Gabriel Scores First Top Latin Albums in Nearly Two Decades

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s been a long time coming, but Juan Gabriel is back at the top of the charts…

The iconic 65-year-old Mexican singer/songwriter climbs to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums (dated March 7) with Los Duo, scoring his first chart-topping set in 18 years, after debuting last week at No. 2.

The new duets album — which features a variety of guests like Juanes and Marco Antonio Solis — is helping Gabriel cover his own classics — sold 9,000 units in its second week, according to Nielsen Music.

Rising to the top despite a 61 percent decline in sale, the album opened with 23,000 copies (Gabriel’s biggest sales week since Nielsen started tracking sales in 1991) but was bested by Ricky Martin’s No. 1-debuting A Quien Quiera Escuchar, which arrived with 25,000. Both sets saw an expected second-week dip, with Martin dropping 72 percent (to 7,000), allowing Gabriel to take the top spot with the smaller sales decrease.

Gabriel, whose career launched in the early 1970s, last claimed the top spot in 1997 (with his only other No. 1 album) when Juntos Otra Vez, a collaborative set with Spanish singer Rocio Durcal, spent a week at the top.

It garnered a similar second-week climb to No. 1 after debuting the prior week at No. 7. (The Top Latin Albums chart launched in July of 1993.)

Over on Latin Pop Airplay, the new album’s lead single “Querida,” featuring Juanes, steps 26-25 with a two percent increase at the plays-based format.

Among Los Duo’s collaborations is “Se Me Olvido Otra Vez” with Solis, as the pair team up for a cover of Gabriel’s classic song that was first released in 1974.

Other artists from multiple Latin genres that join Gabriel on the set include regional Mexican singer-songwriter Espinoza Paz (duetting on “Siempre En Mi Mente,” the title track from Gabriel’s 1978 album) and Italian pop star Laura Pausini. The latter lends her powerful voice to “ Juan Gabriel,” the title track from a No. 2-peaking Gabriel album released in 2000.

Additional duets with the likes of Vicente Fernandez, Natalia Jimenez, Alejandra Guzman and Fifth Harmony also help to shape Gabriel’s chart-topping set.

Corea Leads the Pack of Latino Winners at the 2015 Grammy Awards

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Chick Corea has added new trophies to his extensive Grammy collection…

The 73-year-old part-Spanish jazz and fusion musician earned two awards at Sunday’s Grammy Awards, raising his total Grammy count to 22.

Corea, who came into the night at the most-nominated Latino artist of the year, won in both of the categories in which he was nominated.

He picked up the award in the Improvised Jazz Solo category for “Fingerprints.” He won for Jazz Instrumental Album for the Chick Corea Trio’s critically acclaimed Trilogy.

But Corea wasn’t the only Latino/a to come away with a coveted gramophone.

Kirstie Maldonado picked up her first-ever Grammy.

The half-Mexican American/part-Spanish artist and her fellow Pentatonix group mates – winners of NBC’s The Sing-Off in 2011 – won in the Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella category for their acclaimed  ”Daft Punk” medley.

Christina Aguilera, the Best New Artist winner at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2000, picked up the fifth Grammy of her career. The 34-year-old half-Ecuadorian American singer won in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
for her collaboration with A Great Big World on the single “Say Something.”

Other winners include Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Ruben Blades, Calle 13, Vicente Fernandez and Carlos Vives.

Meanwhile, Flaco Jiménez was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The 73-year-old accordionist who brought Tex-Mex flavor to the music of Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Ry Cooder and others gained mainstream popularity as a member of the crossover bands The Texas Tornados and Los Super Seven. He’s a five-time Grammy Award winner. Distinguished accordion manufacturer Hohnor created the Corona II Flaco Jimenez Signature Model in his honor. He’s the only Latin artist to receive the career Grammy tribute this year.

