Blacc to Perform at This Year’s Playboy Jazz Festival

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Aloe Blacc is a playboy…

The 35-year-old Panamanian American singer-songwriter has been selected as one of the headliners for the 37th annual Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Taking place June 13-14, the two-day lineup includes appearances by Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ledisi and Terence Blanchard.

Blacc, who has the most Shazamed song of all time, will perform on Saturday, June 13.

Other Latino/a artists/acts include Ozomatli and the Eddie Palmieri Afro-Caribbean Jazz Band.

In addition, the slate includes Jason Moran‘s Fats Waller Dance Party, Snarky Puppy and Blue Note 75th Anniversary Presents: Our Point of View featuring Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge, Kendrick Scott, Lionel Loueke, Marcus Strickland and Ambrose Akinmusire. The legacy of late jazz icon Gerald Wilson will be saluted by the Celebrating Gerald Wilson Orchestra under the direction of Wilson’s son Anthony.

Returning for a third consecutive year as host is comedian/actor George Lopez.

Additional information about the 2015 Playboy Jazz Festival is available at HollywoodBowl.com/PlayboyJazz.

Here’s the complete schedule:

PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL 2015
Saturday, June 13, 3-11 p.m.
Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and the Monk Institute of Jazz Performance Ensemble
Eddie Palmieri Afro-Caribbean Jazz Band with special invited guests Ronnie Cuber, Alfredo De La Fe, Donald Harrison, Joe Locke
Aloe Blacc
Tower of Power
Jason Moran’s Fats Waller Dance Party
Celebrating Gerald Wilson Orchestra under the direction of Anthony Wilson
Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio
Morgan James
A Sacred Steel Love Supreme: The Campbell Brothers Present “A Love Supreme”
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Vocal Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Pat Bass

Sunday, June 14, 3-10:30 p.m.
Ledisi
Terence Blanchard E-Collective
Ozomatli
The Dizzy Gillespie Big Band under the direction of John Lee
Snarky Puppy
King Sunny Ade and his African Beats
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Blue Note 75th Anniversary Presents: Our Point of View featuring Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge, Kendrick Scott, Lionel Loueke, Marcus Strickland and Ambrose Akinmusire
The Jones Family Singers
The LAUSD/Beyond the Bell All-City Jazz Big Band under the direction of Tony White and J.B. Dyas

Gomez Signs with Interscope Records

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

“Forget Forever,” Selena Gomez has a new label…

The 22-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress has signed with Interscope Records.

Gomez shared the news through her Instagram account over the weekend by showing a photo of her face next to what appears to be her new contract.

“Guess who’s officially an Interscope artist #thisiswhatdreamsaremadeof,” Gomez wrote in the photo caption.

The “Love You Like a Love Song” singer was previously signed to Hollywood Records, the pop division of Disney Music Group.

Her final release on the label was the best-of album, For You, which hit retailers and online music outlets on November 24. It features her latest single “The Heart Wants What It Wants,” which was inspired by her on-and-off relationship with Justin Bieber.

Interscope’s current roster of artists includes Aloe Blacc, Fergie, Jessica Sanchez, Scotty McCreery, Gwen Stefani, Madonna and Lady Gaga.

Blacc & Avicii’s “Wake Me Up” is the Most Shazamed Song of All Time

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

There’s no need to wake (me) up Aloe Blacc from this dream…

The 35-year-old Panamanian American singer-songwriter, who earned two NAACP Image Award nominations earlier this week, has made Shazam history.

Blacc forms part of the most Shazamed song of all time. Avicii‘s hit “Wake Me Up” featuring Blacc’s vocals has collected more than 19 million queries on the music app to date.

Close behind is Robin Thicke‘s “Blurred Lines” with T.I. and Pharrell Williams with more than 18 million queries, Gotye‘s “Somebody That I Used to Know” featuring Kimbra with over 16 million, Passenger‘s “Let Her Go” with over 15 million, and Clean Bandit‘s “Rather Be” featuring Jess Glynne with over 14 million.

