Karol G Wins Three Latin Grammy Awards, Including Album of the Year for “Mañana Será Bonito”

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is the leading (Latin Grammy) lady…

Women proved to be the big winners at the 2023 Latin Grammys in Seville, Spain, on Thursday night (Nov. 16), with the 32-year-old Colombian superstar taking home one of the night’s top prizes.

Karol G and her Colombian compatriot Shakira tied Mexico’s Natalia Lafourcade with three major awards each. The best new artist award also went to a woman, young singer/songwriter Joaquina.

Karol G took home the coveted album of the year award for her historic chart-topper Mañana Será Bonito, which became the first Spanish-language album ever by a Latina to top the Billboard 200. The set also won best urban album, and “TQG,” her collaboration with Shakira, won best urban/fusion performance.

On top of her win with Karol G for “TQG,” Shakira also won song of the year and best pop song along with Argentine DJ Bizarrap for their chart smash “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53.”

Earlier in the evening, Mexican singer/songwriter Natalia Lafourcade, who has won multiple Latin Grammys through the years, won best singer/songwriter album for De Todas Las Flores and best singer/songwriter song for the track of the same name. During the telecast, she also won record of the year for “De Todas Las Flores,” but wasn’t there to pick up her award, which was collected by her producer.

Venezuelan singer/songwriter Joaquina, who performs highly personal songs and has been opening shows for the likes of Juanes and Fonseca, broke down in tears as she collected her best new arist award. “I’ve been writing since I was 8 years old. … They told me I wouldn’t make it if I recorded my own songs, but here I am.”

Hitmaker Edgar Barrera, the lead nominee for the 2023 Latin Grammy Awards, also won three awards, for producer of the year, songwriter of the year and best regional song for “un X100to,” the Bad Bunny and Grupo Frontera hit.

Here’s the full list of winners of the 24th annual Latin Grammy Awards:

General Field

Record of the year: “De Todas Las Flores,” Natalia Lafourcade
Album of the year: Mañana Será Bonito, Karol G
Song of the year: “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” Santiago Alvarado, Bizarrap, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz & Shakira, songwriters (Bizarrap Featuring Shakira)
Best new artist: Joaquina

Field 1: Pop

Best pop vocal album: Tu Historia, Julieta Venegas
Best traditional pop vocal album: Décimo Cuarto, Andrés Cepeda
Best pop song: “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” Santiago Alvarado, Bizarrap, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz Moreno & Shakira, songwriters (Bizarrap Featuring Shakira)

Field 2: Urban

Best urban/fusion performance: “TQG,” Karol G Featuring Shakira
Best reggaeton performance: “La Receta,” Tego Calderón
Best urban music album: Mañana Será Bonito, Karol G
Best rap/hip hop song: “Coco Chanel,” Bad Bunny & Eladio Carrión, songwriters (Eladio Carrión Featuring Bad Bunny)
Best urban song: “Quevedo: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52,” Santiago Alvarado, Bizarrap & Quevedo, songwriters (Bizarrap Featuring Quevedo)

Field 3: Rock

Best rock album: Sólo D’ Lira, Molotov
Best rock song: “Leche De Tigre,” Juan Galeano, songwriter (Diamante Eléctrico Featuring Adrián Quesada)
Best pop/rock album: Vida Cotidiana, Juanes
Best pop/rock song: “Ojos Marrones,” Luis Jiménez, Lasso & Agustín Zubillaga, songwriters (Lasso)

Field 4: Alternative

Best alternative music album: Bolero Apocalíptico, Monsieur Periné
Best alternative song: “El Lado Oscuro Del Corazón,” Dante Spinetta, songwriter (Dante Spinetta)

Field 5: Tropical

Best salsa album: Niche Sinfónico, Grupo Niche y Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia
Best cumbia/vallenato album: Escalona Nunca Se Había Grabado Así, Carlos Vives
Best merengue/bachata album (Tie): Fórmula, Vol. 3, Romeo Santos & A Mi Manera, Sergio Vargas
Best traditional tropical album: Vida, Omara Portuondo
Best contemporary tropical album: 5:10 am, Luis Fernando Borjas
Best tropical song: “Si Tú Me Quieres,” Fonseca, Yadam González & Yoel Henríquez, songwriters (Fonseca & Juan Luis Guerra)

Field 6: Singer-Songwriter

Best singer-songwriter album: De Todas Las Flores, Natalia Lafourcade
Best singer-songwriter song: “De Todas Las Flores,” Natalia Lafourcade, songwriter (Natalia Lafourcade)