Here’s a complete look at all the night’s Latino winners:

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
A Great Big World with Christina Aguilera, “Say Something”

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
Pentatonix – “Daft Punk”

Best Improved Jazz Solo
Chick Corea – “Fingerprints”

Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Chick Corea Trio – Trilogy

Best Latin Jazz Album
Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra – The Offense Of The Drum

Best Latin Pop Album
Ruben Blades, Tangos

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)
Vicente Fernández, Mano A Mano – Tangos A La Manera De Vicente Fernández

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album
Calle 13, Multiviral

Best Tropical Latin Album
Carlos Vives, Más + Corazón Profundo

Corea Among the Top Latino 2015 Grammy Award Nominees

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

There’s no denying Chick Corea is a Grammy darling…

The 73-year-old part-Spanish jazz and fusion musician picked up two nods for the 2015 Grammy Awards, upping his total career nominations to a whopping 63.

Corea, a 20-time winner, is nominated in the Improvised Jazz Solo category for “Fingerprints.” He’s also up for Jazz Instrumental Album for the Chick Corea Trio  critically acclaimed Trilogy.

But Corea isn’t the only double-nominee this year…

David Arthur Garcia will actually compete against himself at next year’s Grammy Awards.

The award-winning Latino songwriter-producer, who won his first Grammy this year as a songwriter for co-writing Mandisa’s massive hit “Overcomer,” has picked up two nominations in the Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song category.

Garcia has earned recognition for co-penning Francesca Battistelli’s “Write Your Story” and Mercy Me’s “Shake.”

Roman Pichon Herrera has picked up two nominations in the same category as well.

The Latino music video producer is nominated in the Music Video category for co-producing Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” and Woodkid’s “The Golden Age” featuring Max Richter.

Meanwhile, Kirstie Maldonado has earned the first Grammy nomination of her career.

The half-Mexican American/part-Spanish artist and her fellow Pentatonix group mates – winners of NBC’s The Sing-Off in 2011 – earned the nod in the Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
category for their acclaimed  ”Daft Punk” medley. Among their competition, Pentatonix will face off against Cuban composer and jazz pianist Alfredo Rodríguez’s “Guantanamera.”

But Maldonado isn’t the only first-time nominee…

Aloe Blacc has picked up the very first Grammy nod of his career in the R&B Album category. The

The 35-year-old Panamanian American singer-songwriter earned the nomination for his impressive album Lift Your Spirit.

Other notable Latino musicians/entertainers earning 2015 Grammy nominations include Christina Aguilera, Ruben Blades, Juanes , Marco Antonio Solís, Jorge Drexler , Ana Tijoux , Pepe Aguilar , Vicente Fernández , Ixya Herrera  , Carlos Vives, Sérgio Mendes  and Louis C.K. 

The Grammys are awarded by the Recording Academy, which is made up of 22,000 members of the music industry including musicians, producers, engineers, record company and radio industry personnel and others.

The awards are determined by the academy’s voting membership of about 13,000.

Winners will be announced on February 8 at the 2015 Grammy Awards ceremony to be held at the Staples Center and broadcast live on CBS.

Here’s a complete look at the categories with Latino nominees:

Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Fancy,” Iggy Azalea Featuring Charli XCX
“A Sky Full Of Stars,” Coldplay
“Say Something,” A Great Big World With Christina Aguilera
“Bang Bang,” Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
“Dark Horse,” Katy Perry Featuring Juicy J

R&B Album
“Islander,” Bernhoft
“Lift Your Spirit,” Aloe Blacc
“Love, Marriage & Divorce,” Toni Braxton & Babyface
“Black Radio 2,” Robert Glasper Experiment
“Give The People What They Want,” Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Improvised Jazz Solo
“The Eye Of The Hurricane,” Kenny Barron
“Fingerprints,” Chick Corea 
“You & The Night & The Music,” Fred Hersch
“Recorda Me,” Joe Lovano
“Sleeping Giant,” Brad Mehldau

Jazz Instrumental Album
“Landmarks,” Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band
“Trilogy,” Chick Corea Trio
“Floating,” Fred Hersch Trio
“Enjoy The View,” Bobby Hutcherson, David Sanborn, Joey DeFrancesco Featuring Billy Hart
“All Rise: A Joyful Elegy For Fats Waller,” Jason Moran

Latin Jazz Album
“The Latin Side Of Joe Henderson,” Conrad Herwig Featuring Joe Lovano
“The Pedrito Martinez Group,” The Pedrito Martinez Group
“The Offense Of The Drum,” Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
“Second Half,” Emilio Solla Y La Inestable De Brooklyn
“New Throned King,” Yosvany Terry

Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

“Write Your Story,” Francesca Battistelli; Francesca Battistelli, David Arthur Garcia & Ben Glover
“Come As You Are,” Crowder
“Messengers,” Lecrae Featuring For King & Country; Torrance Esmond, Ran Jackson, Ricky Jackson, Kenneth Chris Mackey, Lecrae Moore, Joseph Prielozny, Joel Smallbone & Luke Smallbone
“Shake,” MercyMe; Nathan Cochran, David Arthur Garcia, Ben Glover, Barry Graul, Bart Millard, Soli Olds, Mike Scheuchzer & Robby Shaffer
“Multiplied,” Needtobreathe; Bear Rinehart & Bo Rinehart

Latin Pop Album
“Tangos,” Rubén Blades
“Elypse,” Camila 
“Raíz,” Lila Downs, Niña Pastori And Soledad
“Loco De Amor,” Juanes 
“Gracias Por Estar Aquí,” Marco Antonio Solís

Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album
“Multiviral,” Calle 13 
“Behind The Machine (Detrás De La Máquina),” Chocquibtown
“Bailar En La Cueva,” Jorge Drexler
“Agua Maldita,” Molotov 
“Vengo,” Ana Tijoux

Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)
“Lastima Que Sean Ajenas,” Pepe Aguilar
“Mano A Mano – Tangos A La Manera De Vicente Fernández,” Vicente Fernández
“Voz Y Guitarra,” Ixya Herrera
“15 Aniversario,” Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea
“Alegría Del Mariachi,” Mariachi Los Arrieros Del Valle

Tropical Latin Album
“50 Aniversario,” El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico
“First Class To Havana,” Aymee Nuviola
“Live,” Palo! 
“El Asunto,” Totó La Momposina 
“Más + Corazón Profundo,” Carlos Vives

World Music Album
“Toumani & Sidiki,” Toumani Diabaté & Sidiki Diabaté
“Eve,” Angelique Kidjo
“Our World In Song,” Wu Man, Luis Conte & Daniel Ho
“Magic,” Sérgio Mendes 
“Traces Of You,” Anoushka Shankar

Comedy Album
“Mandatory Fun,” “Weird Al” Yankovic
“Obsessed,” Jim Gaffigan
“Oh My God,” Louis C.K. 
“Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time,” Patton Oswalt
“We Are Miracles,” Sarah Silverman

Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
“Beautiful Dreamer,” Pete McGuinness (The Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra)
“Daft Punk,” Ben Bram, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Avi Kaplan, Kirstie Maldonado & Kevin Olusola (Pentatonix)
“Get Smart,” Gordon Goodwin (Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band)
“Guantanamera,” Alfredo Rodríguez (Alfredo Rodríguez)
“Moon River,” Chris Walden (Amy Dickson)

Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals
“All My Tomorrows,” Jeremy Fox (Jeremy Fox Featuring Kate McGarry)
“Goodnight America,” Vince Mendoza (Mary Chapin Carpenter)
“New York Tendaberry,” Billy Childs (Billy Childs Featuring Renée Fleming & Yo-Yo Ma)
“Party Rockers,” Gordon Goodwin (Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band)
“What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?” Pete McGuinness (The Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra)

Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
“All Of Me (Tiesto’s Birthday Treatment Remix),” Tijs Michiel Verwest (John Legend)
“Falling Out (Ming Remix),” MING (Crossfingers Featuring Danny Losito)
“Pompeii (Audien Remix),” Audien (Bastille)
“The Rising (Eddie Amador Remix),” Eddie Amador (Five Knives)
“Smile (Kaskade Edit),” Ryan Raddon (Galantis)
“Waves (Robin Schulz Remix),” Robin Schulz (Mr. Probz)

Music Video
“We Exist,” Arcade Fire; David Wilson, video director; Jason Baum, video producer
“Turn Down For What,” DJ Snake & Lil Jon; Daniels, video directors; Judy Craig, Candice Ouaknine, Jonathan Wang & Bryan Younce, video producers
“Chandelier,” Sia; Daniel Askill & Sia, video directors; Jennifer Heath, video producer
“Happy,” Pharrell Williams; We Are From LA, video director; Kathleen Heffernan, Roman Pichon Herrera, Jett Steiger & Cedric Troadec, video producers
“The Golden Age,” Woodkid Featuring Max Richter; Chis Clayton & Yoann Lemoine, video directors; Roman Pichon Herrera, Christine Miller, Susan Porche & Annabel Rosier, video producers

Music Film
“Beyoncé & Jay Z: On The Run Tour,” Beyoncé & Jay Z; Jonas Åkerlund, video director; Svana Gisla, video producer
“Ghost Stories,” Coldplay; Paul Dugdale, video director; Jim Parsons, video producer
“20 Feet From Stardom,” Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer & Judith Hill; Morgan Neville, video director; Gil Friesen & Caitrin Rogers, video producers [Tata Vega]
“Metallica Through The Never,” Metallica (Robert Trujillo); Nimród Antal, video director; Adam Ellison & Charlotte Huggins, video producers
“The Truth About Love Tour: Live From Melbourne,” Pink; Larn Poland, video director; Roger Davies, video producer

Fernández Notches His Best Sales Week with New Album “Confidencias”

Posted on September 7, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It’s an extra special quinceañera for Alejandro Fernández…

The 42-year-old Mexican singer has notched the best sales week of his two-decade-plus career with his 15th studio album, Confidencias.

Released by Universal Music Latino, Fernández’s album debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums with 21,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The album’s impressive opening also impacts the Billboard 200 where it enters the chart at No. 19, making this Fernandez’s best position on the chart ever.

Confidencias is only the second Latin album to breach the top 20 of the Billboard 200 this year; Earlier, Marc Anthony’s 3.0 debuted at No. 5 on August 10 with 39,000 copies. Now, 3.0 drops to No. 2 on the Top Latin Albums chart.

Fernandez’s previous best sales week was the January 10, 1998 frame when his Me Estoy Enamorando sold 20,000 Christmas-week units.

Confidencias is Fernandez’ fourth chart-topper behind Enamorando (12 weeks in 1998-99), Entre Tus Brazos (May 13, 2000) and Dos Mundos: Evolucion (Jan. 2, 2010).

“Hoy Tengo Ganas de Ti,” the album’s first single, featuring Christina Aguilera, serves as the theme song to Univision’s new soap opera La Tempestad and sits at its peak of No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs, a rarity for a ballad in today’s more up-tempo dominated radio charts.

The Latin pop album also features a new rendition of Rod Stewart’s classic “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out,” featuring Stewart himself, as well as Alejandro’s first collaboration with his father Vicente Fernandez in over 20 years on “Me Olvide de Vivir.”

Prince Royce: The Big Winner at the Premios Juventud Awards

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Prince Royce has a handful of reasons to celebrate…

The 24-year-old Dominican American singer and La Voz Kids coach was the big winner at the 10th annual Premios Juventud, taking home five awards.

It’s the second year in a row that the Royce has led the pack of winners at the awards show. Last year, he won eight awards, including Voz del momento.

This time around, Royce won in five of the 10 categories where he was nominated, including Red Hot Artist, Catchiest Tune, and My Favorite Video.

