Carlos Vives Named Latin Recording Academy’s 2024 Person of the Year

Posted on May 26, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Vives is set to receive the highest honor from the Latin Recording Academy.

Twenty-five years after leading the list of nominees for the first edition of the Latin Grammys, the 62-year-old Colombian singer, songwriter and actor has been named the 2024 Person of the Year.

Vives — winner of 18 Latin Grammy Awards, two Grammy Awards and a Billboard Latin Music Awards Hall of Fame inductee — “will be honored for his more than three-decade career as a multifaceted singer and composer, as well as for his continued commitment to environmental and social initiatives,” per the Latin Recording Academy.

“Carlos Vives is one of the most prolific and beloved artists of our time, whose commitment to Latin music and support for the new generations truly personifies the values of our Academy,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “We honor him as our Person of the Year for his vast contributions to our musical heritage and for his many philanthropic initiatives.”

“It’s still surprising to me,” Vives told Billboard Español this week in an exclusive interview. “It’s like a message that the Academy gives at the end, because 32 years ago I chose a path [that was unconventional]. To be successful, to be commercial, there was one way. This other path that’s cultural or has to do with your identity, that doesn’t work, [they would say].”

In Wednesday’s press release, he added: “I am honored and moved to have been chosen as the 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year. It is the reward for an authentic journey, for a wonderful team and, above all, it is the recognition of the musical spirits of our Latin American diversity. These spirits taught us to love and enrich our language, to take care of it and to respect it in order to exalt humanity with it.”

Born in Santa Marta, Colombia, Vives is one of the most respected artists in Spanish-language music and a pioneer of a new Latin American sound, redefining traditional Colombian vallenato by incorporating to it pop and rock sounds. With No. 1 hits on the Billboard charts such as “Volví a Nacer,” “Fruta Fresca” and “La Bicicleta” with Shakira, among others, has become an ambassador of Colombian and Latin American culture around the world.

His commitment to good causes transcends the musical realm. In 2015, he created the Tras La Perla initiative to promote the sustainable development of Santa Marta and its ecosystem. In addition, he created the Escuela de Música Río Grande to offer artistic experiences to children and young people, and founded the record label Gaira Música Local to promote new Colombian talent. He’s also been a strong advocate and generous supporter of the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation since its inception, the Latin Recording Academy highlights, and sponsored its annual Prodigy Scholarship in 2018.

His latest album, Escalona: Nunca Se Había Grabado Así, earned him his 18th Latin Grammy when it was crowned best cumbia/vallenato album in 2023. This year he was also recognized with the ASCAP Founders Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

Vives will be feted as Person of the Year at a special star-studded gala and tribute concert where an array of artist and friends will perform renditions of his renowned repertoire. Details of the event, to be presented in November during the 2024 Latin Grammy week in Miami, will be announced at a later date.

The Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year honors musicians and their artistic achievements in the Latin music industry as well as their humanitarian efforts.

Past honorees are Laura Pausini (2023), Marco Antonio Solís (2022), Rubén Blades (2021), Juanes (2019), Maná (2018), Alejandro Sanz (2017), Marc Anthony (2016), Roberto Carlos (2015), Joan Manuel Serrat (2014), Miguel Bosé (2013), Caetano Veloso (2012), Shakira (2011), Plácido Domingo (2010), Juan Gabriel (2009), Gloria Estefan (2008), Juan Luis Guerra (2007), Ricky Martin (2006), José José (2005), Carlos Santana (2004), Gilberto Gil (2003), Vicente Fernández (2002), Julio Iglesias (2001) and Emilio Estefan (2000).

Netflix Agrees to Deal with Julio Iglesias to Produce Series About Star’s Life

Posted on February 9, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

It appears art will imitate Julio Iglesias’ life…

Netflix has agreed to a deal with the 80-year-old Spanish singer, songwriter and former professional footballer to produce a series about the star’s life.

It marks the first time Iglesias has participated in the creative process on a production about his life and musical trajectory.

The agreement was signed after Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria wrote Iglesias a letter

Details on the series are limited, but it will launch globally and is currently in development.

According to Netflix, it will “tell the story of how Julio Iglesias became the first non-English artist to enter the American and Asian markets and turned into a universal star who is among the five biggest record sellers in history.”

“After many speculations, books and documentaries in which I have not been involved, for the first time I have decided to tell the truth about my life to a universal company like Netflix,” said Iglesias. “After much deliberation, finally, a very touching letter sent to me by Bela Bajaria was enough to convince me that Netflix was the ideal company to develop this project. I feel grateful to a lot of people from many countries who have supported me and have boosted my life.”

