Following a delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 77-year-old Puerto Rican musician, singer and composer has finally received his 2021 National Medal of Arts prize.
President Joe Biden doled out medals to the National Medal of Arts recipients, as well as the 2021 National Humanities Medal honorees.
The White House hosted a livestreamed East Room ceremony on Tuesday for the recipients, who included Mindy Kaling, Gladys Knight, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bruce Springsteen and fashion designer Vera Wang. Feliciano was unable to attend the event as he’s in Hawaii after performances on the West Coast.
Feliciano was born blind as a result of glaucoma. His family moved to New York City’s Spanish Harlem when he was five years old, and he fell in love with music and playing the accordion and the guitar. While in high school, he played as a regular at a Greenwich Village coffeehouse. He eventually dropped out of high school and moved to Detroit to take a more permanent singing gig, and soon after was signed with RCA Records. He is most known for his bilingual Christmas song, “Feliz Navidad” which has been named among the most popular holiday songs of all time.
According to Billboard, Feliciano has two top-10 hits in his career and 11 top-100 songs. Feliciano is also a seven-time Grammy award winner.
The NEA website writes the decision to honor Feliciano came from his tenure in the music industry, saying “Over 60 years, 60 albums, and 600 songs, Jose Feliciano has opened hearts and built bridges — overcoming obstacles, never losing faith, and enriching the goodness and greatness of the Nation.”
The honorees received their awards about two years late due to a backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
First lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris also attended the ceremony, which Biden opened with a speech filled with quips about the honorees.
The recipients of the National Medals of Arts – the highest honor from the United States government for advancing the country’s arts – include actors, comedians and singers. Other recipients were artist-activist Judith Francisca Baca, philanthropist Fred Eychaner, Puerto Rican painter Antonio Martorell-Cardona and film producer Joan Shigekawa.
The Billie Holiday Theatre and The International Association of Blacks in Dance also received medals.
The National Humanities Medal honors those who have improved Americans’ understanding and engagement with history, literature, philosophy and more humanities subjects.
The 2021 recipients are poet Richard Blanco, anthropologist Johnnetta Betsch Cole, author Walter Isaacson, social historian Earl Lewis, Native American studies academic Henrietta Mann, novelist Ann Patchett, activist Bryan Stevenson, novelist Amy Tan, memoirist Tara Westover and novelist Colson Whitehead, as well as the organization Native America Calling.
Mariah Carey is still a global sensation this holiday season…
The 52-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” holds at No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts.
The insta-classic Christmas song adds a 12th total week at No. 1 on the former and a seventh week atop the latter, dating to the charts’ inceptions two years ago.
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” holds at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 with 108.1 million streams (up 16%) and 17,000 sold (up 6%) worldwide in the December 16-22 tracking week. The modern holiday classic, released in 1994, adds a 12th week at the summit, and fourth this holiday season, after it led for four weeks each over the 2020 and 2021 holidays.
With 12 weeks atop the Global 200, Carey’s “Christmas” passes The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” (11, 2021) for the sole second-longest reign since the chart began, trailing only Harry Styles’ “As It Was” (15, beginning this April).
Elsewhere in the Global 200’s top 10, José Feliciano’s 1970 carol “Feliz Navidad” dashes 13-10 (50 million streams, up 22%; 5,000 sold, up 18%, worldwide); it hit a No. 9 high in the 2020 holiday season.
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” also continues atop the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, with 65.1 million streams (up 14%) and 6,000 downloads sold (up 11%) in territories outside the U.S. December 16-22. The song adds a seventh total week at No. 1, and third this Yuletide season, after it ruled for a week during the 2020 holidays and for three frames over last year’s holiday season.
The two global charts, which began in September 2020, rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Billboard Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the U.S.
Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.
Jose Feliciano’s biggest hit is being heralded in a special way…
The Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame (LSHOF) has announced its 2022 inductees and La Musa Awards honorees, with the 76-year-old Puerto Rican musician, singer and composer’s “Feliz Navidad” among those being recognized.
Feliciano’s insta-classic holiday single will receive the Song of All Time award.
Mexican artist Emmanuel will receive La Musa Legacy Award; Apple’s Eddy Cue will receive the Desi Arnaz Pioneer Award; Spanish composer Manuel Alejandro will receive the La Musa Living Legend Award; and Venezuelan singer-songwriter Elena Rose will receive La Musa Elena Casals Award.