Field 7: Regional-Mexican

Best ranchero/mariachi album: Forajido EP2, Christian Nodal
Best banda album: De Hoy En Adelante, Que Te Vaya Bien, Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda
Best Tejano album: Para Empezar A Amar, Juan Treviño
Best Norteño album: Colmillo De Leche, Carin León
Best regional song: “un X100to,” Bad Bunny, Edgar Barrera, Andrés Jael Correa Rios & Mag, songwriters (Grupo Frontera Featuring Bad Bunny)

Field 8: Instrumental

Best instrumental album: Made In Miami, Camilo Valencia & Richard Bravo

Field 9: Traditional

Best folk album: Camino Al Sol, Vicente García
Best tango album: Operation Tango, Quinteto Astor Piazzolla
Best flamenco album: Camino, Niña Pastori

Field 10: Jazz

Best Latin jazz/jazz Album: I Missed You Too!, Chucho Valdés & Paquito D’Rivera (with Reunion Sextet)

Field 11: Christian

Best Christian album (Spanish language): Lo Que Vemos, Marcos Vidal
Best Portuguese language Christian album: Nós, Eli Soares

Field 12: Portugese language

Best Portuguese language contemporary pop album: Em Nome da Estrela, Xênia França
Best Portuguese language rock or alternative album: Jardineiros, Planet Hemp
Best Portuguese language urban performance: “Distopia,” Planet Hemp Featuring Criolo
Best Samba/Pagode album: Negra Ópera, Martinho Da Vila
Best MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) album: Serotonina, João Donato
Best Sertaneja music album: Decretos Reais, Marília Mendonça
Best Portuguese language roots album: TecnoShow, Gaby
Best Portuguese language song: “Tudo O Que A Fé Pode Tocar,” Tiago Iorc & Duda Rodrigues, songwriters (Tiago Iorc)

Field 13: Children’s

Best Latin children’s album: Vamos Al Zoo, Danilo & Chapis

Field 14: Classical

Best classical album: Huáscar Barradas Four Elements Immersive Symphony For Orchestra And Chorus, Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra; Ollantay Velasquez, conductor; Huascar Barradas, Maria Cardemas, Eugenio Carreño & Eduardo Martinez Planas, album producers
Best classical contemporary composition: “Concerto Venezolano,” Paquito D’Rivera, composer (Pacho Flores Featuring Paquito D’Rivera)

Field 15: Arranging

Best arrangement: “Songo Bop,” Rafael Valencia, arranger (Camilo Valencia, Richard Bravo Featuring Milton Salcedo)

Field 16: Recording Package

Best recording package: Atipanakuy (Deluxe), Gustavo Ramirez, art director (Kayfex)

Field 17: Songwriter

Songwriter of the year: Edgar Barrera

Field 18: Production

Best engineered album: Canto A La Imaginación, Érico Moreira, engineer; Érico Moreira, mixer; Felipe Tichauer, mastering engineer (Marina Tuset)
Producer of the year: Edgar Barrera

Field 19: Music Video

Best short form music video: “Estás Buenísimo”, Nathy Peluso; Félix Bollaín & Rogelio González, video directors; María Rubio, video producer
Best long form music video: Camilo: El Primer Tour De Mi Vida, Camilo; Camilo & Camilo Ríos, video directors; Mauricio Ríos, video producer

Maluma to Perform at This Year’s Latin Grammy Awards Show

Posted on November 9, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Maluma will be feelin’ the FIBES…

The 29-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter will perform at this year’s Latin Grammy Awards.

The “Felices Los 4” singer joins a roster of recently added performers that includes Milo J, Rosalia, Shakira, Sebastian Yatra, Andrea Bocelli and DJ Premier.

They’ll perform at the upcoming ceremony, which will broadcast from FIBES in Seville, Spain, on Thursday, November 16.

The newly announced artists join previously unveiled performers, including Maria Becerra, Bizarrap, Feid, Kany García, Carin León, Christian Nodal, Rauw Alejandro, Alejandro Sanz, Pablo Alborán, Edgar Barrera, Camilo, Manuel Carrasco, Iza, Juanes, Ozuna, Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma.

Additionally, Majo Aguilar, Anitta, Pedro Capó, Jorge Drexler, Luis Figueroa, Fonseca, Tiago Iorc, Mon Laferte, Natalia Lafourcade, John Leguizamo, Nicki Nicole, Carlos Ponce, Carlos Vives and Yandel join as presenters throughout the ceremony.

For the first time held outside the United States, the annual Latin Grammys will be broadcast from the Conference and Exhibition Centre in Seville, Spain. It will air November 16 on Univision starting at 8:00 pm ET, UniMás and Galavisión in the U.S., and at 10:30 pm CET on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) in Spain.