The numbers are now free to track, thanks to the music platform’s relaunch Wednesday. The app’s 100 million monthly mobile active users can now note the number of Shazams each song has ever had and whose music is next to join the new Hall of Fame.

Shazam’s Platinum Hall of Fame honorees — musicians whose tracks have collected more than 15 million queries — will receive a custom award designed and manufactured exclusively by Cristaux.

Additionally, users can also uninterruptedly stream their Rdio and Spotify playlists and charts from inside the app, and scroll through other exclusive content.

Blacc Receives Two NAACP Image Award Nominations

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Aloe Blacc may be the man to beat…

The 35-year-old Panamanian American singer-songwriter has landed two NAACP Image Award nods, making him this year’s most nominated Latino entertainer.

Presented by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the awards honor outstanding people of color in film, television, music and literature.

Blacc, earning his first-ever Image Award nominations, received a nod for Outstanding New Artist, where he’s up against
Erica Campbell, Jhene Aiko, Liv Warfield and the  3 Winans Brothers.

Additionally, he scored a nomination in the Outstanding Song category for his smash hit single “The Man.”

Meanwhile, Sofia Vergara has earned fourth NAACP Image Award nomination the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category for her star-making role as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on ABC’s Modern Family. The 42-year-old Colombian actress, ranked as one of the most powerful women in the world by Forbes, won the award in 2011.

Zoe Saldaña picked up a nomination in the Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for her voice work on Guillermo del Toro’s animated film The Book of Life. The 35-year-old half-Dominican/half-Puerto Rican American actress voices the character of Maria in the CGI romantic comedy, which is set during the Mexican holiday of the Day of the Dead.

Other Latinos nominated for a 2015 NAACP Image Award include Scandal’s Guillermo Diaz, Dora and Friends: Into the City’s Fatima Ptacek, Soledad O’Brien and Rosie Perez.

The 46th annual NAACP Image Awards will be handed out on February 6 in a ceremony telecast live by TV One.

Here’s the full list of categories with Latino nominees:

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance
Jamie Foxx – “Rio 2″ (20th Century Fox)
Loretta Devine – “Doc McStuffins” (Disney Junior)
Morgan Freeman – “The Lego Movie” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Village Roadshow Pictures/Ratpac-Dune Entertainment/Lego System A/S/Vertigo Entertainment/Lin Pictures)
Tracy Morgan – “The Boxtrolls” (Focus Features)
Zoe Saldana – “The Book of Life” (20th Century Fox)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Adrienne C. Moore – “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)
Laverne Cox – “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)
Lorraine Toussaint – “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)
Sofia Vergara – “Modern Family” (ABC)
Yara Shahidi – “black-ish” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Alfred Enoch – “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)
Courtney B. Vance – “Masters of Sex” (Showtime)
Guillermo Diaz – “Scandal” (ABC)
Jeffrey Wright – “Boardwalk Empire” (HBO)
Joe Morton – “Scandal” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth in a Youth/Children’s Program (Series or Special)
Amber Montana – “Haunted Hathaways” (Nickelodeon)
China Anne McClain – “How to Build a Better Boy” (Disney Channel)
Curtis Harris – “Haunted Hathaways” (Nickelodeon)
Fatima Ptacek – “Dora and Friends: Into The City!” (Nickelodeon)
Taliyah Whitaker – “Wallykazam!” (Nickelodeon)

Outstanding Documentary (Television)
“American Experience: Freedom Summer” (PBS)
“Bad Boys” (ESPN)
“Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown” (HBO)
“Rand University” (ESPN)
 “The War Comes Home: Soledad O’Brien Reports” (CNN)

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Brigette Munoz-Liebowitz – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” – Road Trip (FOX)
Aisha Muharrar – “Parks and Recreation” – Ann & Chris (NBC)
Regina Hicks – “Instant Mom” – A Kids’s Choice (Nickelodeon and Nick@Nite)
Sara Hess – “Orange is the New Black” – It Was the Change (Netflix)
Mindy Kaling – “The Mindy Project” – Danny and Mindy (FOX)

