Play-N-Skillz are paying homage to La Reina de la Musica Tejana…
The Latino American rappers and record producers, consisting of brothers Juan “Play” Salinas and Oscar “Skillz” Salinas, have released the music video for their new single”Si una vez” featuring Leslie Grace, Frankie J and Wisin.
The production duo’s new version of Selena Quintanilla‘s classic song has Grace and Frankie J as lead singers while the Puerto Rican reggaetonero drops a few rap verses, giving the tune an urban twist.
“Rest in peace la reina, Selena,” Play-N-Skillz say at the end of the video honoring the late Tejano singer.
The Mexican Latin Grammy-winning duo, comprised of siblings Jesse Eduardo Huerta and Tirzah Joy Huerta, have released the official music video for their latest single “Dueles.”
Jesse & Joy premiered the short film, which was directed by Lior Molcho, on Tuesday (July 5).
It tells the heartbreaking story of a woman who gets diagnosed with a brain tumor. Jesse, who plays the boyfriend, will do anything to get the money he needs to pay for the expensive surgery his girlfriend needs.
Jesse & Joy are confirmed to perform at Premios Juventud on July 14 held at the BankUnited Center in Miami.
The awards ceremony, hosted by Becky G, will also include other performances by Gente de Zona, Pitbull, Enrique Iglesias and Leslie Grace.
The 24-year-old Mexican singer/actor will join Zoe Saldaña, Rita Moreno, Miguel Bose, Yandel, Julieta Venegas, Leslie Grace, Victor Manuelle, current nominees including René Camacho, Pedro Capó and Aída Cuevas and over a dozen other Latin personalities in presenting awards at the Latin Grammys on Thursday night.
A total of 22 well-known presenters will cross the stage at the 16th annual Latin Grammy Awards, joining 32 performers, including Fifth Harmony, Latin chart-topping artists Nicky Jam and J Balvin, OMI of “Cheerleader” fame, Ricky Martin, regional Mexican star Espinoza Paz, urban sensation Maluma and six-time Grammy winners Banda el Recodo. Will Smith is set to appear with Colombian duo Bomba Estereo, and Latin Recording AcademyPerson of the Year Roberto Carlos will also perform.
The show will be broadcast live on the Univision Network Thursday night (Nov. 19) at 8 p.m. ET/PT from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Actress Roselyn Sanchez and model and Univison presenter Jacqueline Bracamontes will host the awards.
The Spanish-language network will begin airing Season 1 of Sesame Amigos, a new 30-minute Spanish-language program from Sesame Workshop, on August 1 at 8:30 am ET/PT as part of Univision’s Saturday children’s programming block “Planeta U.”
The network has scheduled 26 episodes featuring Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert & Ernie and other familiar denizens of Sesame Street.
Along with signature segments promoting learning, cooperation and being nice, each show will also feature the characters interacting with a Univision celebrity, among them Sal y Pimentahosts Carlos Calderon and Lourdes Stephen, Primer Impacto correspondents Tony Dandrades and Jackie Guerrido, Despierta América’s Maity Interiano and William Valdez and Univision Deportes’ Pablo “La Torre de Jalisco” Ramirez.
Non-Univision Hispanic celebrities will also appear, including Vahdir Derbez, Diego Luna and Leslie Grace.
“Sesame Amigos is a new and innovative show designed specifically for Spanish-speaking families in the U.S.,” said Alberto Ciurana, president of Programming & Content, Univision Communications Inc. “While versions of Sesame Street air in more than 150 countries, Sesame Amigos will provide Spanish-speaking preschoolers the tools they need to succeed in the United States.”
Under the new deal, Grace – who scored two No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart before she was 19 years old –will release an EP of new material likely in June. A first single will hit radio in May.
Grace, who was previously signed to Top Stop Music, the label launched by producer Sergio George (and also the first home of Prince Royce), tells Billboard in an exclusive interview that her new material will follow the bachata/pop vein of her previous fare.
“It will be very infused with lots of R&B and it’s infused with my roots, which are bachata,” says Grace, who speaks and sings in both English and Spanish. “We have a song called ‘Crazy Crazy’ and the introduction is very R&B and it has drums in there. But when the verse starts, it goes straight to bachata. It’s the two worlds I come from.”
Grace was born in New York City to Dominican parents and was raised straddling both cultures, much like Romeo Santos and Prince Royce.
She came to prominence with her debut single, a bilingual cover of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” which reached No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart in 2012. Grace released two albums on Top Stop, but going to Sony, she says, will allow her to take her music to other markets.