Born in Spain, Iglesias studied law and was a goalkeeper for Real Madrid’s reserve team before a automobile accident ended his career. While recuperating, he discovered his talent for music and soon became of the biggest selling music artists of all time. He has shared stages with Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Sting, Dolly Parton and Placido Domingo.

Through the 1970s and 1980s, his star grew and he entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest selling Latin music artist ever. He also received a Lifetime Achievement from the U.S. National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Diego Ávalos, Vice President Content at Netflix: “Julio Iglesias has trusted us to tell his story. We are very grateful for his generosity. We all know that his talent and tenacity are unique in the world. Now, we will have the opportunity to see beyond the lights, the pictures in the magazines, the gold records and to really get to know in depth an exceptional person who has accompanied and will accompany many generations in every corner of the planet.”

Alejandro Fernández to Receive Icon Award at Latin American Music Awards

Posted on April 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Alejandro Fernández has officially reached icon status…

The 49-year-old Mexican singer will receive the Icon Award during the sixth edition of the Latin American Music Awards, Telemundo has announced.

With a career that spans more than four decades, the son of regional Mexican legend Vicente Fernández has sold over over 35 million records and has collaborated with artists like Beyoncé, Plácido Domingo, Christina Aguilera and Marc Anthony.

Most recently, his Grammy-nominated 2020 album Hecho En México debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart becoming the first act to achieve No. 1s on the tally in the 1990s, ‘00s, ‘10s, and ‘20s.

The Icon Award is given to an artist who interprets our life in their songs, forms an important part of Latin America’s history, and is considered a musical hero whose name exceeds all generations, according to statement by Telemundo.

“In addition to his immense contribution to Latin music, his service to those most in need, coupled with his constant support for Latino immigrants in the United States, make him worthy of the Latin AMAs Icon Award.”

The Jalisco-born star will also perform at this year’s Latin AMAs, which will take place on April 15 and will be broadcast live from the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.

Fernández joins the previously-announced star-studded lineup that includes Ozuna, Maluma, Banda MS, Camilo, Carlos Vives, Eslabon Armado, Karol G, Los Dos Carnales, José Luis “El Puma” Rodríguez and Piso 21. The ceremony will also include a special tribute to the late regional Mexican singer-songwriter Joan Sebastian.

Following safety protocols to protect the health and safety of all involved, the 2021 awards show will honor some of the most influential Latin artists of today, as voted by fans in 25 categories including pop, urban, tropical, regional Mexican and the newly-added favorite virtual concert.

This year’s top nominees include Karol G and J Balvin with nine nods each, followed by Bad Bunny with eight, Ozuna with seven, and Anuel AA and Camilo with six each.

The 2021 Latin AMAs, hosted by actress Jacqueline Bracamontes, will air at 7:00 pm ET on Thursday, April 15, via Telemundo and will broadcast simultaneously on Universo and throughout the Americas on Telemundo Internacional.

Plácido Domingo to Co-Produce Remake of the popular Hungarian Classical Music Format “Virtuosos”

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Plácido Domingo is looking for the world’s next best virtuosos…

The 77-year-old Opera singer is working with The Late Late Show with James Corden co-producer Fulwell 73 to remake the popular Hungarian classical music format Virtuosos in the United States and United Kingdom.

Domijngo, part of the Three Tenors with José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti, has become a shareholder in Virtuosos Holding, the company that owns global rights to the eponymous format.

The show, which has aired on Hungary’s MTVA since 2014, sees children and young adults compete by playing classical pieces, as well as movie themes, while they’re judged by five professional judges.

The series is produced by Mariann Peller.

Fulwell 73, which is partly backed by Corden and also produces series including Comedy Central’s Roast Battle and BBC’s Sounds Like Friday Night, is to develop adaptations in the U.S. and UK following the format deal.

Domingo said, “The Virtuosos talent show and activities that surround it are a wonderful addition to the world of classical music, the encouragement of young musical talent and broadening the appeal of classical music.

“Since my very first involvement I have been incredibly impressed by the talent discovered in Hungary alone and am sure this will be repeated in other countries as the format finds new audiences and new lovers of classical music, presented in a contemporary way. I hope that by becoming an active shareholder in Virtuosos Holding I can lend further encouragement to both the talent we discover and the management of the company with my experience and connections around the world.”

Fulwell 73 partner Leo Pearlman added: “Virtuosos is a phenomenon in Hungary discovering and then showcasing the undiscovered stars of the classical music world, from all walks of life. Plácido Domingo is undoubtedly an integral part of the show and he alongside the talented young musicians, their incredible backstories and the confluence of a mainstream entertainment format and classical music are what we believe will make this a success in the UK and U.S. Classical music has long been hugely influential for artists in many different genres of popular music and now for the first time we’ll be highlighting this fact through a popular entertainment format in the way we know best.”

