Lucero to Host This Year’s Latin American Music Awards

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Lucero’s this year’s Latin AMAs hostess with the mostess…

The 46-year-old Mexican singer/actress and television host will serve as the host of the first-ever Latin American Music Awards.

Known as Latin America’s sweetheart, Lucero has a long history of serving as the mistress of ceremonies for numerous awards shows.

“La Novia De America” has hosted the Latin Grammy Awards eight times and the Mexican Telethon since 1997, as well as telethon editions in Chile, Guatemala, El Salvador and U.S. She also coached contestants on the first season of La Voz México.

The Latin AMAs, taking place on October 8 from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, will begin with a one-hour red carpet pre-show special at 8:00 pm. ET, followed by the awards show at 9:00 pm. ET, to be broadcast live simultaneously on Telemundo and NBC Universo.

The night will culminate at 11:35 pm. ET, with the exclusive behind-the-scenes special Latin American Music Awards: Acceso VIP.

The night will be filled with talent. Confirmed performers for the event include Paulina Rubio, Daddy Yankee, Jesse & Joy, Reik, Farruko, Fonseca, Shaggy, Lil Jon, Yandel, Natalie La Rose, Jencarlos Canela, Luis Coronel, CD9, Gloria Trevi, Gerardo Ortiz, Il Volo and DJ Alex Sensation.

The show will also include a special musical tribute to the late queen of salsa, Celia Cruz, produced by salsa veteran Sergio George and featuring Colombian sensation Maluma, princess of salsa India, Mexican icon Yuri and singer/actress Aymée Nuviola — who portrays Cruz in the new Telemundo series Celia.

Cruz to Receive Musical Tribute at This Year’s Latin American Music Awards

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Celia Cruz may be gone, but she’ll be remembered in a big way at the inaugural Latin American Music Awards.

The late Cuban-American salsa singer/performer and seven-time Grammy winner, who passed away in 2003 at the age of 77, will receive a musical tribute produced by Sergio George at the Latin AMAs.

George, a tropical music legend, has rounded up a diverse group of performers to honor the late Queen of Salsa’s legacy during the October 8 telecast on Telemundo, airing live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Colombian sensation Maluma, princess of salsa India, Mexican icon Yuri and singer/actress Aymée Nuviola — who portrays Cruz in the new Telemundo series Celia — will sing a medley of her most beloved hits.

Presenting the tribute are Puerto Rican actors Jeimy Osorio and Modesto Lacén, who play Cruz and her husband/manager Pedro Knight during their younger years on Celia (Nuviola and renowned theater actor Willie Denton play the couple later in life).

Slated for an October 13 premiere, Celia chronicles Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso‘s evolution from a shy teen in pre-revolution Havana, Cuba, to a larger-than-life figure that brought the world to its feet with the power of her voice, inimitable style and exuberant presence. Along the way, Cruz battled racism, sexism and defied expectations of what a black female musician could achieve in the ’50s.

Other performers confirmed for the Latin AMAs include Paulina Rubio, Daddy Yankee, Jesse & Joy, Reik, Farruko, Fonseca, Shaggy, Lil Jon, Yandel, Natalie La Rose, Jencarlos Canela, Luis Coronel, CD9, Gloria Trevi, Gerardo Ortiz and Il Volo.

Zaa to Release New Album “Mi Mejor Regalo,” a Tribute to the Late Joan Sebastian

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Charlie Zaa is offering up a special tribute to the late Joan Sebastian…

When the 41-year-old Colombian singer began working on his new album more than a year ago, he had no idea that the Mexican star would die within that time.

Now, Zaa’s new album, Mi Mejor Regalo, a tribute to Sebastian, will come out this Fall on Sony Music following Sebastian’s death in July.

The timing is bitter sweet, considering that the notion of covering Sebastian made perfect sense for Zaa, who back in 1996 catapulted to fame by covering the music of bolero singer Julio Jaramillo in the album Sentimientos.

For his first recording in several years, Zaa teamed up with producer Sergio George, and decided Sebastian’s repertoire would also suit him.

Mi mejor regalo was recorded between November and February 2015 and was always envisioned as a special homage to Sebastian’s life. It has now turned into a posthumous homage that includes songs like “Secreto de Amor” and “25 rosas,” recorded in a fusion-like bolero style that incorporates bachata percussion, Mexican horns and bolero strings.

A first single, “Un idiota,” went to radio last week.

Grace Lands Recording Deal with Sony Music U.S. Latin

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Leslie Grace has a new recording contract…

The 20-year-old Dominican-American singer, the youngest female to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Latin charts, has signed a recording deal with Sony Music U.S. Latin.

Under the new deal, Grace – who scored two No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart before she was 19 years old –will release an EP of new material likely in June. A first single will hit radio in May.

Grace, who was previously signed to Top Stop Music, the label launched by producer Sergio George (and also the first home of Prince Royce), tells Billboard in an exclusive interview that her new material will follow the bachata/pop vein of her previous fare.

“It will be very infused with lots of R&B and it’s infused with my roots, which are bachata,” says Grace, who speaks and sings in both English and Spanish. “We have a song called ‘Crazy Crazy’ and the introduction is very R&B and it has drums in there. But when the verse starts, it goes straight to bachata. It’s the two worlds I come from.”

Grace was born in New York City to Dominican parents and was raised straddling both cultures, much like Romeo Santos and Prince Royce.

She came to prominence with her debut single, a bilingual cover of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” which reached No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart in 2012. Grace released two albums on Top Stop, but going to Sony, she says, will allow her to take her music to other markets.

“A big focus is opening new markets for Leslie,” adds Sony Music U.S. Latin president Nir Seroussi, noting that Grace is also “very appealing” to brands.

Working with her, adds Seroussi, “is like a dream come true.”

Sergio George’s Salsa Giants to Perform in Latin America Beginning in October

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Sergio George’s Salsa Giants will have you moviendo tus caderas this fall…

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican pianist and noted record producer has announced plans for his music group to perform a series of concerts later this year.

The Salsa Giants kick off concert will take place on October 4th in Lima, Peru.

Oscar D’León, Luis Enrique, Cheo Feliciano, Andy Montañez, Willy Chirino, Jose Alberto “El Canario,” Tito Nieves, vocalist Nora from Orquesta de la Luz and Charlie Zaa make up the line up of the Salsa Giants concert at Lima’s San Marcos University.

The group’s tour will continue to Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia and Panama, with dates still to be announced.

Marc Anthony, a featured singer on the Salsa Giants debut album, which was recorded live at the Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival, will not be part of the group’s kick off concert, as he’s scheduled to play the same night at San Juan, Puerto Rico’s Coliseo de Puerto Rico José M. Agrelot, commonly referred to as el Choliseo.

Meanwhile, salsa pioneers the Fania All Stars will stage a rare reunion concert at the Choliseo on Oct. 18.

That line up will include Fania founder Johnny Pacheco, Ismael Miranda, Feliciano, Colón, Larry Harlow, Bobby Valentín and others who were present at the birth of salsa in 1960s in New York City.

The concert will include tributes to departed All Star members Hector Lavoe, Celia Cruz, Ray Baretto and others, with a special nod to Puerto Rican cuatro player Yomo Toro, who passed away last year.

The Fania musicians will continue on a world tour in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Fania Records, according to the company’s Chief Marketing Officer Michael Rucker. No other concert dates have been announced at this time.

Anthony to Promote New Salsa Album at Special Concert Dates

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Marc Anthony is taking his salsa show on the road…

Following the release of the 44-year-old Puerto Rican’s hit single “Vivir Mi Vida,” a salsa-driven declaration of independence that currently tops the Billboard Latin airplay chart, Anthony will perform four live shows in August and September.

The singer will hold concerts at the Miami Arena, the Nassau Coliseum and the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL. In addition, he’ll make a debut appearance at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia.

Anthony’s new album, 3.0, will go on sale on July 23. The album, marking his long-awaited return to salsa, was produced by Sergio George who was behind Anthony’s early salsa hits.

Here’s a look at Anthony’s upcoming concert dates:

Aug. 23: Miami (American Airlines Arena)
Sept. 1: Uniondale, NY (Nassau Coliseum)
Sept. 7: Rosemont, IL (Allstate Arena)
Sept. 10: Vienna, Va. (Wolftrap National Park for the Performing Arts)

Anthony Currently Recording New Salsa Album…

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He’s the top-selling tropical salsa artist of all time… And Marc Anthony’s ready to make you mover las caderas all over again…

The 44-year-old Puerto Rican singer is back in the studio recording his next record with noted producer Sergio George.

“We’re doing a salsa album with brand new songs,” confirmed George to Billboard.

Anthony is recording the album in Miami, with musicians being flown in from salsa capitals Puerto Rico and New York.

George, who recently launched the career of bachata-pop idol Prince Royce, worked with Anthony on the gold-selling Todo a su tiempo, and his 1993 salsa debut, Otra nota.

Anthony’s last studio album was 2010’s Iconos, which featured the singer’s emotive versions of classic love ballads made famous by Latin pop stars.

The idea for Anthony’s upcoming return to recording salsa came out of George and Anthony’s encounter at the Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival in August, where Anthony sang as part of George’s All Star Salsa Friends. The band of salsa legends included Anthony, along with Cheo Feliciano, José Alberto “El Canario”, Luis Enrique and other greats of the genre. George is preparing to put out a CD and DVD of that concert on his label, Top Stop Music, which also released Enrique’s 2012 Latin Grammy-winning salsa album Soy y sere.

“Salsa music is still very loved, very hot, but there aren’t a lot of good new salsa interpreters,” George remarked. “It’s still relying upon the legends who really can do it.”

George hinted that Anthony’s new album, to be released by Sony U.S. Latin, could re-invigorate the genre, just as Todo a su tiempo did in its day.

“There might be a couple of surprises on this album that people won’t expect from him,” George said, adding that a single could be out at the beginning of 2013. “This is totally new.”

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