Arjona to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at the Billboard Latin Music Awards

Posted on April 17, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

It’s an extra special recognition for Ricardo Arjona…

The 53-year-old Guatemalan singer-songwriter and chart-topping artist will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 Billboard Latin Music Awards on April 27.

Arjona will receive the special accolade to honor his outstanding career that spans over 30 years and includes 16 studio albums, 36 hits on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs, five No. 1’s and 20 entries on the Top Latin Albums chart. Past Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include Marco Antonio Solís and Roberto Carlos.

Arjona will also perform for the first time ever at the Billboard Latin Music Awards joining a star-studded lineup with acts such as Luis Fonsi, J Balvin and Nicky Jam.

Mexican actress Kate del Castillo, from the Netflix series Ingobernable, and Puerto Rican actor and singer Carlos Ponce will host the awards ceremony. Presenters throughout the night include artists like ChocQuibTown, Sofía Reyes, Olga Tañón, Sin Bandera, Juan Luis Guerra and Ednita Nazario.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will air live on Telemundo from The Watsco Center at the University of Miami, are the culmination of the Billboard Latin Music Conference, taking place April 24-27 at the Ritz Carlton Miami Beach.

To register, visit BillboardLatinConference.com.

Larrañaga Wins 600th NCAA Career Game

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Jim Larrañaga has joined an elite club in the NCAA…

The University of Miami’s victory over Pittsburgh over the weekend has given the 67-year-old Cuban American head coach of the Miami men’s basketball program 600 career wins.

Miami’s Davon Reed ended the game with 18 points, Bruce Brown added 17, and the Hurricanes held the Panthers without a field goal for almost 10 minutes in a 72-46 blowout.

Miami (12-4, 2-2 ACC) ended a two-game losing streak by outrebounding Pitt 37-23 and holding the Panthers (12-6, 1-4) to just 34 percent shooting (18-of-53).

The Hurricanes scored 14 straight during a run that spanned the end of the first half and the beginning of the second to get all the breathing room they would need, then continued to pour it on to hand the Panthers their worst loss in the 15-year history of the Petersen Events Center.

Miami players celebrated the victory with Larrañaga in the locker room after the game.

Larrañaga’s 600 wins place him at 47th in all-time NCAA victories and 14th among active coaches. Of those 14, five are in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, including four from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

In his career, Larrañaga has won 27 games at American International, 170 at Bowling Green University, 273 at George Mason University and 130 at Miami. He is one of 15 coaches all-time with 100 or more wins at three D-I schools, four of whom are actively coaching. He is also 11th among active coaches in total games coached (995) and ninth in most seasons coached (33).

Larrañaga has posted 10 20-win seasons over his career, topped by the 29-7 mark at Miami in 2012-13, when the Canes won the ACC regular season Championship, ACC Tournament championship and played in the NCAA Sweet 16.

Active DI coaches by victories (after games on Jan. 12):

Mike Krzyzewski, Duke 1,057
Jim Boeheim, Syracuse 894
Bob Huggins, West Virginia 805
Roy Williams, North Carolina 798
Rick Pitino, Louisville 759
Rick Byrd, Belmont 741
Cliff Ellis, Coastal Caro. 721
Jerry Slocum, Youngstown St. 718
Larry Hunter, Western Caro. 685
John Beilein, Michigan 676
John Calipari, Kentucky 634
Rick Barnes, Tennessee 627
Bill Self, Kansas 607
Jim Larranaga, Miami (FL) 600

Anthony to Perform at the Billboard Latin Music Awards

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Marc Anthony won’t just be a favorite at this year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards, he’ll also be a performer.

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, the biggest selling tropical salsa artist of all time, has joined the star-studded list of performers at this year’s upcoming awards ceremony, which includes recent additions Prince Royce and Franco de Vita.

The Grammy- and Latin-Grammy winning artist has reached the No. 1 spot on the Tropical Airplay chart 23 times, and has eight No. 1s on the Top Latin Albums chart.

The 15-time finalist last year chose the Billboard Latin Music Awards stage for the worldwide premiere of “Vivir Mi Vida,” which spent 17 weeks at the top of the Hot Latin Songs chart and became his eighth No.1 hit.