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Ken Whittingham – “Parks and Recreation” – Prom (NBC)
Ken Whittingham – “The Mindy Project” – Think Like a Peter (FOX)
Reginald Hudlin – “Bad Judge” – Knife to a Gunfight (NBC)
Linda Mendoza – “Bad Judge” – One Brave Waitress (NBC)
Stan Lathan – “Real Husbands of Hollywood” – No New Friends (BET)

Outstanding New Artist
Aloe Blacc (XIX Recordings/Interscope Records)
Erica Campbell (My Block Inc./eOne Music)
Jhene Aiko (Def Jam Recordings)
Liv Warfield (Kobalt Label Services)
3 Winans Brothers (BMG)

Outstanding Song
“We Are Here” – Alicia Keys (RCA Records)
“The Man” – Aloe Blacc (Interscope Records)
“Pretty Hurts” – Beyoncé (Columbia Records)
“i” – Kendrick Lamar (TDE/Interscope)
“Good Kisser” – Usher (RCA Records)

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Auto Biography
 “Breaking Ground: My Life in Medicine” – Louis Sullivan with David Chanoff (University of Georgia Press)
“Handbook for an Unpredictable Life: How I Survived Sister Renata and My Crazy Mother, and Still Came Out Smiling (with Great Hair)” – Rosie Perez (Crown Archetype)
“Life In Motion” – Misty Copeland (Touchstone)
“Mayor for Life” – Marion Barry, Omar Tyree (Strebor Books)
“Stand Up Straight and Sing!” – Jessye Norman (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Outstanding Literary Work – Children
“Beautiful Moon” – Tonya Bolden (Author), Eric Velasquez (Illustrator) (Abrams/Abrams Books for Young Readers)
“Little Melba and Her Big Trombone” – Katheryn Russell-Brown (Author), Frank Morrison (Illustrator) (Lee & Low Books)
“Malcolm Little” – Ilyasah Shabazz (Author), AG Ford (Illustrator) (Simon & Schuster)
“Searching for Sarah Rector” – Tonya Bolden (Abrams/Abrams Books for Young Readers)
“Dork Diaries 8: Tales From A Note-So-Happily Ever After” – Rachel Renee Russell with Nikki Russell and Erin Russell (Simon & Schuster)

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

Blacc to Serve as a Presenter at This Year’s American Music Awards

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Aloe Blacc is set to make a statement at this year’s American Music Awards.

The 35-year-old Panamanian American singer has been added to the list of presenters set to take the stage at the upcoming AMAs.

Blacc joins Orange Is the New Black stars Taylor Schilling and Uzo Aduba, along with reality siblings Kendall and Kylie Jenner, as the latest additions.

Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Foxx, Julianne Hough, Jessie J, Heidi Klum, Olivia Munn and Emmy Rossum also are set to present at the fan-voted awards show, which will air live on ABC starting at 8:00 pm ET on Sunday, November 23, from the Nokia Theater L.A. Live.

As previously announced, the show will feature performances by 5 Seconds of Summer, Iggy Azalea, Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Charli XCX, Fergie, Selena Gomez, Imagine Dragons, Lorde, One Direction, Sam Smith, Taylor Swift and Pitbull.

Pitbull will also serve as the event’s host. Voting is currently ongoing.

Blacc to Perform at This Year’s Soul Train Awards

Posted on October 21, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Aloe Blacc is ready to bring soul to the Soul Train Awards…

The 35-year-old Panamanian American singer-songwriter is scheduled to perform at this year’s awards show, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Blacc, a two-time nominee this year, will take the Orleans Arena stage in Las Vegas on November 7.

He joins a roster of Soul Train Award performers that includes Chris Brown, Nico & Vinz, Lisa Stansfield, Kem, Alyson Cambridge, BeBe Winans of 3WB, Jeremih and Liv Warfield.