Meanwhile, Yotuel Romero, Beatriz Luengo, Descemer Bueno, Luis Manuel OteroAlcántara, Maykel Osorbo, Alexander Delgado, Randy Malcom Martínez, and DJ El Funky will receive the inaugural La Musa Medal of Freedom for “Patria y Vida.”
Honoring the outstanding songwriters and composers across all genres of Latin music, LSHOF will host its 10th anniversary with the induction and special awards gala held for the first time on October 13 at the Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
The star-studded guests confirmed for La Musa Awards include Feliciano, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, Draco Rosa, Erika Ender, La India, Luis Figueroa, Yotuel, Gente De Zona, Fofé (Circo), Jesús Molina, Julio Iglesias, Jr.,Vannesa Campagna, Simon Dumas, Alexander Acha, Jandy Ventura, and Manny Cruz.
Expected to attend are Emily Estefan, David Bisbal, Alejandra Guzmán, with more guests to be confirmed soon.
The 2022 La Musa Awards, which kicks off the partnership of LSHOF with Hard Rock International & Hard Rock Live, is set to be hosted by Peruvian-American actress and singer Isabela Merced, and promises live music performances, backed by a 35-piece orchestra, laced with personal reminiscences by the presenters and honorees.
2022 INDUCTEES
The 2022 inductees include award-winning songwriters and producers Desmond Child and Rudy Pérez, who co-founded the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame; composer of iconic Latin music standard Tony Renis; and to be inducted posthumously, Dominican merengue pioneer Johnny Ventura.
To be eligible for induction into the LSHOF, the songwriter, composer or lyricist must have had their first published work released at least 20 years prior to the year of induction. All inductees are presented with the silver LA MUSA trophy statuette.
2022 HONOREES
Emmanuel (Mexican artist) to receive La Musa Legacy Award
Eddy Cue (Apple Sr. Vice President) to receive Desi Arnaz Pioneer Award
Manuel Alejandro (Spanish composer) to receive La Musa Living Legend Award
Gustavo Menéndez (Warner Chappell Music President, US Latin & Latin America) to receive the Ralph S. Peer Publisher Award
Walter Kolm (Founder and CEO of Walter Kolm Entertainment) to receive Founders Award
Elena Rose (Venezuelan singer-songwriter) to receive La Musa Elena Casals Award
Puerto Rican musician Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad” to be recognized as Song of All Time
Yotuel Romero, Beatriz Luengo, Descemer Bueno, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, Maykel Osorbo, Alexander Delgado, Randy Malcom Martínez, and DJ El Funky to receive inaugural La Musa Medal of Freedom for “Patria y Vida.”
It’s an unprecedented fourth successive No. 1 for Carey’s Christmas classic, originally released back in 1994.
Unsurprisingly, the latest ARIAchart is swamped with festival songs, including Wham’s “Last Christmas” (up 9-2), Michael Bublé’s “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” (10-3), Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” (12-5), Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” (17-8), and Ed Sheeran & Elton John’s “Merry Christmas” (16-10).
According to ARIA, a string of holiday season numbers enter the ARIA Top 50 for the very first time: Chris Rea’s “Driving Home For Christmas” (No. 26), Shakin’ Stevens’ “Merry Christmas Everyone” (No. 27), Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad” (No. 28), Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” (No. 38), Dean Martin’s “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” (No. 42), Kylie Minogue’s “Santa Baby” (No. 44) and Michael Bublé’s “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (No. 48).
Jose Feliciano is making chart history with his holiday classic…
The 75-year-old Puerto Rican musician, singer and composer’s “Feliz Navidad” moves up from No. 16 to No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100songs chart, dated December 19, hitting the top 10 for the first time, 50 years after its original 1970 release. It previously reached No. 12 last holiday season.
The holiday classic sports gains of 6% to 23 million in radio airplay audience, 15% to 18.5 million U.S. streams and 34% to 3,000 sold, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.
Feliciano adds his second Hot 100 top 10, after his debut entry, his cover of The Doors‘ “Light My Fire,” hit No. 3 in August 1968. (The Doors‘ original ruled for three weeks in the summer of 1967.) He has charted 11 total Hot 100 entries, as well as 16 titles, including eight top 10s, on the Hot Latin Songs chart.
The legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist is celebrating the 50th anniversary of “Feliz Navidad” this year. He performed on NBC‘s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonand CBS Sunday Morninglast week and, among other festivities, has a livestream scheduled for December 20.
The 51-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” returns to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100songs chart, rising from No. 2.
The song, first released on Carey’s album Merry Christmasin 1994 and which first reigned for three weeks last holiday season, adds its fourth total week atop the Hot 100, tying for the most time at No. 1 among holiday hits in the chart’s 62-year history.
The carol is one of a record-tying five Yuletide songs in the Hot 100’s top 10, joined by Brenda Lee‘s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” Bobby Helms‘ “Jingle Bell Rock,” Andy Williams‘ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and, in the top 10 for the first time, 50 years after its original release, Jose Feliciano‘s “Feliz Navidad.”
The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data.
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” drew 31.4 million U.S. streams (up 19%) and sold 7,000 downloads (up 8%) in the week ending December 10, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. It also tallied 27.1 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 11%) in the week ending Dec. 13.
The track spends a seventh total week at No. 1 on the Streaming Songschart and rises 9-8 on Digital Song Salesand 27-22 on Radio Songs. It also crowns the multi-metric Holiday 100chart for a 43rd week, of the chart’s 48 total weeks since the list launched in 2011; it has topped the tally for 28 consecutive weeks, dating to the start of the 2015-16 holiday season.
Since its release, the song has drawn 4.1 billion in total radio audience, 1 billion on-demand streams and 3.7 million in download sales in the U.S.
Carey’s insta-classic track ties “The Chipmunk Song,” by The Chipmunks with David Seville for the most weeks at No. 1 for a holiday song. The Chipmunks’track spent four weeks at No. 1 beginning in December 1958.
With “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Carey claims her record-extending 83rd week at No. 1 on the Hot 100, dating to the chart’s August 4, 1958, inception.
Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot 100
83, Mariah Carey
60, Rihanna
59, The Beatles
50, Boyz II Men
50, Drake
“Christmas” last year became Carey’s 19th Hot 100 No. 1, the most among soloists and lifting her to within one of The Beatles‘ overall record 20. It also made Carey the first artist to have ranked at No. 1 on the chart in four distinct decades.
José Feliciano’s classic Christmas song is celebrating a major musical milestone…
The 75-year-old Puerto Rican musician, singer and composer’s “Feliz Navidad” turns 50 this year, with no signs of age.
The classic Christmas song is one of the top 10-performing hits in the decade-plus history of Billboard‘s Holiday 100 chart, and one of the most popular Latin songs of all time.
Recorded in 1970, “Feliz Navidad” is a marvel in many ways.
“It just came to me; there’s no rhyme or reason,” he recently told Billboard. “The first lyric came to me, then I put the English lyric into it, not realizing I had made it the only bilingual Christmas song ever in the world. I created a monster.”
Feliciano stopped by The Tonight Showearlier this week to perform his timeless hit.
Jesse y Joy are hoping to get you into the holiday spirit…
Amazon Music LAT!N has launched a wave of festive content to get music lovers in the holiday spirit, from themed playlists to video interviews, and beyond, including an Amazon Original song from the Mexican Latin Grammy-winning brother & sister duo.
Kicking off this weekend, customers can enjoy Jesse y Joy’s Amazon Original song “Te Deseo Muy Felices Fiestas,”a Latin rendition of the holiday classic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
The Mexican duo is also teaming up with Amazon and its “Delivering Smiles” holiday campaign to give back to charitable organizations and the communities they serve this season.
Lele Pons gives the timeless song “Let It Snow” a Spanglish tropical twist in “Let It Snow (Navidad, Navidad, Navidad).”
“Lele Pons and Jesse & Joy are incredibly talented artists who are chart-toppers in their respective genres, so we knew they would create something very unique, exciting, and fresh- and they also share our passion for the holidays,” says Rocio Guerrero, global head of Latin Music at Amazon Music. “Their bilingual takes on classic tunes will delight fans.”