Fernandez Takes the Lead at Trophee de France

Posted on November 12, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

He may have fallen, but Javier Fernandez has managed to stay on top…

The 25-year-old Spanish figure skater, a two-time world champion, recovered from a fall on his first jump to take the lead in the men’s short program at the Trophee de France on Friday.

The four-time European champion, who was skating to “Malaguena,” performed by Paco de Lucia and Placido Domingo, fell on his quadruple toe loop attempt on the Palais Omnisports ice but stayed calm. He then perfectly delivered a quadruple salchow-triple toe loop combination and landed a triple axel.

Fernandez, who won the Rostelecom Cup last week in Russia, will go into the free skate Saturday with a 3.72-point lead over American teenager Nathan Chen. World and Olympic medalist Denis Ten of Kazakhstan was a distant third, 7.36 points back.

Fernandez, who said he needed to improve his short program after his second place in Russia, was happy with the adjustments he made.

“Although I still fell on the quad toe, I’ve improved my spins and steps,” he said.

Chen, already the first skater to perform four quadruple jumps in a free skate during competition in January at the U.S nationals, became the first to land a quadruple lutz and a quadruple flip in the same program.

“I’m not trying to make history, I’m just setting personal goals,” the 17-year-old Chen said after making a successful debut on the senior circuit.

The Trophee de France is the fourth event of the Grand Prix Series. Held in Bordeaux last year, the event was canceled after the first day of competition because of the terror attacks in Paris.

The Cup of China and the NHK Trophy later this month will be the last chances for ice skaters to qualify for the GP Final from Dec. 7-11 in Marseille, France.

Carlos Named the Latin Recording Academy’s 2015 Person of the Year

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Roberto Carlos is a person of major interest this year…

The 74-year-old Brazilian singer and composer will be honored as the 2015 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year.

Carlos, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Billboard Latin Music Awards in April and is celebrating five decades of recording in Spanish, is the top-selling Brazilian and Latin American act of all time.

He’ll be honored the eve of the Latin Grammys at a star-studded tribute concert Wednesday, November18, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Proceeds from the gala will benefit the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation.

Born in in the Southern municipality of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to a watchmaker and a seamstress, Carlos began singing and taking music lessons at an early age. At 17, he moved to Rio de Janeiro and began singing nightly in clubs, devoting himself to the rock n’ roll of the day. By the early 1960s, signed to Columbia and aided by the TV show and musical movement Jovem Guarda (Young Guard), Carlos became a teen idol and began writing with his childhood friend and former bandmate Erasmo Carlos, still his main writing partner to this day. Instead of opting for bossa nova, the sophisticated Brazilian export for which his smooth, entreating voice is particularly well-suited for, they went for romantic pop, penning some of the most enduring compositions in the Latin American songbook. Translated to Spanish and married to the subtle beauty of Carlos’ voice, they became anthems for generations of listeners to this day.

Calos recently recorded his latest album — Roberto Carlos – Primera Fila — at London’s Abbey Road Studios. The set will be released later this year.

Previous recipients of the Recording Academy Person of the Year honor include Miguel Bosé, Plácido Domingo, Gloria Estefan, Vicente Fernández, Juan Luis Guerra, Carlos Santana, Joan Manuel Serrat, Shakira, Julio Iglesias and Caetano Veloso, among others.

Domingo to Sing in Woody Allen’s Production of Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi”

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Placido Domingo is headed into the Wood(ys)…

The 74-year-od Spanish tenor, conductor and arts administrator will take on his 146th role when he sings the title character of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi in a Woody Allen production on September 12, the opening night of the Los Angeles Opera 2015-16 season.

Allen will return to direct his staging, which premiered in 2008, according to the company. Domingo will conduct the second half of the double bill, a revival of Franco Zeffirelli‘s 1996 production of Leoncavallo‘s Pagliacci featuring Marco Berti as Canio.

Domingo, the L.A. Opera’s general director, has shifted from tenor to baritone parts in recent years. He’s scheduled for his 144th role, the title character in Verdi‘s Macbeth, at Berlin’s Staatsoper starting February 7 and for his role debut as Don Carlo in Verdi’s Ernani at New York’s Metropolitan Opera beginning March 20.

The LA Opera’s 30th anniversary season also includes Jay Hunter Morris in the Los Angeles premiere of Jake Heggie’s Moby-Dick (Oct. 31), Angela Meade in Bellini’s Norma (Nov. 21), Mozart‘s Die Zauberfloete (Feb. 13, 2016), Ana María Martínez in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly (March 12) and Nino Machaidze in Puccini’s La Boheme (May 14).

