Manuel Medrano Reveals First U.S. Tour Dates

Manuel Medrano is preparing to entertain U.S. audiences for the first time.

After building a 10-year career, the 36-year-old Colombian pop singer and Latin Grammy winner is officially touring the U.S. for the first time.

Manuel Medrano

Medrano—known for ballads like “Bajo el Agua,” “Afuera del Planeta,” and “La Distancia”—unveiled four North American cities added to his “Manuel Medrano en Concierto” Tour that already made stops in Mexico and Latin America.

This week, at an intimate press event where he also performed an upcoming single with famed pianist Arthur Hanlon, Medrano announced he’ll be visiting Orlando, New York, Miami, and Puerto Rico next.

Medrano will kick off his brief visit to North America with a show at Hard Rock Live Orlando in Florida on November 7 followed by a concert at Colen Auditorium in Flushing, New York.

He’ll then make is way back to Florida to perform at Miami’s James L. Knight Center and wrap up on November 16 at Coca-Cola Music Hall in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“Having the opportunity to visit the United States is gratifying because I will arrive with many more songs,” Medrano said in a statement. “On the other hand, I will bring a much bigger and more powerful performance, with various musicians on stage and a show based on the concept of all my albums. I’m very happy to be back with an open heart for all my fans.”

Medrano is working on the follow-up to his sophomore album Eterno and recently joined Jared Leto and his band 30 Second to Mars for a special performance at the Colombian music festival Estéreo Picnic.

He will be visiting Europe and South America before performing in the States, stopping by La Riviera in Madrid, Spain, on May 19 and then Razzmatazz 2 in Barcelona. He makes his way back to Latin America with a night at Arena Monticello in Santiago, Chile, on June 15, a concert at Teatro Broadway in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 19 and a stop at Anfiteatro Parque Exposición in Lima, Peru, on June 22.

Manuel Medrano North American Tour Dates
November 7 – Hard Rock Live Orlando – Orlando, Florida
November 9 – Colden Auditorium – Flushing, New York
November 10 – James L. Knight Center – Miami, Florida
November 16 – Coca-Cola Music Hall – San Juan, Puerto Rico

Gilberto Santa Rosa Launching 16-City “Camínalo” U.S. Tour in October

Gilberto Santa Rosa is preparing to hit the road this fall after the pandemic-forced hiatus.

The 58-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning salsa singer-songwriter is set to launch his 16-city Camínalo U.S. tour in Lubbock, Texas on October 7.

Gilberto Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa, known as the “Gentleman” of salsa both for his velvety voice as for his proper demeanor and outstanding soneo–or improvisatory—skills, will perform a mix of mostly theaters and casinos in a wide variety of markets.

The Camínalo tour will make stops at The Conga Room in Los Angeles and the San José Center for the Performing Arts in San José, and also at the Theater at MGM National Harbor and the Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City.

Santa Rosa will also play the James L Knight Center in Miami and the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, a big Puerto Rican enclave.

Camínalo will “be a big party, full of music and good vibes,” said Santa Rosa. The tour is named after one of the songs in his new album, Colegas.

The tour is produced by promotion, entertainment and marketing company Loud & Live which has announced half a dozen tours in the past month, including those of Camilo, Carlos Vives and Juan Luis Guerra. Loud and Live also produce Colombian Silvestre Dangond’s successful multi-weekend run at the Fillmore Miami Beach.

“It’s a pleasure to work with a great artist and legend of our Latin community,” said Loud and Live CEO Nelson Albareda.

Tickets to Camínalo are currently on sale.