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Jose Feliciano’s iconic holiday classic “Feliz Navidad,” 30 artists including CNCO, Jon Secada, Frankie J, Jencarlos Canela, Pablo Montero, Julio Iglesias, Jr., , Jason Mraz, Gloria Gaynor, Patricia Manterola, and Lin-Manuel Miranda have joined forces for a special anniversary edition.
“Jose Feliciano’s ‘Feliz Navidad’ has been part of our holiday celebrations for generations! The opportunity to bring fans a fresh take on this beloved classic in honor of the song’s 50th Anniversary was a joy,” Guerrero says.
“Christmas is such a special time and we as a team were so excited to bring reimagined holiday favorites for our fans to enjoy,” Guerrero adds. “To bring fans extra holiday joy, we worked on exclusive holiday-themed content to go along with each song, as well as playlists to get fans through the season.”
According to Guerrero, Amazon does not plan on releasing more original Latin holiday songs, but fans will be able to enjoy the exclusive Christmas-themed content throughout the season. Listen and watch it here.
The 26-year-old Spanish singer/songwriter has earned the first two Grammy nominations of her career, including a historic nod for Best New Artist.
Rosalia, a five-time Latin Grammy winner, is the first all-Spanish language singer to be nominated in the best new artist category. Other Latino artists have been nominated in the category over the years, including Vikki Carr in 1963, and Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera and Esperanza Spalding have won the award. Even José Feliciano won best new artist in 1969, bolstered by his hit version of the Doors’ “Light My Fire.” But the previous nominees and winners were not, however, honored for their work recorded exclusively in Spanish.
Rosalia’s second nomination comes in the Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album category for her second studio album, El Mal Querer. The album took home all the Latin Grammy awards it was nominated for, including Album of the Year, one of the top awards of the night.
Bad Bunny picked up two nominations… in the same category.
The 25-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton singer-rapper is nominated in the Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album category for his Latin Grammy-winning debut album X 100PRE, as well as his collaborative album with J Balvin, Oasis.
Esperanza Spalding, a four-time Grammy winner, including Best New Artist, has picked up two nods this year.
The 35-year-old part-Latinajazz bassist and singer is nominated in the Best Jazz Vocal Album category for her album12 Little Spells. She’s also up for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals for serving as the arranger on her own single track “12 Little Spells (Thoracic Spine).”
Vince Mendoza is back in familiar territory…
The 58-year-old Latino music arranger, conductorand composer, a multi-Grammy winner, has picked up four nominations.
He’s nominated in the Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals category for his work on Trisha Yearwood’s “Over The Rainbow.”
Mendoza picked up two nods in the Best Instrumental Composition category for conducting Fred Hersch & The WDR Big Band’s “Begin Again,” as well as composing “Love, A Beautiful Force,” his single with Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts and the Temple University Studio Orchestra.
Emilio Solla is in the running for a Grammy this year…
The Argentine pianist and composer is nominated in the Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella category for arranging “La Novena,” his single with the Emilio Solla Tango Jazz Orchestra.
Diego Figueiredo picked up a nod
The 39-year-old Brazilian musician is nominated in the Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals category for arrangement alongside Cyrille Aiméeon Aimée’s “Marry Me A Little.”
Camila Cabello, a two-time Grammy nominee last year, has earned a nod this year…
The 22-year-old Mexican and Cuban singer and former Fifth Harmony member is nominated in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category for her collaboration with Shawn Mendes, “Señorita.”
Cardi B has earned a nod this year…
The 27-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar, who picked up her first Grammy at this year’s awards show for her debut album Invasion of Privacy, is up for Best Rap Performance for her work opposite Offset on “Clout.”
Rodrigo y Gabrielahave reason to celebrate…
The Mexican acoustic guitar duo, comprised of Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero, picked up its first Grammy nomination. Rodrigo y Gabriela is nominated in the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album category for Mettavolution.
Jessie Reyez is a first-time Grammynominee…
The 28-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter is nominated in the Best Urban Contemporary Album category for her sophomore album Being Human In Public. The album picked up a Juno Award in her home country of Canada for RnB/Soul Recording of the Year.
Sebastian Plano is celebrating his Grammy nod…
The Argentine composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist is nominated in the Best New Age Album category for his albumVerve.
