It’s no surprise he’s one of Latin Music’s biggest stars, but Colombian rock superstar Juanes also has a big corazon. And, he’ll be recognized for his philanthropy and activism next month in our nation’s capital.
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation announced today that the organization will present Juanes with its Vision Award at this year’s Hispanic Heritage Awards in recognition of his musical talent and commitment to humanitarian causes.
“Juanes is an artist in every sense of the word. His talents extend far and beyond the stage and bright lights,” asserts María-Esmeralda Paguaga, the executive producer of the Hispanic Heritage Awards. “It’s refreshing to have an artist of Juanes’ caliber use his voice and platform as a vehicle for change, and most importantly, as an advocate for peace.”
Hailing from Medellín Colombia, Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez better known as Juanes is a Grammy and multiple Latin Grammy winner, with a record 17 awards making him the Latin Recording Academy’s most heralded artist. He’s sold over 15 million albums worldwide and was hailed as Latin Music’s “Star of the Decade” by Billboard magazine.
Juanes has topped the charts with several songs that have become cultural anthems championing Latino pride, the power of love and respect for all mankind through the elimination of violence. He’s also taken his advocacy well beyond music through his own Fundación Mi Sangre and as a co-founder and principal organizer of the historic Paz Sin Fronteras (Peace Without Borders) concerts. Through his work for the Mi Sangre Foundation, Juanes has become an internationally recognized leader in the fight to ban landmines, as he and the foundation work to protect the children of Colombia from the dangers of armed conflict and give them a voice in building the country’s future. Expanding beyond the borders of Colombia, Juanes has also become a global proponent in the fight to guarantee a basic right to peace for all.
“May we be able to understand the importance of turning hate into love, Juanes advises us in his song ‘Odio Por Amor,'” says Paguaga. “This sentiment represents one of the many reasons that the Hispanic Heritage Awards is proud to honor this singer, musician, producer and philanthropist with the Vision Award.”
This year’s Hispanic Heritage Awards, celebrating their 25th anniversary, will be held on September 15, 2011, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.
The awards were established in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan as the official celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs between September 15 and October 15.