Wendy Williams will host the event, airing November 30 at 8:00 pm ET on Centric and BET networks.

“Each year, we have the honor of hosting an incredibly special night that brings together the industry’s hottest acts, while paying homage to soul music icons,” said Paxton Baker, general manager and executive vp, Centric, in a statement. “We are thrilled to offer a platform where music superstars like Chris Brown and Trey Songz can share the stage with an industry veteran like Wendy Williams and a gospel legend like BeBe Winans.”

Blacc is nominated in the Songwriter’s Award and Video of the Year categories for his hit single “The Man.”

The 2014 Soul Train Awards is directed by Tony McCuin and produced by BET Event Productions and Sunseeker Media.

Blacc Appears in the Yahoo! Screen Web Series “Culinary Beats”

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Aloe Blacc’s career is heating up…

The 35-year-old Panamanian-American singer is taking a stab at cooking as one of the stars of Culinary Beats, a six-part web series that returned for its second season on Friday on Yahoo! Screen and Citibank’s YouTube channel.

The series is sponsored by Citi’s Thank You Preferred card and produced in partnership with Columbia Records and Backroads Entertainment.

New two-part, 12-to-14 minute episodes will premiere throughout the month of September, featuring musicians and chefs discussing their shared creative inspirations over cooking demos and intimate performances filmed on-location at some of the hottest restaurants on both coasts.

‘Culinary Beats demonstrates the perfect symbiosis between food and music,” said Elyssa Gray, Citi’s director of creative and media, North American Consumer Marketing. “The new episodes are immensely entertaining and artfully showcase the dining and entertainment elements our ThankYou Preferred cardmembers have a strong affinity for.”

For his episode, which was made available on Monday, Blacc and his lifelong friends were reunited when clandestine supper club, Stag Dining, brought their innovative dining experience to Los Angeles. Over a meal inspired by Blacc’s Panamanian roots, they catch up and talk shop before treating guests to a stellar performance.

Other parings include Alex & Sierra with chef Hung Hunyh at New York’s Catch; Walk Off The Earth and Eric Greenspan at Los Angeles’ The Roof; Ella Henderson and chef Jessica Koslow at Hollywood’s SQIRL; Foster The People and chef Josef Centeno at downtown L.A.’s Baco Mercat and Magic Man and chef Ivan Orkin at New York’s Ivan Ramen.

Last December’s first season featured St. Lucia, MKTO, Passion Pit and DJ Cassidy as well as Gavin DeGraw and The Fray.

Lovato Leads the Pack of Latino Teen Choice Award Winners with Two Surfboards

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato is the Latina teen choice…

The 21-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress and former The X Factor judge took home two awards at the 2014 Teen Choice Awards, which were held at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium on Sunday.

Lovato, who opened the TCA Awards show with an energizing performance of her hit single “I Really Don’t Care,” was named the Choice Summer Music Star: Female.

In addition, Lovato’s “I Really Don’t Care” was named the Choice Summer Song at the fan-voted awards.

Lovato, who was nominated for seven awards, now raises her career Teen Choice Award tally to 12 surfboards since 2009.

But Lovato wasn’t the only Latina to take home two awards…

Selena Gomez was named Choice Female Hottie during Sunday night’s show.

As previously announced, the 22-year-old half-Mexican actress/singer was also handed the Ultimate Choice Award, a special prize awarded by TCA organizers to the ultimate entertainers. Previous honorees include Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Ashton Kutcher, Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Mike Myers.

Meantime, Lea Michele picked up the award for Choice TV Actress: Comedy for her performance on Fox’s musical dramedy Glee. It’s the 27-year-old part-Spanish actress and singer-songwriter’s third consecutive win in the category.

Shakira picked up her first TCA Award in four years for Choice TV Reality Personality – Female for her acclaimed role as a coach on NBC’s The Voice. It’s the 37-year-old Colombian singing sensation’s second surfboard, having previously been named Choice Others: Activist in 2010.