“A big focus is opening new markets for Leslie,” adds Sony Music U.S. Latin president Nir Seroussi, noting that Grace is also “very appealing” to brands.
Working with her, adds Seroussi, “is like a dream come true.”
He may be a teenager, but Karlos Rosé is already making music history…
At 18 years old, the Dominican Bachata singer becomes the youngest artist to log three No. 1s on Billboard’s Tropical Songs chart as “Niña de Mi Corazon” soars 12-1.
Rosé beats Leslie Grace, who notched two chart-toppers before she was 19.
Rosé first topped the list in 2012 with “Just the Way You Are” and then in 2013 with “Infiel.”
“Niña de Mi Corazon” tallied 594 spins at the format for the week, an 85 percent increase in detections, according to Nielsen BDS.
The track is Rosé’s first single to be released under Machete Music/UMLE, and will appear on his upcoming album, due early 2015.
The 38-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter will make an appearance at the Billboard Superstar Q&A during the upcoming Billboard Latin Music Conference in Miami.
Iglesias will be interviewed by Billboard‘s Executive Director of Latin Content and Programming Leila Cobo, during an intimate conversation highlighting the singer/songwriter’s career.
“Enrique has spent 19 years on our charts and has placed 24 tracks at No. 1 on our Hot Latin Songs chart, more than any other artist,” says Cobo. “His chart history is unique and he is the perfect artist to celebrate our anniversary with.”
The conference, being held April 21-24 at Miami’s JW Marriott Marquis, will also include the participation of music stars Gloria Trevi, Kat Dahlia, recent Grammy-winner La Marisoul, Laura Pausini and Leslie Grace.
Iglesias, who has sold more than 100 albums worldwide, is a multiple Billboard Latin Music and Billboard Music Awards winner in a career dating back to 1995. Iglesias, whose biggest hits include “Bailamos,” “Hero,” “I Like It” and “Tonight (I’m Loving You),” is the first male performer to have the most No. 1s on Billboard‘s Dance Club Songs chart. He also has seven No. 1s on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart and multiple No. 1s across the Billboard charts.
Additionally, Iglesias has the Billboard record for the most No. 1 singles on the Hot Latin Songs chart with 24, which includes the recent hits “El Perdedor” featuring Marco Antonio Solis and “Loco” featuring Romeo Santos; both songs are featured on his tenth album SEX and LOVE, which was released this week. The new project includes 16 tracks including “I’m a Freak” featuring Pitbull, “Noche y Dia” featuring Yandel and Juan Magan and “Beautiful” featuring Kyle Minogue.
For more information about the 2014 Billboard Latin Music Conference, please visit BillboardLatinConference.com.
Leslie Grace has etched her name into the annals of Billboard chart history.
The 17-year-old Dominican American singer has become the youngest female singer to score a Latin radio No. 1, as “Will U Still Love Me Tomorrow” reaches No. 1 on the Latin Airplay chart.
Grace’s debut song moved up from the No. 7 spot after seeing a 57% increase in audience impressions (11 million), according to Nielsen BDS, claiming the list’s Greatest Gainer award. The chart will be refreshed on Thursday (October18) on Billboard.com.
With her rise to the top of the chart, Grace passes Jennifer Pena, whose “El Dolor De Tu Presencia” reached No. 1 on August 24, 2002 when she was 19 years and one month old.
Among all acts, Grace enters a tie as the fourth-youngest artist to post a Billboard No. 1 Latin airplay hit.
Here is a look at the youngest artists to reign (including members of groups):
Age, Artist (No. 1, Date Reached)
14 years, 11 months, Pablo Portillo, of MDO (“No Puedo Olvidar,” March 27, 1999)
16 years, nine months, Florentino Primera, of Servando Y Florentino (“Una Fan Enamorada,” May 9, 1998)
17 years, four months, Luis Miguel (“Ahora Te Puedes Marchar,” Aug. 22, 1987) 17 years, nine months, Leslie Grace (“Will U Still Love Me Tomorrow,” Oct. 27, 2012)
17 years, nine months, Servando Primera, of Servando Y Florentino (“Una Fan Enamorada,” May 9, 1998)
“Will U Still Love Me Tomorrow” also soars to the top of Billboard’s Tropical Songs chart (3-1) with Greatest Gainer honors.
The song is a soulful, bilingual adaptation of the classic love song, co-written by Carole King and made popular in the ’60s by the all-girl group The Shirelles.