Melissa Aldana has picked up her first Grammy nomination…
The 30-year-old Chilean tenor saxophone player is nominated in the Best Improvised Jazz Solo category for “Elsewhere.”
The nominees in the Best Latin Jazz Album include Chick Corea & The Spanish Heart Band (Antidote), Thalma De Freitas with Vitor Gonçalves, John Patitucci, Chico Pinheiro, Rogerio Boccato & Duduka Da Fonse (Sorte!: Music By John Finbury), Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis & Rubén Blades (Una Noche Con Rubén Blades), David Sánchez (Carib), and Miguel Zenón (Sonero: The Music of Ismael Rivera)
The Best Latin Pop Album nominees include an eclectic mix of artists: Luis Fonsi (Vida), Maluma (11:11), Ricardo Montaner (Montaner), Alejandro Sanz (#ELDISCO), and Sebastian Yatra (Fantasía).
In addition to Bad Bunny, J Balvin and Rosalia, the nominees in the Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album category include Flor De Toloache (Indestructible) and iLe(Almadura).
The Best Regional Mexican Music Album (including Tejano) include Joss Favela (Caminando), Intocable (Percepción), La Energia Norteña (Poco A Poco), Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea (20 Aniversario), and Mariachi Los Camperos (De Ayer Para Siempre).
The Best Tropical Latin Album nominees include Marc Anthony (Opus), Luis Enrique + C4Trio (Tiempo Al Tiempo), Vicente Garcia (Candela), Juan Luis Guerra 4.40 (Literal) and Aymée Nuviola (A Journey Through Cuban Music).
The Best Musical Theater Album nominees includeHadestown, with Eva Noblezada as one of the principal soloists, and Moulin Rouge! The Musical, with Karen Olivo as one of the principal soloists. It’s the first Grammy nod for both Noblezada, who is half-Mexican American, and Olivo, who is part Puerto Rican and Dominican American.
Gustavo Dudamelis back in the hunt for a Grammy…
The 38-year-oldVenezuelan-Spanish conductor and violinist, who won his first Grammy in 2011, is nominated in the Best Orchestral Performance category for conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonnic’s “Norman: Sustain.”
FKA Twigs has picked up her first Grammy nomination…
The 31-year-old part-Spanish singer is up for Best Music Video for her acclaimed music video for “Cellophane.”
Lizzo led the pack with eight nods, while Billie Eillish and Lil Nas Xfollowed close behind with six nominations each. All three musicians are first-time Grammy nominees.
Alicia Keyswill return as host the ceremony for the second year in a row, making her the third womanand the first female musician to host the show twice.
The Grammy Awardswill take place on January 26 at the Staples Centerin Los Angeles. The broadcast will air live on CBSat 5:00 pm PT/ 8:00 pm ET.
Here’s a look at the categories with Latino nominees:
GENERAL FIELD
Best New Artist Black Pumas Billie Eilish Lil Nas X Lizzo Maggie Rogers Rosalía Tank and the Bangas Yola
POP FIELD
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: “Boyfriend” — Ariana Grande & Social House “Sucker” — Jonas Brothers “Old Town Road” — Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus “Señorita” — Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello
CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album: Ancestral Recall — Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah Star People Nation — Theo Croker Beat Music! Beat Music! Beat Music! — Mark Guiliana Elevate — Lettuce Mettavolution — Rodrigo y Gabriela
R&B
Best Urban Contemporary Album: Apollo XXI — Steve Lacy Cuz I Love You (Deluxe) — Lizzo Overload — Georgia Anne Muldrow Saturn — Nao Being Human In Public — Jessie Reyez
RAP
Best Rap Performance: “Middle Child” — J.Cole “Suge” — DaBaby “Down Bad” — Dreamville ft. J.I.D, Bas, J. Cole, Earthgang & Young Nudy “Racks In The Middle” — Nipsey Hussle ft. Roddy Ricch & Hit-boy “Clout” — Offset ft. Cardi B
NEW AGE
Best New Age Album: Fairy Dreams — David Arkenstone Homage To Kindness — David Darling Wings — Peter Kater Verve — Sebastian Plano Deva — Deva Premal
JAZZ
Best Improvised Jazz Solo: “Elsewhere” — Melissa Aldana, soloist “Sozinho” — Randy Brecker, soloist “Tomorrow Is The Question” — Julian Lage, soloist “The Windup” — Brandford Marsalis, soloist “Sightseeing” — Christian McBride, soloist