Aloe Blacc earned the first Teen Choice Award of his career.

The 35-year-old Panamanian American singer-songwriter earned the Choice EDM Song honors for collaborating with Avicii on the hit single “Wake Me Up.”

YouTube star Bethany Mota and all-girl group Fifth Harmony also took home surfboards for Choice Web Star: Female and Choice Single Group respectively.

Here’s the complete list of 2014 Teen Choice Awards winners:

2014 Teen Choice Award Winners

MOVIES

Choice Movie: Action
“Divergent”

Choice Movie Actor: Action
Theo James, “Divergent”

Choice Movie Actress: Action
Shailene Woodley, “Divergent”

Choice Movie: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”

Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Josh Hutcherson, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”

Choice Movie Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Jennifer Lawrence, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” and “X-Men: Days of Future Past”

Choice Movie: Drama
“The Fault in Our Stars”

Choice Movie Actor: Drama
Ansel Elgort, “The Fault in Our Stars”

Choice Movie Actress: Drama
Shailene Woodley, “The Fault in Our Stars”

Choice Movie: Comedy
“The Other Woman”

Choice Movie Actor: Comedy
Kevin Hart, “Ride Along”

Choice Movie Actress: Comedy
Emma Roberts, “We’re the Millers”

Choice Movie Villain
Donald Sutherland, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”

Choice Movie Scene Stealer
Nat Wolff, “The Fault In Our Stars”

Choice Movie Breakout Star
Ansel Elgort, “Divergent” and “The Fault in Our Stars”

Choice Movie Chemistry
Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff and Shailene Woodley, “The Fault in Our Stars”

Choice Movie Liplock
Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, “The Fault In Our Stars”

Choice Movie Hissy Fit
Jonah Hill, “22 Jump Street”

Choice Summer Movie
“22 Jump Street”

Choice Summer Movie Star
Channing Tatum, “22 Jump Street”

TELEVISION

Choice TV Show: Drama
“Pretty Little Liars”

Choice TV Actor: Drama
Ian Harding, “Pretty Little Liars”

Choice TV Actress: Drama
Lucy Hale, “Pretty Little Liars”

Choice TV Show: Fantasy/Sci-Fi
“The Vampire Diaries”

Choice TV Actor: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Ian Somerhalder, “The Vampire Diaries”

Choice TV Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Nina Dobrev, “The Vampire Diaries”

Choice TV Show: Comedy
“The Big Bang Theory”

Choice TV Actor: Comedy
Ross Lynch, “Austin & Ally”

Choice TV Actress: Comedy
Lea Michele, “Glee”

Choice TV: Animated Show
“The Simpsons”

Choice TV: Reality Competition Show
“The Voice”

Choice TV: Reality Show
“Keeping Up With The Kardashians”

Choice TV Villain
Dylan O’Brien, “Teen Wolf”

Choice TV Reality Personality – Male
Adam Levine, “The Voice”

Choice TV Reality Personality – Female
Shakira, “The Voice”

Choice TV Male Scene Stealer
Tyler Hoechlin, “Teen Wolf”

Choice TV Female Scene Stealer
Candice Accola, “The Vampire Diaries”

Choice TV Female Breakout Star
Sasha Pieterse, “Pretty Little Liars”

Choice TV: Male Breakout Star
Brett Dalton, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”

Choice TV: Breakout Show
“Faking It”

Choice Summer TV Show
“Wipeout”

Choice Summer TV Star: Male
Tyler Blackburn, “Pretty Little Liars”

Choice Summer TV Star: Female
Ashley Benson, “Pretty Little Liars”

MUSIC

Choice Male Artist
Ed Sheeran

Choice Female Artist
Ariana Grande

Choice Music Group
One Direction

Choice Electronic Dance Music (EDM) Artist
Calvin Harris

Choice R&B/Hip-Hop Artist
Iggy Azalea

Choice Rock Group
Imagine Dragons

Choice Male Country Artist
Hunter Hayes

Choice Female Country Artist
Taylor Swift

Choice Country Group
Lady Antebellum

Choice Country Song
“This is How We Roll,” Florida Georgia Line featuring Luke Bryan