Danna Paola, Yatra, Roselyn Sánchez and Paz Vega will serve as co-hosts.

This year, Mexican hitmaker Edgar Barrera leads the list of nominees with 13 nods, including songwriter of the year, producer of the year and song of the year. Barrera is followed by Colombian stars Camilo, Karol G, Shakira and composer Kevyn Mauricio Cruz (also known as Keityn), each with seven nominations.

Cazzu Earns First No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay Chart with Santa Fe Klan & Los Ángeles Azules Single “Tú y Tú”

Posted on May 17, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a career first for Cazzu…

The 29-year-old Argentine rapper and singer and Santa Fe Klan have each scored their first No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart as “Tú y Tú,” with Los Ángeles Azules, rises 3-1 to lead the May 20-dated survey.

The new leader yields both Cazzu and Santa Fe Klan’s first champ in their maiden chart appearance.

“Tú y Tú,” released via SeiTrack/Disa/UMLE on March 10, takes over Regional Mexican Airplay in its eighth week after a 28% boost in audience impressions, to 8.5 million, earned in the U.S. during the May 5-11 tracking week, according to Luminate.

As “Tú y Tú” rises to the top of the ranking, Cazzu and Santa Fe Klan become the first artists to claim a No. 1 in their maiden chart performance among the nine tracks that have crowned Regional Mexican Airplay in 2023.

The last artist to pick up a first No. 1 in a first attempt was Mario Bautista, as “Brindo” with Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga led for one week on June 11, 2022.

Previously, Eden Muñoz completed the deed with “Chale!” (May 21, 2022).

“Tú y Tú” ascends 3-1 and sends Grupo Marca Registrada and Grupo Frontera’s “Di Que Sí” to No. 6 after its three-week domination, with a 39% dip in audience (to 5.2 million).

“Tú” also brings Los Ángeles Azules back to No. 1. The cumbia sonidera ensemble last ranked first through the three-week ruler “Nunca Es Suficiente,” with Natalia Lafourcade, in early 2019. In between, the group collected five top 10s, including the No. 2-peaking “Amor a Primera Vista,” with Belinda and Lao Ebratt, featuring Horacio Palencia, in August 2019.

Elsewhere, “Tú” continues its progress on the all-genre Latin Airplay chart, reaching its No. 5 high.

Gloria Trevi Among Headlining Acts for This Year’s Bésame Mucho Festival

Posted on February 21, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Gloria Trevi will be performing at Dodger Stadium in December…

Following the inaugural edition of Bésame Mucho in Los Angeles last December, the music festival announced on Tuesday (Feb. 21) the lineup for its second edition, which includes the 55-year-old Mexican singer/songwriter.

Trevi, known as The Supreme Diva of Mexican Pop, will be one of the headlining acts.

Other headliners include Maná and Los Bukis.

Bésame will return to Dodger Stadium as a one-day event on December 2. Like last year, it will consist of stages representing different genres. Rock, classics and pop will get their own stage again.

The “Rockero Stage” will feature sets by artists such as Natalia Lafourcade, La Ley, Ska-P, Aterciopelados and Maldita Vecindad.

The “Las Clásicas Stage” roster includes Alejandro Fernández, Pepe Aguilar, Los Tucanes de Tijuana and Conjunto Primavera.

Meanwhile, the “Te Gusta El Pop?” stage’s lineup includes Reik, Camila, Belinda, Emmanuel and Jesse & Joy.

Returning artists from last year include Café Tacvba, Hombres G, Enanitos Verdes, Ramon Ayala and Banda El Recodo.

Last year, the inaugural Bésame Mucho festival edition sold out in 12 minutes, according to sources, when the 2000s-inspired lineup was announced. At the actual event, thousands of fans had to sprint across the stadium’s parking lot to catch whichever act was on their must-see list. The literal back-to-back sets were 35-50 minutes in length, which fans weren’t too crazy about, especially with technical difficulties that impacted the sound leaving artists to deal with the situation onstage and, ultimately, left them with a shorter set. This year’s lineup isn’t as packed as last year, which could lead to more efficient set transitions and overall production quality.

Tickets for Bésame Mucho 2023 will go on sale Friday, February 24 at 10:00 am PT.

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Bad Bunny Wins Second Consecutive ‘Best Música Urbana Album’ Grammy

Posted on February 6, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

More Grammys glory for Bad Bunny…

Even though the 28-year-old Puerto Rican actor didn’t take home the Grammy for Album of the Year for his acclaimed album Un Verano Sin Ti, which made history as the first Spanish-language album to earn a Grammy nomination in the top category, Bad Bunny didn’t leave empty-handed.