Best Jazz Vocal Album: Thirsty Ghost — Sara Gazarek Love & Liberation — Jazzmeia Horn Alone Together — Catherine Russell 12 Little Spells — Esperanza Spalding Screenplay — The Tierney Sutton Band
Best Latin Jazz Album: Antidote — Chick Corea & The Spanish Heart Band Sorte!: Music By John Finbury — Thalma De Freitas With Vitor Gonçalves, John Patitucci, Chico Pinheiro, Rogerio Boccato & Duduka Da Fonseca Una Noche Con Rubén Blades — Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis & Rubén Blades Carib — David Sánchez Sonero: The Music Of Ismael Rivera — Miguel Zenón
LATIN
Best Latin Pop Album: Vida — Luis Fonsi 11:11 — Maluma Montaner — Ricardo Montaner #ELDISCO — Alejandro Sanz Fantasía — Sebastian Yatra
Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album: X 100PRE — Bad Bunny Oasis — J Balvin & Bad Bunny Indestructible — Flor De Toloache Almadura — iLe El Mal Querer – Rosalía
Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano): Caminando — Joss Favela Percepción — Intocable Poco A Poco — La Energia Norteña 20 Aniversario — Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea De Ayer Para Siempre — Mariachi Los Camperos
Best Tropical Latin Album: Opus — Marc Anthony Tiempo Al Tiempo — Luis Enrique + C4 Trio Candela — Vicente García Literal — Juan Luis Guerra 4.40 A Journey Through Cuban Music — Aymée Nuviola
AMERICAN ROOTS MUSIC
Best American Roots Performance: “Saint Honesty” — Sara Bareilles “Father Mountain” — Calexico With Iron & Wine “I’m On My Way” — Rhiannon Giddens With Francesco Turrisi “Call My Name” — I’m With Her “Faraway Look” — Yola
MUSICAL THEATER
Best Musical Theater Album: Ain’t Too Proud: The Life And Times Of The Temptations — Saint Aubyn, Derrick Baskin, James Harkness, Jawan M. Jackson, Jeremy Pope & Ephraim Sykes, principal soloists; Scott M. Riesett, producer (Original Broadway Cast) Hadestown — Reeve Carney, André De Shields, Amber Gray, Eva Noblezada & Patrick Page, principal soloists; Mara Isaacs, David Lai, Anaïs Mitchell & Todd Sickafoose, producers (Anaïs Mitchell, composer & lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast) Moulin Rouge! The Musical — Danny Burstein, Tam Mutu, Sahr Ngaujah, Karen Olivo & Aaron Tveit, principal soloists; Justin Levine, Baz Luhrmann, Matt Stine & Alex Timbers, producers (Original Broadway Cast) The Music Of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child – In Four Contemporary Suites — Imogen Heap, producer; Imogen Heap, composer (Imogen Heap) Oklahoma! — Damon Daunno, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Ali Stroker, Mary Testa & Patrick Vaill, principal soloists; Daniel Kluger & Dean Sharenow, producers (Richard Rodgers, composer; Oscar Hammerstein II, lyricist) (2019 Broadway Cast)
MUSIC FOR VISUAL MEDIA
Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media: The Lion King: The Songs — (Various Artists) Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood — (Various Artists) Rocketman — Taron Egerton Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse — (Various Artists) A Star Is Born — Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
COMPOSING/ARRANGING
Best Instrumental Composition: “Begin Again” — Fred Hersch, composer (Fred Hersch & The WDR Big Band Conducted By Vince Mendoza) “Crucible For Crisis” — Brian Lynch, composer (Brian Lynch Big Band) “Love, A Beautiful Force” — Vince Mendoza, composer (Vince Mendoza, Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts & Temple University Studio Orchestra) “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Symphonic Suite” — John Williams, composer (John Williams) “Walkin’ Funny” — Christian McBride, composer (Christian McBride)
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella: “Blue Skies” — Kris Bowers, arranger (Kris Bowers) “Hedwig’s Theme” — John Williams, arranger (Anne-Sophie Mutter & John Williams) “La Novena” — Emilio Solla, arranger (Emilio Solla Tango Jazz Orchestra) “Love, A Beautiful Force” — Vince Mendoza, arranger (Vince Mendoza, Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts & Temple University Studio Orchestra) “Moon River” — Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier)
Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals: “All Night Long” — Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier Featuring Jules Buckley, Take 6 & Metropole Orkest) “Jolene” — Geoff Keezer, arranger (Sara Gazarek) “Marry Me A Little” — Cyrille Aimée & Diego Figueiredo, arrangers (Cyrille Aimée) “Over The Rainbow” — Vince Mendoza, arranger (Trisha Yearwood) “12 Little Spells (Thoracic Spine)” — Esperanza Spalding, arranger (Esperanza Spalding)
PACKAGE
Best Recording Package: Anónimas & Resilientes — Luisa María Arango, Carlos Dussan, Manuel García-Orozco & Juliana Jaramillo-Buenaventura, art directors (Voces Del Bullerengue) Chris Cornell — Barry Ament, Jeff Ament, Jeff Fura & Joe Spix, art directors (Chris Cornell) Hold That Tiger — Andrew Wong & Fongming Yang, art directors (The Muddy Basin Ramblers) i,i — Aaron Anderson & Eric Timothy Carlson, art directors (Bon Iver) Intellexual — Irwan Awalludin, art director (Intellexual)
NOTES
Best Album Notes: The Complete Cuban Jam Sessions — Judy Cantor-Navas, album notes writer (Various Artists) The Gospel According To Malaco — Robert Marovich, album notes writer (Various Artists) Pedal Steel + Four Corners — Brendan Greaves, album notes writer (Terry Allen And The Panhandle Mystery Band) Pete Seeger: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection — Jeff Place, album notes writer (Pete Seeger) Stax ’68: A Memphis Story — Steve Greenberg, album notes writer (Various Artists)
CLASSICAL
Best Orchestral Performance: “Bruckner: Symphony No. 9” — Manfred Honeck, conductor (Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra) “Copland: Billy The Kid; Grohg” — Leonard Slatkin, conductor (Detroit Symphony Orchestra) “Norman: Sustain” — Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic) “Transatlantic” — Louis Langrée, conductor (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra) “Weinberg: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 21” — Mirga Gražinytė-tyla, conductor (City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Kremerata Baltica)
MUSIC VIDEO/FILM
Best Music Video: “We’ve Got To Try” — The Chemical Brothers, Ellie Fry, video director; Ninian Doff, video producer “This Land” — Gary Clark Jr., Savanah Leaf, video director; Alicia Martinez, video producer “Cellophane” — FKA twigs, Andrew Thomas Huang, video director; Alex Chamberlain, video producer “Old Town Road (Official Movie)” — Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus, Calmatic, video director; Candice Dragonas, Melissa Larsen & Saul Levitz, video producers “Glad He’s Gone” — Tove Lo, Vania Heymann & Gal Muggia, video directors; Natan Schottenfels, video producer
Manny Manuel is helping shine a chart-topping spotlight on Puerto Rico…
De Puerto Rico Para El Mundo, a compilation album by various Puerto Rican stars, including the 44-year-old Puerto Rican singer, leads Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart.
The set, which includes Pedro Capo and Ismael Miranda, soars 39-1 in its third charting week, due to sales triggered by its accompanying annual television special put on by Banco Popular, which aired on December 4 on Telemundo.
Sales following the broadcast grew more than 1,000 percent, to 2,000 copies sold in the week ending December 8.
The album features a mixture of party-ready tunes, holiday selections and patriotic songs that are popular at traditional Puerto Rican Christmas celebrations. They include remakes of Tito Nieves‘ “I Like It Like That” (performed by La Tribu de Abrante featuring Jeimy Osorio) and Vico C‘s “Bomba Para Afincar” (performed by Jowell & Randy), along with the ever-popular “Feliz Navidad” (performed by Manny Manuel featuring Mozart la Para).
Original “Feliz Navidad” singer Jose Feliciano is also featured on the star-studded festive collection. He lends his talents on the patriotic “En Mi Lindo San Juan.”
President Joe Biden doled out medals to the National Medal of Arts recipients, as well as the 2021 National Humanities Medal honorees.