Choice Single Female Artist
“Problem,” Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea

Choice Single Male Artist
“Sing,” Ed Sheeran

Choice Single Group
“Bo$$” – Fifth Harmony

Choice R&B/Hip-Hop Song
“Fancy,” Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX

Choice Rock Song
“Pompeii,” Bastille

Choice EDM Song
“Wake Me Up,” Avicii feat. Aloe Blacc

Choice Love Song
“You & I,” One Direction

Choice Break-Up Song
“Story of My Life,” One Direction

Choice Music Breakout Artist
Austin Mahone

Choice Music: Breakout Group
5 Seconds of Summer

Choice Summer Song
“Really Don’t Care,” Demi Lovato featuring Cher Lloyd

Choice Summer Music Star: Female
Demi Lovato

Choice Summer Music Star: Male
Jason Derulo

Choice Summer Music Star: Group
5 Seconds of Summer

Choice Summer Tour
One Direction, “Where We Are Tour”

FASHION

Choice Female Hottie
Selena Gomez

Choice Male Hottie
One Direction

Choice Smile
Harry Styles

Olay Fresh Effects Breakout Star Award
Odeya Rush

SPORTS

Choice Male Athlete
LeBron James

Choice Female Athlete
Serena Williams

OTHER

Candie’s Choice Style Icon
Zendaya

Choice Comedian
Kevin Hart

Choice Web Star: Female
Bethany Mota

Choice Web Star: Male

Tyler Oakley

Choice Web Star: Comedy
Our2ndLife

Choice Web Star: Music
Shawn Mendes

Choice Web Star: Fashion/Beauty
Zoe Sugg (“Zoella”)

Choice Web Star: Gaming
PewDiePie

Choice Web Collaboration
Troye Sivan & Tyler Oakley – The “Boyfriend” Tag

Choice Social Media King
One Direction

Choice Social Media Queen
Katy Perry

Choice Twit
One Direction

Choice Viner
Cameron Dallas

Choice Instagrammer
Miley Cyrus

Choice Fanatic Fans
#Directioners

Fifth Harmony Receives First MTV Video Music Awards Nomination

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Cabello, Lauren Jauregui and Ally Brooke Hernandez and their fellow Fifth Harmony band mates have earned their first MTV Video Music Awards nomination…

The all-girl girl, formed by Simon Cowell during the second season of Fox’s The X Factor, earned the nod in the MTV Artist to Watch category for its “Miss Movin’ On” video.

Fifth Harmony is up againstSam Smith’s “Stay With Me,” 5 Seconds of Summer’s “She Looks So Perfect,” Charli XCX’s “Boom Clap” and Schoolboy Q’s “Man of the Year.”

Aloe Blacc has also earned his first MTV Video Music Awards nod.

The 35-year-old Panamanian-American singer is nominated alongside Avicci in the Best Pop category, againstPharrell Williams’ “Happy,” Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX’s “Fancy,” Jason Derulo ft. 2 Chainz’s “Talk Dirty“ and Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea’s “Problem.”

Meanwhile, Pitbull is nominated in the Best Collaboration category alongside Ke$ha for their Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 song “Timber.”

Starting Thursday, fans can vote in VMA categories by visiting vma.mtv.com. Nominees for best lyric video, which will be voted on through social media, will be announced at a later date. Voting for MTV Artist to Watch will be done via text messaging to 22444 with the nominee’s name.

The MTV VMAs air live from The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., on Sunday, August 24, at 9:00 pm ET, with previously announced performances fromAriana Grande, Usher and 5 Seconds of Summer. Additional performers will be announced later.