Here’s the Camínalo tour schedule:

Oct. 07, 2021 — Lubbock, TX The Buddy Holly Hall
Oct. 08, 2021 — El Paso, TX Abraham Chavez Theater
Oct. 09, 2021 — Dallas, TX Majestic Theater Dallas
Oct. 10/2021 — Houston, TX Cullen Performance Hall
Oct. 21, 2021 — Chicago, IL Copernicus Center
Oct. 22, 2021 — Raleigh, NC Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
Oct. 23, 2021 — Charlotte, NC Ovens Auditorium
Nov. 11, 2021 — Los Angeles, CA The Conga Room
Nov. 12, 2021 — San Jose, CA San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
Nov. 17, 2021 — Denver, CO Paramount Theater – NC
Nov. 18, 2021 — San Diego, CA Magnolia Grand Theater
Nov. 26, 2021 — Washington, DC The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Nov. 27, 2021 — Atlantic City, NJ Ocean Resort Casino
Nov. 28, 2021 — Tampa, FL Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Feb. 12, 2022 — Miami, FL James L Knight Center
Feb. 13, 2022 — Orlando, FL Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Kany Garcia to Be Honored at This Year’s La Musa Awards

Kany Garcia is seriously A-Muse-d!

The Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced its honorees for the 2019 La Musa Awards, with the 26-year-oldPuerto Rican singer and songwriter making the list.

Kany Garcia

Garcia, a three-time Latin Grammy winner, will be awarded the Elena Casals La Musa Award.

Garcia has penned all the songs for her albums. And she’s also written songs for other artists like Ha*AshEdnita NazarioPedro CapóFabiola and Chayanne.

José José, referred to as El Príncipe de la Canción, will receive the Living Legend Award, The 71-year-old Mexican crooner, who began his musical career in his early teens, has released more than 30 albums, his last Tenampa in 2001. 

Jesús López, chairman & CEO for Universal Music Latin Americaand the Iberian Peninsula, will receive the Desi Arnaz Pioneer Award, while music executive Nestor Casonuwill be honored with the Ralph S. Peer Publisher Award

Additional honorees will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

In addition to unveiling the first wave of honorees, LSHOF has also announced that Spotify is returning as the official title sponsor of the awards ceremony. According to an official statement, the “continuing partnership aligns with Spotify’s unparalleled commitment to supporting and highlighting Latin music and songwriters on its global platform.”

In May, Ivy QueenWillie ColónMichael SullivanChico Novarro, and Armando Larrinaga were announced as the five songwriters who will be inducted at the prestigious hall this year. 

The 2019 group of inductees, which were selected by the general public from a previously announced list of 24 nominated songwriters and composers, is comprised of some of the greatest performers, lyricists, and musicians in Latin music today.

The 2019 honorees will be officially inducted at the seventh annual La Musa Awards ceremony and gala, taking place October 24 at the James L. Knight Centerin Miami.

Tickets for the 7th annual La Musa Awards are now on sale via Ticketmaster.com.

Victor Manuelle to Receive Icon Award at This Year’s La Musa Awards

There’s an iconic honor headed Victor Manuelle’s way…

The 49-year-old Puerto Rican salsa singer will be honored by Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame (LSHOF) with the Icon Award during the 2018 La Musa Awards.

Victor Manuelle

The announcement was made by LSHOF founders Desmond Child and Rudy Pérez on behalf of its Board of Directors.

The special award will recognize Manuelle’s career and musical contributionswhich include breaking chart records within the Latin and tropical music space for over two decades.  Previous honorees include Alejandro Sanz and Carlos Vives.

“I have received many awards through the years, but being the recipient of the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame’s Icon Award has a very special significance for me,” said Manuelle in a press statement. “This award not only recognizes the depth and length of my career as a performer and songwriter but also honors all of the creativity that went into writing and producing my music with the world’s most brilliant collaborators, musicians and singers.”

The 6th annual LA Musa Awards, presented by Spotify, will be directed by Richard Jay-Alexander and will take place at the James L. Knight Center in Miami on October 18 and will be hosted by Puerto Rican actor/singer, Ektor Rivera.

The ceremony will honor this year’s class of Inductees: Gloria Trevi (Mexico), Chucho Valdés (Cuba), Carlos Rubira Infante (Ecuador), Fernando Osorio (Venezuela) and other special Honorees.

 

Gloria Trevi to be Inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame

Gloria Trevi is heading into the annals of Latin music history…

The Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame has revealed which five songwriters will be inducted at the prestigious hall this year, with the 50-year-old Mexican singer/songwriter making the grade.

Gloria Trevi

Trevi joins a roster that includes previous inductees, including last year’s Erika Ender, Carlos Vives and Ana Gabriel, to name a few.

