan Sebastian. Those up for three awards include Banda el Recodo de Cruz Lizarraga, El Bebeto and Tierra Cali.

The second annual Billboard Mexican Music Awards will be broadcast live from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium on Telemundo Oct. 18.

The Billboard Mexican Music Awards are the only nationally televised awards that exclusively honor regional Mexican music. Finalists and winners of the 33 awards are determined by chart performance as chronicled in Billboard Magazine and on Billboard.com. Award categories are based on album and digital track sales data provided by Nielsen SoundScan and radio airplay monitored by Nielsen BDS.

Aguilar Receives Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Pepe Aguilar has officially left his mark in Hollywood…

The 42-year-old Mexican American ranchera and mariachi singer, who will be touring with Shaila Durcal and Joan Sebastian this fall, received a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame on Thursday.

“It’s an honor for me. I feel honored to be here on this very beautiful occasion. But, above all, it’s an honor for the music I represent,” said Aguilar, who was accompanied by relatives, friends and fans.

Dressed in a dark suit and sunglasses, Aguilar unveiled his star, which was No. 2,474 among those bestowed upon celebrities from film, television, radio and music by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Aguilera’s star is located at 7060 Hollywood Boulevard. It’s placed next to the star of another ranchera music legend, Pepe’s father Antonio Aguilar.

“A man who came from Zacatecas before having that star (and) slept on the streets of Los Angeles like one more undocumented (immigrant),” said the singer regarding his father.

Aguilar, who has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards, was the first singer of Mexican descent to sing at the legendary Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. And, he was the first Latino to sing at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles. He has sold millions of albums worldwide.

Durcal to Tour with Joan Sebastian and Pepe Aguilar

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Shaila Durcal is getting ready to leave a special footprint on her fans…

The 32-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter will be co-headlining a tour with Mexican stars Joan Sebastian and Pepe Aguilar.

Entitled Dejando Huella…Una Historia Musical, the 16-date tour will kick off in Kansas City this September.

The tour was originally slated to begin June 22 in Washington DC, but the first eight tour dates were postponed. Dejando Huella may have been affected by an overcrowded Latin tour schedule that included a triple-threat tour featuring Chayanne, Marc Anthony and Marco Antonio Solís; the Jennifer López, Enrique Iglesias and Frankie J. tour; and Vicente Fernández‘s farewell tour.

Dejando Huella stood out from others because it included Latin equestrian shows that have traditionally been part of Aguilar and Sebastian’s sets, as well as jaripeo performances that are considered a form of bull riding practiced in Mexico.

Here’s a complete look at the Dejando Huella tour dates:

Sept. 22: Kansas City (Sprint Center)
Sept. 23: Chicago (Allstate Arena)
Sept. 28: El Paso, Texas (El Paso Coliseum)
Sept. 29: Laredo, Texas (Laredo Energy Arena)
Sept. 30: Hidalgo, Texas (State Farm Arena)
Date TBA: Phoenix, Ariz., (US Airways Center)
Date TBA: San Jose, Calif. (HP Pavilion)

Espinoza Paz Tops the List of Premios Oye! Nominees…

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

He’s been proclaimed “the singer-songwriter of the pueblo”… But Espinoza Paz could be called this year’s most influential musician in Mexico.

The 30-year-old Mexican artist has received four nominations for the 10th annual Premio Nacional a la Música Grabada Oye!, which are presented annually by the Academia Nacional de la Música en México for outstanding achievements in the Mexican record industry.

Paz received nods in the Popular Album, Popular Song, Norteño Solo Artist or Group and Banda Solo Artist or Group categories.

But Paz wasn’t the only artist to receive four nods… 43-year-old Mexican rockera Alejandra Guzmán scored the same number of nods.

Meanwhile, Zoé, Joan Sebastian and Calle 13 received three nominations, while Shakira, Cristian Castro, Marco Antonio Solís, Los Tigres del Norte, Franco de Vita, Río Roma and Ha*Ash received two nods each.

Nominations are determined by a jury of approximately 2, 500 experts in the music industry.

The Premio Nacional a la Música Grabada Oye! 2012 awards show will take place on February 9, 2012.

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