For the third year in a row, El Conjejo Malo took home a Grammy. He won the gramophone for Best Música Urbana Album for Un Verano Sin Ti.

It’s his second straight win in the category, which was launched at last year’s awards show. In 2022, Bad Bunny won for El Último Tour Del Mundo.

In 2021, Bad Bunny claimed the Grammy for Best Latin Pop or Urban Album for YHLQMDLG.

Rosalia has claimed her second Grammy.

The 30-year-old Spanish singer/songwriter picked up the award for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album for her acclaimed album MOTOMAMI.

Arturo O’ Farrill has picked up his sixth Grammy…

The 62-year-old Mexican jazz musician won Best Latin Jazz Album for Fandango At The Wall In New York as part of the Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra featuring The Congra Patria Son Jarocho Collective.

Marc Anthony won the Best Tropical Latin Album Grammy for Pa’lla Voy, while Natalia Lafourcade took home the Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano) award for Un Canto por México – El Musical and Ruben Blades alongside Boca Livre won the Best Latin Pop Album prize for Pasieros.

Meanwhile, Encanto claimed three Grammys.

The Disney animated film won for Best Compilation Soundtrack and Best Score Soundtrack (giving composer Germaine Franco her first career Grammy), while Best Song Written For Visual Media went to “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” which was penned by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The chart-topping ensemble song beat out works from Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Angélique Kidjo, and Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell.

Here are the winners at the 65th annual Grammy Awards:

Album of the Year

Harry’s House
Harry Styles

Best New Artist

Samara Joy

Record of the Year

About Damn Time
Lizzo

Song of the Year

Just Like That
Bonnie Raitt

Best Pop Solo Performance

Easy On Me
Adele

Best Dance/Electronic Music Album

Renaissance
Beyoncé

Best Rap Album

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Kendrick Lamar

Best Música Urbana Album

Un Verano Sin Ti
Bad Bunny

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Unholy
Sam Smith & Kim Petras

Best Country Song

‘Til You Can’t
Cody Johnson

Best Country Album

A Beautiful Time
Willie Nelson

Best R&B Song

Cuff It
Beyoncé

Best Pop Vocal Album

Harry’s House
Harry Styles

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Higher
Michael Bublé

Best Dance/Electronic Recording

Break My Soul
Beyoncé

Best Rock Performance

Broken Horses
Brandi Carlile

Best Metal Performance

Degradation Rules
Ozzy Osbourne Featuring Tony Iommi

Best Rock Song

Broken Horses
Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile)

Best Rock Album

Patient Number 9
Ozzy Osbourne

Best Alternative Music Performance

Chaise Longue – Chaise Longue
Wet Leg

Best Alternative Music Album

Wet Leg
Wet Leg

Best R&B Performance

Hrs & Hrs
Muni Long

Best Traditional R&B Performance

Plastic Off the Sofa
Beyoncé

Best Progressive R&B Album

Gemini Rights
Steve Lacy

Best R&B Album

Black Radio III
Robert Glasper

Best Rap Performance

The Heart Part 5
Kendrick Lamar

Best Melodic Rap Performance

WAIT FOR U
Future Featuring Drake & Tems

Best Rap Song

The Heart Part 5
Kendrick Lamar

Best Country Solo Performance

Live Forever
Willie Nelson

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

Never Wanted To Be That Girl
Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde

Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album

Mystic Mirror
White Sun

Best Improvised Jazz Solo

Endangered Species
Wayne Shorter & Leo Genovese, soloist

Best Jazz Vocal Album

Linger Awhile
Samara Joy

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

New Standards Vol. 1
Terri Lyne Carrington, Kris Davis, Linda May Han Oh, Nicholas Payton & Matthew Stevens

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra
Steven Feifke, Bijon Watson, Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra

Best Latin Jazz Album

Fandango At The Wall In New York
Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra Featuring The Congra Patria Son Jarocho Collective

Best Gospel Performance/Song

Kingdom
Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

Fear Is Not My Future
Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

Breathe
Maverick City Music

Best Gospel Album

One Deluxe
Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin

Best Roots Gospel Album

The Urban Hymnal
Tennessee State University Marching Band

Best Latin Pop Album

Pasieros
Rubén Blades & Boca Livre

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album

MOTOMAMI
Rosalía

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)

Un Canto por México – El Musical
Natalia Lafourcade

Best Tropical Latin Album

Pa’lla Voy
Marc Anthony

Best Americana Performance

Made Up Mind
Bonnie Raitt

Best American Roots Performance

Stompin’ Ground
Aaron Neville With The Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Best American Roots Song