Bosé to Pay Tribute to This year’s Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Joan Manuel Serrat

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel Bosé is heading back to this year’s Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year tribute event.

The 58-year-old Spanish musician/actor, last year’s honoree, is among the performers set to pay tribute to this year’s Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Joan Manuel Serrat.

Bosé joins a roster of performers that includes Panamanian salsa singer Rubén Blades and Puerto Rico’s Calle 13.

The Barcelona-born Serrat will also be in the company of other fellow artists including Peruvian songstress Tania Libertad and singer/songwriter/poet Joaquín Sabina who will gather during a gala and tribute dinner on November 19 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

The tribute dinner and concert is being executive produced by Jose Tillan, with Greg Fera serving as the event’s producer. Dan Warner will be the night’s musical director and Gustavo Borner is the audio/mix supervisor.

Last year Bosé was the person of the year and was given musical tributes by Laura Pausini, Ricky Martin, Carlos Vives, Carlos Santana, Juanes and Alejandro Sanz, among others.

Other previous honorees include Shakira, Plácido Domingo, Gloria Estefan, Gilberto Gil, Juan Luis Guerra, Carlos Santana, and Caetano Veloso.

Serrat Named the 2014 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Joan Manuel Serrat is preparing to receive an honor befitting a music legend…

The 70-year-old Spanish singer/songwriter has been declared the 2014 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year.

He’ll be feted during a special gala event on November 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The Barcelona-born star started playing music as a teenager as he learned the craft both as a songwriter and performer. In 1965, he landed a record deal after singing on the Spanish radio show Radioscope.

Serrat then released two EPs and a full-length debut album and went on to perform live on stage at the Palau de la Música Catalana. That showcase propelled him to become one of the pioneers of the Nova Cançó movement in Spain’s Catalonian region.

Known as a politically outspoken performer, Serrat once refused to follow dictator Francisco Franco‘s orders to perform a song in Spanish instead of Catalan during the Eurovision song contest in the late ’60s. He was banned from performing in Spanish media for five years. In the ’70s, he went into a self-imposed exile in Mexico after speaking out against the Franco dictatorship. He did not return to Spain until after Franco’s death in 1975.

“As a profound and brilliant songwriter, a true poet in Spanish and Catalan and a sensational performer, Joan Manuel Serrat’s lyrical style and magnificent talent make him a treasured and timeless musical figure,” said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., president/CEO of the Latin Recording Academy. “Through his talent, artistry, passion, and dedication to his craft, his work has spoken to music fans all over. It is a privilege to recognize a man with such an illustrious and socially conscious career, and we look forward to celebrating his creativity and legacy.”

Serrat released Dedicado A Antonio Machado, Poeta in 1969 in honor of the Spanish poet, and the album received critical acclaim throughout Spain and Latin America. For the last two decades, the singer has had a prolific songwriting, recording and touring career.

In 2006 he released Mô, his first album recorded completely in Catalan after nearly a decade. In 2008 he collaborated with Spanish singer/songwriter Joaquín Sabina and released Dos Pájaros De Un Tiro, followed by 2012’s La Orquesta Del Titanic. The 2013 documentary El Símbolo Y El Cuate chronicled their tour.

“Joan Manuel has become a true symbol for freedom, coherence, quality, and perfect use of our language, and a reference that we all have in reaching our goals,” said Latin Grammy and Grammy winner Shakira, who was the Latin Recording Academy’s Person of the Year in 2011.

In addition to Shakira, Serrat joins an impressive group of artists who have received the Person of the Year honor that includes Miguel Bosé, Plácido Domingo, Gloria Estefan, Gilberto Gil, Juan Luis Guerra, Carlos Santana, and Caetano Veloso.

The Latin Grammys will be held a day after the Person of the Year festivities on November 20 and will broadcast live on the Univision at 8:00 pm ET.

The Los Angeles Opera Extends Domingo’s Contract as General Director

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Call it a case of ‘tenor tenure’ for Placido Domingo…

The 73-year-old Spanish tenor and conductor’s contract as general director of the Los Angeles Opera has been extended through the 2018-19 season.

Domingo became an artistic consultant to the company in 1984 and was artistic director from 2001-03 before accepting his current role as general director. His previous contract was announced in September 2010 as a deal running through 2013 that would renew automatically by mutual consent.

Domingo, who will be the closing at this year’s iTunes Festival in London, sings the baritone part of Giorgio Germont in Verdi‘s La Traviata this month, his 26th role with the company.

The L.A. Opera’s board of directors announced the extension Friday, when it also extended the deal of chief executive officer Christopher Koelsch through June 2018 and promoted John Nuckols to executive vice president with a contract through June 2018.

Music director James Conlon’s deal previously was extended through June 2018.

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