Anthony, Prince Royce and de Vita join previously announced performers Laura Pausini, Ricky Martin, David Bisbal, Juanes, Luis Fonsi, La Arrolladora Banda El Limon De Rene Camacho, Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga and 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Andrea Bocelli.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards, the longest-running Latin music awards show, will be broadcast live on Telemundo, Thursday, April 24 at &:00pm ET from the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami.

The complete list of finalists, plus exclusive content on this year’s event, can be found at Telemundo.com/PremiosBillboard.

Juanes to Perform at the Billboard Latin Music Awards

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Juanes will be bringing La Luz to a Billboard stage…

The 41-year-old Colombian musician will perform at the 2014 Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Other confirmed performers include Laura Pausini, David Bisbal and La Arrolladora Banda El Limon De Rene Camacho.

Juanes will appear at the ceremony in the wake of the March 11 release of his widely anticipated and critically lauded album Loco de Amor. His single “La Luz” leapt to the top of Billboard Latin Airplay chart earlier in the month, securing his ninth No. 1 on the chart.

Juanes has placed eight songs atop the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, including “Me Enamora,” which spent 20 weeks at the top of the chart. He has reached No. 1 with four albums on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards will be produced and broadcast live by Telemundo on Thursday, April 24 at 7:00 pm ET from the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami.

Don Omar Leads the Pack of Billboard Latin Music Awards Finalists

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It’s no wonder he’s called Don Omar…

The 34-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton singer/actor, born William Omar Landrón Rivera, is the don of this year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards, earning 18 finalist nods, including Artist of the Year; Social Artist of the Year and Streaming Artist of the Year. Last year, Don Omar was the leader of the pack with 16 finalist nods.

In addition, Don Omar is nominated as Songs Artist of the Year, Male; Albums Artist of the Year, Male and Songwriter of the Year. His album Don Omar Presents MT02: New Generation competes for Latin Rhythm Album of the Year and Digital Album of the Year. Three of Don Omar’s hit songs — “Dutty Love,” featuring Natty Natasha, “Hasta Que Salga El Sol” and “Danza Kuduro” — are finalists in various song categories.

Romeo Santos comes in second, with the bachata star earning 12 nods. Wisin & Yandel and the late Jenni Rivera tied with 11 nods each. Prince Royce and Pitbull, major finalists last year, also returned with 10 and nine nods respectively, while newcomers 3BallMTY earned eight.

Meanwhile regional Mexican acts La Arrolladora Banda el Limón de René Camacho and Gerardo Ortiz nabbed seven and six nods, respectively, while rockers Maná with five and pop act Ricardo Arjona with three.

The 2013 Billboard Latin Awards will be broadcast live on Telemundo on April 25 from the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami in Florida.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards honor the most popular albums, songs, and performers in Latin Music, as determined by the actual sales, radio airplay, streaming and social data that informs Billboard’s weekly charts during a one-year period from the issue dated February 4, 2012, through this year’s January 26, 2013, issue.

Click here for the full list of nominees.

Cardona Joins the Cast of USA’s Unititled Miami-Based Pilot

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He’s already a big star in Latin America… But Manolo Cardona may soon be wowing audiences in the United States.

In what could be his first acting role on English-language television, the 35-year-old Colombian-born actor has joined the cast of USA’s untitled hour-long pilot from Numbers creators Nicolas Falacci & Cheryl Heuton.

Based on a short story from Elmore Leonard‘s When The Women Come Out To Dance, it centers on Billy (Bryan Greenberg), a Miami businessman who, contemplating a run for political office, tries to increase his chances of being elected by marrying Lourdes (Miss Bala star Stephanie Sigman), a Colombian woman on the run from her troubled past.

What starts as a marriage of convenience quickly escalates into much more as his new wife proves to be more resourceful at “fixing” any problem the corrupt South Miami political scene throws at her husband.

Cardona will play Andres Varges, a handsome political science professor at the University of Miami. A man with a past he’d rather forget, he once worked for Colombian military intelligence and agrees to help Lourdes when she seeks him out for his expertise in the political arena, despite the complicated past between the two.

Thalía & Pampers Launch ‘Mi Musica, Mi Herencia’ Campaign

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Thalía is encouraging Latina moms to keep their cultural heritage alive through music…

The 41-year-old Mexican singer has unveiled the new online forum Mi Musica, Mi Herencia, designed to help Hispanic parents preserve Latino culture for their families through music.

The project, sponsored by Pampers, was launched with a special concert this week for young parents and expectant moms, who enjoyed a selection of all-time Latin music hits played by the Henry Mancini Orchestra at the University of Miami.

Thalía , the mother of 5-year-old Sabrina Sakäe and 18-month-old Matthew Alejandro, told Efe that being the campaign spokeswoman makes her happy “because for me, as a mother, what is most important is to give my kids all the best and that includes my Mexican heritage.”

The singer, who urges mothers to celebrate their culture “without losing your love for the country you’re living in,” asked the audience to upload a selection of musical memories onto Pampers’ Facebook page so it can be used to teach youngsters the value of Latino musical culture.

Thalía said she does the same with her kids, to whom she sings Pedro Infante songs, “which we can’t do without, plus of course mariachi and mambo, which I love.”

“My little boy loves mambo and my daughter, besides Justin Bieber, likes bachata – in our house we’re always singing,” said the artist, who has sold more than 40 million discs.

“As a singer it’s basic to preserve what I like to do, which is music, and also to remember my cradlesongs in Spanish,” Thalía told Efe in an interview, adding that at home “we only speak Spanish.”

Correa Becomes the MLB’s First Puerto Rican No. 1 Draft Pick

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He’s only 17-year-old… But Carlos Correa has already made it into annals of baseball…

The Houston Astros selected the Puerto Rican baseball phenom as the No. 1 pick Monday night, making him the first player from Puerto Rico to lead off the Major League Baseball draft.

“This means a lot,” said Correa, who was all smiles when he heard his name called, knowing he’d made hometown history at the baseball draft. “We’ve got a lot of good players there.”

Despite producing its share of baseball royalty like Roberto Clemente, Ivan Rodriguez, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Juan Gonzalez and Bernie Williams, Correa is the first selection from Puerto Rico. Some of those players signed as free agents — catcher Ramon Castro had been the highest-drafted player out of Puerto Rico, going No. 17 to Houston in 1994.

“I feel so excited to be the No. 1 pick,” said Correa, who was congratulated by Delgado on Twitter. “I’ve worked so hard to be here.”

It was the first time Houston had the top pick in the draft since 1992, when the Astros selected Phil Nevin — passing on future star Derek Jeter, who went five spots later to the New York Yankees.

“I have read about that,” said Correa, calling Jeter his idol. “I want to be like him. He’s awesome.”

First-year Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said Correa “has a chance to be a star” who could hit 20-30 home runs in the pros, whether it’s in his current role as a shortstop or “ultimately maybe third base.”

Correa said he’d like to stay at shortstop and plans to use his signing bonus to help his family.

As he walked to the podium and shook hands with commissioner Bud Selig before a brief hug, Correa pulled out a small Puerto Rican flag and held it up to cheers from the crowd of major league representatives and fans gathered in the stadium-themed studio.

While recent drafts lacked first-pick intrigue, Luhnow said the Astros didn’t settle on Correa until about an hour before they went on the clock. Several mock draft lists predicted the Astros would select Stanford right-hander Mark Appel, but instead Houston made a somewhat surprising selection — although Correa was considered one of the top five players available.

Correa, who has an incredibly strong arm and terrific instincts on defense, may be the highly sought after “big-time bat” for the middle of Astros lineup. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound star from Santa Isabel was a star at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy. He’s committed to the University of Miami, but will likely head to Houston’s farm system instead.

“Right now, he stays at shortstop and if he was to happen to grow out of it, it’s the power that’s the attraction here and it’s the middle of the order potential impact bat,” Astros scouting director and assistant general manager Bobby Heck said. “So if he has to move, his profile is still very, very strong.”

Meanwhile, Florida high school outfielder Albert Almora was selected sixth by the Chicago Cubs.

“I’m speechless,” said Almora by phone in an interview with MLB.com, about an hour after the 18-year-old was drafted. “I don’t remember much of anything that happened tonight. I know that the Cubs drafted me, and I’m grateful, but I’m still kind of shocked and overwhelmed.”

The first round and the compensation rounds are completed Monday night, with rounds 2 through 40 conducted over the next two days via conference call with the teams.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: University of Miami