Just Like That
Bonnie Raitt

Best Americana Album

In These Silent Days
Brandi Carlile

Best Bluegrass Album

Crooked Tree
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway

Best Traditional Blues Album

Get On Board
Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder

Best Contemporary Blues Album

Brother Johnny
Edgar Winter

Best Folk Album

Revealer
Madison Cunningham

Best Regional Roots Music Album

Live At The 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Ranky Tanky

Best Reggae Album

The Kalling
Kabaka Pyramid

Best Global Music Performance

Bayethe
Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini & Nomcebo Zikode

Best Global Music Album

Sakura
Masa Takumi

Best Children’s Music Album

The Movement
Alphabet Rockers

Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording

Finding Me
Viola Davis

Best Spoken Word Poetry Album

The Poet Who Sat By The Door
J. Ivy

Best Comedy Album

The Closer
Dave Chappelle

Best Musical Theater Album

Into The Woods (2022 Broadway Cast Recording)

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media

Encanto
(Various Artists)

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media (Includes Film And Television)

Encanto

Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn Of Ragnarok

Best Song Written For Visual Media

We Don’t Talk About Bruno [From Encanto]

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

Empire Central
Snarky Puppy

Best Instrumental Composition

Refuge
Geoffrey Keezer, composer (Geoffrey Keezer)

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

Scrapple From The Apple
John Beasley, arranger (Magnus Lindgren, John Beasley & The SWR Big Band Featuring Martin Aeur)

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

Songbird (Orchestral Version)
Vince Mendoza, arranger (Christine McVie)

Best Recording Package

Beginningless Beginning
Chun-Tien Hsia & Qing-Yang Xiao, art directors (Tamsui-Kavalan Chinese Orchestra)

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package

In And Out Of The Garden: Madison Square Garden ’81 ’82 ’83
Lisa Glines, Doran Tyson & Dave Van Patten, art directors (The Grateful Dead)

Best Album Notes

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition)
Bob Mehr, album notes writer (Wilco)

Best Historical Album

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition)
Cheryl Pawelski & Jeff Tweedy, compilation producers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Wilco)

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical

Tobias Jesso Jr.

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

Harry’s House
Jeremy Hatcher, Oli Jacobs, Nick Lobel, Mark “Spike” Stent & Sammy Witte, engineers; Randy Merrill, mastering engineer (Harry Styles)

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical

Jack Antonoff

Best Remixed Recording

About Damn Time (Purple Disco Machine Remix)
Purple Disco Machine, remixer (Lizzo)

Best Immersive Audio Album

Divine Tides
Eric Schilling, immersive mix engineer; Stewart Copeland, Ricky Kej & Herbert Waltl, immersive producers (Stewart Copeland & Ricky Kej)

Best Engineered Album, Classical

Bates: Philharmonia Fantastique – The Making Of The Orchestra
Shawn Murphy, Charlie Post & Gary Rydstrom, engineers; Michael Romanowski, mastering engineer (Edwin Outwater & Chicago Symphony Orchestra)

Producer Of The Year, Classical

Judith Sherman

Best Orchestral Performance

Works By Florence Price, Jessie Montgomery, Valerie Coleman
Michael Repper, conductor (New York Youth Symphony)

Best Opera Recording

Blanchard: Fire Shut Up In My Bones
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor; Angel Blue, Will Liverman, Latonia Moore & Walter Russell III; David Frost, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)

Best Choral Performance

Born
Donald Nally, conductor (Dominic German, Maren Montalbano, Rebecca Myers & James Reese; The Crossing)

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

Shaw: Evergreen
Attacca Quartet

Best Classical Instrumental Solo

Letters For The Future
Time For Three; Xian Zhang, conductor (The Philadelphia Orchestra)

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album

Voice Of Nature – The Anthropocene
Renée Fleming, soloist; Yannick Nézet-Séguin, pianist

Best Classical Compendium

An Adoption Story
Starr Parodi & Kitt Wakeley; Jeff Fair, Starr Parodi & Kitt Wakeley, producers

Best Contemporary Classical Composition

Puts: Contact
Kevin Puts, composer (Xian Zhang, Time for Three & The Philadelphia Orchestra)

Best Music Video

All Too Well: The Short Film
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift, video director; Saul Germaine, video producer

Best Music Film

Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story
(Various Artists)
Frank Marshall & Ryan Suffern, video directors; Frank Marshall, Sean Stuart & Ryan Suffern, video producers

Best Song for Social Change

Baraye
Shervin Hajipour

Camilo Earns First No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay Chart with Grupo Firme Collab “Alaska”

Posted on November 11, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

It’s another first for Camilo…

The 28-year-old Colombian Latin Grammy-winning singer has landed his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart as “Alaska,” his single with Grupo Firme, rises from the No. 4 slot to rule the November 12-dated list.