Here’s the full list of nominees:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX – “Fancy”
Beyonce ft. Jay Z – “Drunk in Love”
Pharrell Williams – “Happy”
Sia – “Chandelier”
Miley Cyrus – “Wrecking Ball”

BEST HIP HOP
Eminem – “Bezerk”
Drake ft. Majid Jordan – “Hold On (We’re Going Home)”
Childish Gambino – “3005”
Kanye West – “Black Skinhead”
Wiz Khalifa – “We Dem Boyz”

BEST MALE
Pharrell Williams – “Happy”
John Legend – “All of Me”
Ed Sheeran ft. Pharrell – “Sing”
Sam Smith – “Stay With Me”
Eminem ft. Rihanna – “Monster”

BEST FEMALE
Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX – “Fancy”
Beyonce – “Partition”
Lorde – “Royals”
Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea – “Problem”
Katy Perry ft. Juicy J – “Dark Horse”

BEST POP
Pharrell Williams – “Happy”
Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX – “Fancy”
Jason Derulo ft. 2 Chainz – “Talk Dirty”
Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea – “Problem”
Avicii ft. Aloe Blacc – “Wake Me Up”

BEST ROCK
Imagine Dragons – “Demons”
Arctic Monkeys – “Do I Wanna Know”
The Black Keys – “Fever”
Lorde – “Royals”
Linkin Park – “Until It’s Gone”

MTV ARTIST TO WATCH
Sam Smith – “Stay With Me”
5 Seconds of Summer -“She Looks So Perfect”
Charli XCX – “Boom Clap”
Schoolboy Q – “Man of the Year”
Fifth Harmony – “Miss Movin On”

BEST COLLABORATION
Beyonce ft. Jay Z – “Drunk in Love”
Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea – “Problem”
Pitbull ft. Kesha – “Timber”
Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne and Tyga – “Loyal”
Eminem ft. Rihanna – “Monster”
Katy Perry ft. Juicy J – “Dark Horse”

MTV CLUBLAND AWARD
DJ Snake & Lil Jon – “Turn Down for What”
Zedd ft. Hayley Williams – “Stay the Night”
Calvin Harris – “Summer”
Martin Garrix – “Animal”
Disclosure – “Grab Her!”

BEST VIDEO WITH A SOCIAL MESSAGE
Angel Haze ft. SIA – “Battle Cry“
Avicii – “Hey Brother”
Beyonce – “Pretty Hurts”
J. Cole ft. TLC – “Crooked Smile”
Kelly Rowland – “Dirty Laundry”
David Guetta ft. Mikky Ekko – “One Voice”

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
30 Seconds to Mars – “City of Angels”
Beyonce – “Pretty Hurts”
Arcade Fire – “Afterlife”
Gesaffelstein – “Hate or Glory”
Lana Del Rey – “West Coast”

BEST EDITING
Eminem – “Rap God”
MGMT – “Your Life Is a Lie”
Zedd ft. Hayley Williams – “Stay the Night”
Beyonce – “Pretty Hurts”
Fitz and The Tantrums – “The Walker”

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Sia – “Chandelier”
Beyonce – “Partition”
Usher – “Good Kisser”
Michael Jackson ft. Justin Timberlake – “Love Never Felt So Good”
Jason Derulo ft. 2Chainz – “Talk Dirty”
KIESZA – “Hideaway”

BEST DIRECTION
DJ Snake & Lil Jon – “Turn Down for What”
OK Go – “The Writing’s on the Wall”
Miley Cyrus – “Wrecking Ball”
Beyonce – “Pretty Hurts”
Eminem ft. Rihanna – “The Monster”

BEST ART DIRECTION
DJ Snake & Lil Jon – “Turn Down For What”
Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX – “Fancy”
Eminem – “Rap God”
Arcade Fire – “Reflektor”
Tyler, The Creator – “Tamale”

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
DJ Snake & Lil Jon – “Turn Down For What”
OK Go – “The Writing’s On the Wall”
Disclosure – “Grab Her!”
Eminem – “Rap God”
Jack White – “Lazaretto”

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Aloe Blacc