Meanwhile, the late Jenni Rivera, who died in a plane crash in December, posthumously earned four awards, including My Regional Mexican Artist and My Ringtone.

Meanwhile Bruno Mars and Mexican duo Jesse & Joy each took home two statuettes from the gala held at Miami’s BankUnited Center.

The show opened on a high note as two-time winner Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull sang a medley of their massive hits including new single “Live It Up” in a performance that ended with the two singers diving into an onstage swimming pool.

Other winners include Sebastián Rulli, Blanca Soto, Shakira and Vicente Fernandez.

Launched 10 years ago as a fan show that aimed at a younger audience, Premios Juventud presents awards in 27 categories in music, film soap operas, sports and pop culture. Winners are decided by popular vote over the Internet.

Click here to see the complete list of winners.

Five of Rivera’s Works Rank Among The Top-Selling Latin Albums in 2013 So Far

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

The late Jenni Rivera‘s presence is still being felt on the Billboard charts…

The Mexican American singer death in a plane crash last December has had a huge impact on this year’s Latin music sales. At the mid-way point (through the week ending June 30, 2012), Rivera registers five of the top 10 biggest-selling Latin albums in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.

In fact, the top four selling Latin albums in 2013 are all by La Diva de la Banda.

Rivera’s La Misma Gran Señora is the top-selling Latin set of 2013 so far, selling 103,000 copies, rising 13% over last year’s top mid-year seller, Romeo Santos’ Formula: Vol. 1., which had sold 91,000 by the mid-year point of 2012.

Rivera’s Joyas Prestadas: Pop comes in at No. 2 on the 2 list with 100,000 sold so far. Both titles cross the 100,00 threshold, the first Billboard has had two Latin albums sell in excess of 100,000 at the mid-way point of the year since 2011.

Sales of the top ten mid-year Latin albums saw a 17% increase from last year’s top ten. At this point in 2012, the ten best selling Latin albums had moved a combined 467,000, whereas this year sales exceed 545,000.

Contributing to the sales growth was Draco Rosa, whose duets project Vida lands at the No. 8 position on the mid-year list with 29,000 sold. Vicente Fernandez rounds out the list at No. 10 with El Hijo Del Pueblo, selling 28,000.

On the Latin digital song sales chart, Marc Anthony‘s “Vivir Mi Vida” at No. 5 is the highest-ranked new song on the best-selling Latin songs list. It’s the year’s No. 5 best-seller, having moved 83,000 downloads thus far.

In 2013 so far, five Latin songs have sold more than 100,000 digital downloads, matching the amount that did so at this point a year ago. Shakira‘s “Hips Don’t Lie” and “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)” both remain in the mid-year’s top five for the fourth year in a row (Nos. 2 and 4, respectively). Don Omar’s “Danza Kuduro” (No. 1) continues in its third year among the mid-year top 10.

Overall Latin album sales stand at 4.31 million this year — down 14% compared to a year ago (5.02 million). Latin digital song sales are at 11.13 million for 2013 thus far — down 5.3% versus a year ago (11.75 million). To compare, overall album sales are down by 6%, while overall song sales slide by 2%.

Ortiz’s “The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernández” Trailer Released

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Indican Pictures has released the official trailer for Ernest Borgnine’s last film, The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernández.

Featuring telenovela star Carla Ortiz in her first lead role and Ugly Betty’s Tony Plata, the film centers on a stubborn old man bitter about never having lived a life with any meaning. After suffering a stroke, he winds up in a nursing home staffed by Latino immigrants. Put off by the situation, he focuses all his energy on getting out, which places him at odds with the workers. But their relationship quickly changes when the staff learn that he once shook hands with Vicente Fernández, the legendary Mexican singer, producer and actor idolized throughout Latin culture. The employees soon begin to treat Rex like the celebrity he’s always dreamed of being.

The Man Who Shook The Hand Of Vicente Fernández was Borgnine’s final performance; the Oscar-winner passed away in July at the age of 95.

The 35-year-old Bolivian actress plays Borgnine’s character’s nurse Solena, while Plata plays the evil Dr. Dominguez.

The film will be released in Los Angeles on December 7, just in time for awards consideration.

3BallMTY: This Year’s Billboard Mexican Music Awards MVP

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

The members of 3BallMTY proved to be the beaus of the ball at this year’s Billboard Mexican Music Awards.

The Mexican tribal music troupe – comprised of Erick Rincon, Sergio Zavala (Dj Sheeqo Beat) and Alberto Presenda (Dj Otto) – earned the most awards of any artist/act during Thursday night’s nationally televised awards show, which honors regional Mexican music.

This year’s 12-time nominee 3BallMTY picked up nine awards, including New Artist of the Year, Artist of the Year, Duo or Group; Song Artist of the Year and Digital Download Artist of the Year.

The awards show was broadcast live on Telemundo from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium and featured genre-breaking performances from 3BallMTY together with reggaetón duo J King & Maximán, as well as more traditional fare from Conjunto Primavera and Los Huracanes del Norte.

3BallMTY’s wins helped to shine a spotlight on the dynamic nature of regional Mexican music, the top-selling Latin sub-genre in the United States. The trio of DJs, who only released their debut album last year – and who had their network performance premiere on the first Billboard Mexican Music Awards – also won Songs Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for the single “Inténtalo,” featuring El Bebeto and América Sierra.

“In Mexico there have always been new waves,” said 3Ball MTY’s Zavala on the red carpet outside of Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium. “We brought something fresh with the electronic sound [and] tribal is really growing.”

Meanwhile, last year’s big winner, norteño star Gerardo Ortiz, picked up seven awards, including Artist of the Year and Artist of the Year, Male. Ortiz’s album Entre Dios y el Diablo also won the Album of the Year Award.

A special award for the evening was given to ranchera singer/songwriter Pepe Aguilar, who received Billboard‘s Legacy Award in recognition of his lengthy and rich musical trajectory that has influenced the genre and its artists.

Legendary ranchera singer Vicente Fernández, currently on a farewell tour, swept the ranchero/mariachi category, winning Ranchero/Mariachi Album of the Year for Otra Vez, Song of the Year with “El Vestido Blanco” and overall Ranchero/Mariachi Artist of the Year.

Jenni Rivera won Artist of the Year, Female and Banda Album of the Year for her album Joyas Prestadas.

Billboard Mexican Music Awards finalists and winners are determined by chart performance as chronicled in Billboard Magazine and on Billboard.com during the eligibility period of August 27, 2011 through August 18, 2012. Award categories are based on album and digital track sales data provided by Nielsen SoundScan and radio airplay monitored by Nielsen BDS.

For a full list of winners, click here.

Fernández to Perform Final Concerts This December

Posted on October 13, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It’s the end of the road for Vicente Fernández…

The 72-year-old legendary Mexican singer, known as El rey de la canción ranchera, has announced that he’ll step out of the spotlight following two concerts on December 14-15 in the western state of Jalisco.

“I want to go back home to say my goodbyes,” said the Grammy-winning singer on Friday before the second of three shows at the Festival of Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco where he was born.

Fernández, considered mariachi music’s all-time great, announced early this year that he was planning to retire from the concert stage to spend more time with his family. He mentioned that he also wanted to step down while he was at the top of his game.

He admitted to some health problems from an inflamed liver and said his decision to retire is “definitive,” though he did add that he will continue to record discs.

The singer who made famous such tracks as “Mujeres Divinas” and “Las Llaves de Mi Alma” will bid farewell with a special tour through Spain, Central America, South America and the United States, before wrapping up his farewell tour in the land of his birth.

In a career stretching more than 50 years, the “Charro of Huentitan” recorded more than 90 albums and won numerous Billboard, Grammy and Diosa de Plata awards.

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.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Vicente Fernandez