“Alaska” received its official release through Hecho A Mano/Sony Music Latin on August 18. It’s the sixth single from Camilo’s third studio album, De Adentro Pa’ Fuera, which reached a No. 6 high on Latin Pop Albums (September 24).

“Alaska” reaches the No. 1 slot, after a second week in the top 10 (No. 4 high, November 5-dated ranking) and in its eighth week on the chart boosted by a 25% increase in audience impressions, to 7.1 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending Nov. 6, according to Luminate.

The regional Mexican tune, which was co-written and co-produced by Camilo alongside Edgar Barrera, dispatches Duelo’s “24 Siete” after it’s one-week command.

With seven No. 1s on its career history, Grupo Firme ties with Christian Nodal and Banda MS for the third-most champs this decade, trailing Calibre 50’s eight leaders. Since the chart launched in 1994, Calibre 50 continues at the helm with 22 No. 1’s.

“Alaska” becomes the first team-up by a regional Mexican group with a core Latin pop act to lead Regional Mexican Airplay since Natalia Lafourcade ruled for three weeks through her featured role in Los Angeles Azules’ “Nunca Es Suficiente” in 2019.

Meanwhile, “Alaska” earns Grupo Firme its fourth No. 1 in 2022, including “Cada Quien,” with Maluma, which topped the chart for two weeks in February

“Alaska” advances 11-7 on the overall Latin Airplay ranking, earning Camilo his 11th top 10 while Grupo Firme adds a sixth top 10 to its scoreboard.

Natalia Lafourcade Releases New Studio Album “De Todas las Flores”

Posted on October 28, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Natalia Lafourcade’s latest music is in full bloom…

The 38-year-old Mexican Grammy-winning pop-rock and folk singer/ songwriter has released the new album De Todas las Flores, coming after seven years of unreleased original music.

For this new album, Lafourcade turns her attention to careful orchestration and grand symphonic arrangements.

Produced by Adanowsky and recorded on analog tape, her pandemic-era 10th studio album sees Lafourcade in lockdown from her beloved Veracruz. But, she draws from a world inspired by her native landscapes, beaches and hummingbirds.

“Llévame Viento” impressively recreates the whooshing and blowing of a furious ocean sea, while songs like “Canta la Arena” echo the carefree, feel-good lifestyle of life by the coast.

Los Angeles Azules Announce “De Iztapalapa Para El Mundo” Tour Across the U.S.

Posted on April 18, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Los Angeles Azules are preparing to hit the U.S. in a big way…

The six-sibling Mexican cumbia troupe, which found unlikely international success after 40 years together, is launching its biggest U.S. tour to date.

The De Iztapalapa Para El Mundo tour, so named after their Mexican hometown, will feature 34 dates across 33 cities, beginning in Denver, Colorado on August 26, and ending in New Orleans on April 1, 2023.

Tickets for De Iztapalapa Para El Mundo go on sale beginning on Friday, April 22 at 10:00 am local time through www.losangelesazules.com.mx.

The tour is presented by Live Nation Entertainment.

While music from Mexico is increasingly gaining mainstream fans, both Latin and non-Latin, the continued popularity of Los Angeles Azules is one of the most remarkable success stories in Latin music in recent years.

Officially founded in 1980 by the Mejia Avante siblings, the group early on opted to sing its own version of Colombian cumbia, giving it a Mexican twist. Popular at home, Los Angeles Azules were thrust into the international spotlight in 1997, when their heartfelt cumbia “Como Te Voy a Olvidar,” landed the group for the first time ever on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs and Latin Airplay charts, peaking at No. 7 on the February 22, 1997-dated charts.

Three years later, “El Liston de tu Pelo” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart. It would take 19 years for Los Angeles to go to No. 1 again, this time with on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart with “Nunca Es Suficiente,” featuring Natalia Lafourcade.

It was one of many collaborations with artists of other genres that have increasingly raised the group’s profile. In 2018, Los Angeles played Coachella, and last month, the group sold out five nights in Buenos Aires’ legendary Luna Park theater, making them perhaps the first-ever Mexican cumbia group to achieve that level of success in Argentina.

In the U.S., the De Iztapalapa para el Mundo tour marks the culmination of almost a decade of steady touring. In 2013, Los Angeles were averaging a gross of $82,700 per tour stop, selling an average of 4,000 tickets at an average price of $20. Last year, their average gross was $270,000 with an average of over 7,000 tickets sold per stop.