Besides having a rebellious and over-the-top personality onstage, Trevi is also known as a songwriter and philanthropist. In her nearly three-decade music career, she’s penned more than 400 songs and released 13 albums, four of which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart: Gloria in 2011, El Amor in 2015, Immortal in 2016 and Versus in 2017.

Joining Trevi is Chucho Valdés.

As a pianist, composer and arranger, the 76-year-old Cuban artist become one of the most influential figures in modern Afro-Cuban jazz. He’s a winner of six Grammys and three Latin Grammys. On November 27, 2010, Chucho peaked at No. 8 on the Latin Pop Albumschart thanks to his collaboration with Buika on her album El Ultimo Trago.

Ecuadorian singer and songwriter Carlos Rubira Infante has also made the list. He’s known for bringing to the forefront the country’s national music style, pasillo and pasacalle music. At 96 years old, he was awarded the National Prize in ArtPremio Eugenio Espejo” in 2008 from the president of Ecuador and has penned more than 400 songs.

Another honoree, Fernando Osorio.

Born in Colombia but raised in Venezuela, this singer-songwriter is the man behind some of the most unforgettable Latin songs. His first international success was with “Solo con un Beso,” a song he wrote for Ricardo Montaner in 1988, peaking at No. 7 on the Hot Latin Songs chart. Osorio nabbed the Latin Grammy for best tropical song in 2004 for composing Celia Cruz‘s “Rie y Llora” before her death.

And last but not least… KC Porter will be honored.

Bon Jovi, Janet Jackson and Laura Pausini all have one thing in common: KC Porter. The American record producer, songwriter, musician and singer is known for crossing over many artists into the Spanish-speaking market. He’s a nine-time Grammy winner for his production work on Carlos Santana‘s Supernatural and has written and produced some of Ricky Martin’s biggest hits, including “María.”

For the past six years, the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame, founded by Desmond Child and Rudy Pérez, has honored the world’s greatest Latin music creators and their memorable songs.

The 2018 honorees will be officially inducted at the sixth annual La Musa Awards ceremony and gala, taking place October 18 at the James L. Knight Center in Miami.

Erika Ender Inducted Into the Latin Song Writers Hall of Fame

She’s the woman behind the song of the summer… And, now Erika Ender has earned her place in Latin music history.

At the fifth annual La Musa Awards gala last week — hosted by Jane the Virgin‘s Jaime Camil – the Panamanian-Brazilian singer/songwriter was inducted into the prestigious Latin Song Writers Hall of Fame, the youngest inductee in the hall’s history.

 Erika Ender

Along with Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, Ender is co-writer of the biggest hit of the year, “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber, which spent 16 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100.

Born in Panama to a Brazilian mother and a U.S.-born father of German ancestry, Ender speaks fluent Portuguese and Spanish, and moves easily between cultures.

Before “Despacito,” she had written hits for ChayanneGilberto Santa RosaGloria TreviEdnita Nazario and Los Tigres del Norte. She also is a TV personality in Latin America, where she has been a judge for a Latin version of American Idol.

Along with Ender, Ana GabrielRoberto LiviMartin UrietaCarlos Vives and Camilo Sesto were also inducted into hall of fame.

Each was presented at the James L. Knight Center with the coveted hand-crafted trophy, originally inspired by “the muse” of the late Cuban songwriter and poet, Elena Casals.

Additionally, Vives was presented with the Icon Award, while Wisin, the late Julio Jaramillo and “La Bamba” garnered the Victory Award, Legacy Award and Song of All Time, respectively.

Amid a political climate currently riddled with anti-immigrant rhetoric, as well as the devastating aftermaths of hurricanes Irma and Maria throughout the Caribbean, Urieta offered words and sentiments in support of immigrants, while  Nazario performed a brilliant tribute to the island of Puerto Rico.

The Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame is dedicated to educating, preserving, honoring and celebrating “the lives and music of the world’s greatest Latin songwriters, composers and lyricists in every genre while developing and inspiring new generations of music creators through master classes, workshops, scholarships and digital initiatives.”