All told, the group sold out 25 U.S. dates in their last tour, including shows in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Chicago and two in Los Angeles.

This time around, their trek is even more ambitious, with first-time stops in cities like New Orleans and Miami, where Mexican cumbia is not popular.

Here are the tour dates:

Los Angeles Azules’ 2022 De Iztapalapa Para El Mundo:
Aug. 26 – Denver, CO – Bellco Theatre
Aug. 27– Salt Lake City, UT – Maverik Center
Sept. 9 – Anaheim, CA – The Theatre Honda Center
Sept. 10 – San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena
Sept. 11 – Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center
Sept. 16 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center
Sept. 17 – Las Vegas, NV – Michelob ULTRA Arena
Sept. 23 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater
Sept. 24 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater
Sept. 30– Rancho Mirage, CA – Agua Caliente Casino
Oct. 1 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Federal Theatre
Oct. 7 – Laredo, TX – Sames Auto Arena
Oct. 8 – Edinburg, TX – Bert Ogden Arena
Oct. 9 – Houston, TX – Smart Financial Center
Oct. 13 – Austin, TX – HEB Center at Cedar Park
Oct. 14– San Antonio, TX– Freeman Coliseum
Oct. 15 – Dallas, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Oct. 21 – El Paso, TX – UTEP Don Haskins Center
Oct. 22 – Albuquerque, NM – Kiva Auditorium
Oct. 23 – Dodge City, KS – United Wireless Arena
Nov. 18 – Atlanta, GA – Gas South Arena
Nov. 19 – Miami, FL – FPL Solar Amphitheater
Nov. 23 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro, Coliseum
Nov. 25– Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre
Nov. 26 – New York, NY – Hulu Theater
Nov. 27 – Fairfax, VA– EagleBank Arena

2023
March 12 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort & Casino
March 17 – Kennewick, WA – Toyota Center
March 18 – Seattle, WA – WAMU Theater
March 19 – Portland, OR – Veterans Memorial Coliseum
March 24 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre
March 25– Chicago, IL – Allstate Arena
March 31 – Orlando, FL – Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts
April 1 – New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theater

Natalia Lafourcade Receives International Folk Music Awards Nomination for Album of the Year

Posted on April 9, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Natalia Lafourcade latest homage to Mexico is earning a special honor…

The 38-year-old Mexican pop-rock and folk singer/songwriter, a two-time Grammy winner and 13-time Latin Grammy winner, is among the honorees at this year’s International Folk Music Awards.

Lafourcade is nominated for Album of the Year for her latest project, Un Canto por México, Vol. 2, which earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano).

Lafourcade’s first installment, Un Canto por México, Vol. 1, won the Grammy for Best Regional Mexican Music Album (including Tejano) and Latin Grammy for Album of the Year in 2021.

The recipients of the Elaine Weissman Lifetime Achievement Awards, which are presented each year to honor the cultural impact of legendary folk music figures (in the categories of living, legacy, and business/academic) were also announced.

Accordionist Flaco Jiménez is honored in the living category.

The 83-year-old Mexican American accordionist, known for playing Norteño, Tex Mex, and Tejano music, has been a solo performer and session musician as well as a member of the Texas Tornados and Los Super Seven.

Throughout the course of his seven decade career, he has received numerous awards and honors, including Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Grammys, Americana Music Awards, Tejano Music Awards, and Billboard magazine.

He is featured in the film This Ain’t No Mouse Music, and Hohner has even released a Flaco Jiménez Signature series line of accordions. He has worked with Bob Dylan, Ry Cooder, The Rolling Stones, and recorded on the number one Billboard Country song “Streets of Bakersfield” by Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens.

Meanwhile, Eugene Rodriguez will receive the Spirit of Folk award.

The acclaimed Mexican-American musician, educator and documentary producer founded Los Cenzontles, both as a band and as a non-profit music academy and community space for Latinx artists, youth, and families in the San Francisco Bay area.

He has produced over 30 recordings of Mexican roots music and cross-cultural projects and was nominated for a Grammy for the bilingual recording “Papa’s Dream”. He has produced three documentaries for the Cultures of Mexico in California series and conceived of the film project Linda and The Mockingbirds. He serves as a board member of the Arhoolie Foundation and has received numerous awards for his cultural and community service.

Amado Espinoza will also receive the Spirit of Folk award.

The Bolivian multi-instrumentalist, composer and instrument maker has called Kansas City home since 2014. Amado specializes in the Charango and Andean flutes, performs with multiple ensembles, and is the co-founder of Resonation Music and Arts, using educational programming to inspire curiosity and respect for world cultures through music, dance, and storytelling.

He’s a Charlotte Street Foundation Performing Arts Fellow, Lighton International Artist Exchange recipient, TedxKC presenter, and Adjunct Professor in the Graduate Student Theatre Department at UMKC.

The awards, produced by the Folk Alliance International, will be held during the opening evening of the Folk Alliance International’s annual conference on May 18 in Kansas City, Mo., and will also broadcast online.

Here’s the list of nominations:

Album of the Year:
They’re Calling Me Home (with Francesco Turrisi) by Rhiannon Giddens
Wary + Strange by Amythyst Kiah
Un Canto por México, Vol. 2 by Natalia Lafourcade
Outside Child by Allison Russell
The Fray by John Smith

Song of the Year:
“On Solid Ground” by Reggie Harris
“Painted Blue” by Sarah Jarosz
“We Believe You” by Diana Jones
“Call Me A Fool” by Valerie June
“Changemakers” by Crys Matthews

Artist of the Year:
The Longest Johns
Kalani Pe’a
Allison Russell
Arooj Aftab
John Francis Flynn

Silk Sonic’s Bruno Mars Earns Four Grammy Nominations

Posted on November 23, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Mars is still a Grammy Darling…

The 36-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer/songwriter, an 11-time Grammy winner, has picked up four Grammy nominations, the most of any Latino artist.

Mars is nominated alongside rapper/singer Anderson .Paak for their work as Silk Sonic on the group’s chart-topping single “Leave the Door Open.”

Mars’ Silk Sonic single is nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song.

Mars and .Paak’s four nods come on the strength of that single single, since both of the artists had their new albums come out after this year’s eligibility cut-off, meaning they’ll probably be back with an equally high profile next year.

Adrian Quesada has picked up two Grammy nods.

The Mexican American artist and Grammy-nominated producer and guitarist and his Black Pumas band mate Eric Burton are up for Best Rock Album for Capitol Cuts – Live From Studio A, as well as Best Rock Performance for “Know You Better (Live From Capitol Studio A).”

Quesada has four previous nominations, including two last year for Record of the Year and Album of the Year.

Arturo O’Farrill, a five-time Grammy winner, has picked up two nominations.

The 61-year-old Mexican jazz musician is up for Best Latin Jazz Album alongside his Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra for their album Virtual Birdland. He’s also nominated in the Best Instrumental Composition for “Dreaming In Lions: Dreaming In Lions.”

Vince Mendoza has two more chances for Grammy glory…

The Mexican American composer, music arranger and conductor, a six-time Grammy winner, is up for Best Instrumental Composition alongside the Czech National Symphony Orchestra featuring Antonio Sánchez and Derrick Hodge for their “Concerto For Orchestra: Finale.” He’s also up for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals for arranging To The Edge Of Longing (Edit Version).

Selena Gomez has picked up her first-ever Grammy nomination.

The 29-year-old Mexican American singer/actress is nominated in the Best Latin Pop Album category for her acclaimed Spanish-language album Revelación.

Camilo, who recently won four Latin Grammys, is celebrating his first Grammy nod. The 27-year-old Colombian singer/songwriter is up for Best Latin Pop Album for Mis Manos.

Other first-time Grammy nominees include Puerto Rican reggaeton singer Rauw Alejandro, Colombian singer Paula Arenas, Colombian singer Karol G, Argentine singer Nathy Peluso and Spanish rapper C Tangana.

Cardi B is “Up” for one Grammy this year…

The 29-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar, who won a Grammy for Best Rap Album for her debut album Invasion of Privacy, is nominated for Best Rap Performance for her chart-topping single “Up.”

Bad Bunny could repeat as a Grammy winner…

The Puerto Rican superstar is nominated in the Best Musica Urbana Album category for his acclaimed album El Último Tour Del Mundo. He won his first-ever Grammy last year for YHLQMDLG.

Esperanza Spalding, who upset Justin Bieber for Best New Artist, is nominated in the Best Jazz Vocal Album for Songwrights Apothecary Lab.

Previous Latinx Grammy winners and nominees earning a nod this year include Pablo Alboran, Ricardo Arjona, Alex Cuba, J Balvin, Kali Uchis, Bomba Estereo, Juanes, Aida Cuevas, Vicente Fernandez, Mon Laferte, Natalia Lafourcade, Christian Nodal, Ruben Blades, Gilberto Santa Rosa and Gustavo Dudamel.

The Grammy Awards are voted on by the Recording Academy’s voting membership body of around 12,000 music makers, who represent all genres and creative disciplines, including recording artists, songwriters, producers, mixers, and engineers.

Here’s the list of Latinx nominees for the 64th annual Grammy Awards: