The Latin Recording Academy® to honor Lucecita Benítez, João Bosco, Ilan Chester, Víctor Heredia, Los Del Río, Guadalupe Pineda, and Cuco Valoy with the Lifetime Achievement Award

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The Latin Recording Academy® to honor Lucecita Benítez, João Bosco, Ilan Chester, Víctor Heredia, Los Del Río, Guadalupe Pineda, and Cuco Valoy with the Lifetime Achievement Award

Latin GRAMMYs/Sep 13, 2017 - 01:00 PM

JON FAUSTY AND LALO SCHIFRIN TO RECEIVE THE TRUSTEES AWARD

MIAMI, FL (September 13, 2017) The Latin Recording Academy®® announced today Lucecita Benítez, João Bosco, Ilan Chester, Víctor Heredia, Los Del Río (Antonio Romero Monge and Rafael Ruiz Perdigones), Guadalupe Pineda and Cuco Valoy will receive the this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Jon Fausty and Lalo Schifrin will receive the Trustees Award. The Lifetime Achievement and Trustees Award honorees will be celebrated during a private ceremony held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas on Nov. 15 as part of the 18th Annual Latin GRAMMY® Week.

“We are proud to honor such a diverse group of internationally acclaimed artists with this year's Lifetime Achievement and Trustees Awards,” said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., Latin Recording Academy President/CEO. “Our 2017 class represents a wide-range of artists that together have contributed to shape Latin music’s iconic rhythms and lyrics throughout history. Each honoree is an inspiration to our culture and community as well as a muse for new and contemporary work.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to performers who have made unprecedented contributions of outstanding artistic significance to Latin music and the Latin community. The Trustees Award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions, other than performance, to Latin music during their careers. All the honorees are chosen by vote by the members of The Latin Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees.

2017 Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees:

Lucecita Benítez began her career as a young Puerto Rican star, a protagonist of the Nueva Ola pop phenomenon. But her subsequent discovery of the socially conscious nueva trova movement and her elegant interpretation of classic boleros place Lucecita at the very heart of everything that is soulful in Latin music. International fame arrived in 1969 when Lucecita won the first prize in Mexico’s Festival de la Canción Latina with the song “Génesis.” The next year, she appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and toured the United States extensively.

“I feel deeply honored by The Latin Recording Academy’s recognition of my career of more than five decades in this wonderful industry. Receiving such an important prize brings me unequalled pride in the work that I have enjoyed and loved all my life. But above all, it gives me the satisfaction of having faced it with the dignity and poise that the times required of me. Many thanks to The Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences® for allowing me to experience this great moment in my life.”— Lucecita Benítez

Lush, soulful, and sophisticated, the songs of singer/songwriter and guitarist João Bosco are an essential part of the música popular brasileira (MPB) movement — the fusion of traditional formats with jazz, rock and funk that blossomed in Brazil in the ’60s and ’70s. An artist of seemingly unlimited imagination, Bosco is a Latin GRAMMY winner and has received eight Latin GRAMMY nominations. He continues touring internationally and recording to this day.

“It's good to know the way in which we have traversed these many years — and many times we did it in obscurity — is illuminated by the ray of light that reveals us and fills us with pride and gratitude. Thank you for this distinction and honor." — João Bosco

Ilan Chester has transformed a deep mystical devotion and his fascination with many different sounds into a long-lasting career of staggering variety and depth. A multitalented singer/songwriter and musician, Chester grew up listening to Venezuelan folk, Afro-Caribbean dance formats, British progressive rock, and American R&B, all of which would play a part in his own music. He received a Latin GRAMMY for Best Folk Album for 2010’s Tesoros De La Música Venezolana.

“I must admit that the phone call I received from The Latin Recording Academy informing me of the decision to award me special recognition for my musical career was quite a surprise. I am deeply grateful.”— Ilan Chester

Born in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Monserrat in 1947, Víctor Heredia enjoyed success early in his career when his composition “Para Cobrar Altura” was celebrated at the annual Cosquín Folk Festival in 1967. In 1986, he released his most ambitious work to date: Taki Ongoy, a concept album about the conquest of the Americas from the point of view of the vanquished indigenous people. Now an established master of Latin song, Heredia is celebrated as a living legend.

“I feel great joy because of this incredibly kind gesture toward my career as an artist of the people. Thank you to The Latin Recording Academy! You fill me with excitement and give me the strength to continue.” — Víctor Heredia

Los Del Río’s Antonio Romero Monge and Rafael Ruiz Perdigones were teenagers when they joined forces to appear on a radio show in their native Sevilla, Spain. The year was 1962, and the two friends decided to perform under the name Los Del Río, launching a career of flamenco pop music in Spain during the ’70s and ’80s, they boasted the same infectious sense of joy and warm sonics that would later define their 1993 global hit “Macarena.” “Macarena” went on to sell millions of copies worldwide, staying on top of the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 consecutive weeks and igniting a dance craze that is still fondly remembered in dance clubs around the globe. Far from being one-hit wonders, Los Del Río have spent decades honing a distinctive sound — life affirming, irrepressibly melodic — forever in touch with their Spanish roots.

“For us it is a great honor to be recognized by the most universal of music awards. Thank you.” — Los Del Río

Few artists in the vast landscape of Mexican music have managed the seemingly impossible task of switching effortlessly between genres, formats, and languages, and selling millions of records while maintaining a distinct identity. Guadalupe Pineda is one of them, and her dazzling voice is at the heart of her one-of-a-kind success story. Pineda recorded 30 albums devoted to mariachi, bolero, operatic arias — Mi Corazón Se Abre A Tu Voz/Arias de Ópera, 2002, and French pop classics — Francia Con Sabor Latino, 2008. During her career she has shared the stage with a diverse group of singers such as Plácido Domingo, Natalia Lafourcade, and Mercedes Sosa. Pineda teamed up with fellow Latin singers Eugenia León and Tania Libertad for a series of sold-out shows in 2016, a collaboration that led to a Best Long Form Music Video Latin GRAMMY nomination. Pineda continues to record, with a new album release scheduled for 2018.

“I am deeply grateful to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, after 43 years of singing and working in music, proudly representing the art and culture of Mexico and of our Latin American nations. I am touched and inspired to continue along this wonderful path. I congratulate my colleagues who are sharing in this great honor.”— Guadalupe Pineda

One listen to “Juliana” — the transcendental hit by Cuco Valoy — is enough to illustrate the place of honor that this Dominican singer/songwriter occupies within the history of Afro-Caribbean music. “Juliana” is a prime example of classic salsa at its best, complete with electrifying brass riffs, clave-infused percussion and a swinging piano line. Most notably, Valoy can easily switch from authentic salsa grooves to merengue beats and rootsy “cha cha chá” — making him one of the most versatile performers in tropical music. A true master of Afro-Caribbean rhythms, Valoy continues to tour and receive recognition and awards around the world.

“To me, the Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest award that can be given to a musician over the course of a career. It is an honor to be recognized by colleagues and peers in the industry. The years have been long, but well spent. Thank you to The Latin Recording Academy and to the fans who find pleasure in my songs.”— Cuco Valoy

2017 Trustees Award Honorees:

Decades ago, Latin music was forever changed in New York when a young generation of musicians fused the raucous grooves of Cuban music with a dash of R&B, jazz, rock, and psychedelia. Known as the salsa explosion of the ’70s, this movement found legends such as Ray Barretto, Ruben Blades, Willie Colon, Celia Cruz, and Héctor Lavoe recording some of the best albums of their careers. The man who sat behind the controls for most of these sessions — the quintessential recording engineer of the salsa experience — was Jon Fausty. Following the salsa explosion, he continued working with the genre’s most innovative artists, producing albums for Los Van Van and Eddie Palmieri, and collaborating with Steve Lillywhite on David Byrne’s Rei Momo. With six GRAMMY Awards®, five Latin GRAMMY Awards and seven Latin GRAMMY nominations, Fausty continues to produce and engineer and is sought out by Latin music’s best.

“I feel extremely grateful and humbled that The Latin Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees has elected me in 2017 to receive this recognition for the contributions I have made to the music recording industry over the course of my career.”— Jon Fausty

If the ’60s and ’70s were a time of absolute creative splendor for the art of the movie soundtrack, Argentinian born Lalo Schifrin is one of its all-time masters. Seeped in gorgeous melodies and melancholy moods, informed by jazz and the avant-garde, his compositions for cinema and television remain today a paragon of sophistication. A true Renaissance man of 20th century music, Schifrin is also a jazz pianist, skillful arranger, orchestra conductor, and composer of virtuoso taste and eclecticism. Releasing a variety of new music through his own label, Aleph Records, Schifrin continues actively composing and recording and has received one Latin GRAMMY as well as four GRAMMY Awards.

“Your generosity in granting me the Trustees Award is an honor that touches me profoundly. Thank you very much for this distinction, which emphasizes my heritage as a Latin composer and performer from Argentina.” — Lalo Schifrin

The18th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 16, from 8–11 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central) on Univision.

For more information and the latest news, please visit the official Latin Recording Academy® website at: LatinGRAMMY.com(#LatinGRAMMY).

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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy is an international, membership-based organization comprised of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking recording artists, musicians, songwriters, producers and other creative and technical recording professionals. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for Latin music and its makers. In addition to producing the Latin GRAMMY Awards to honor excellence in the recorded arts and sciences, The Latin Recording Academy provides educational and outreach programs for the Latin music community either directly or through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®.

MEDIA CONTACTS::

The Lippin Group on behalf of The Latin Recording Academy:
Jennifer Price: JPrice@lippingroup.com
Elina Adut: EAdut@lippingroup.com
Freddy Morales: FMorales@lippingroup.com
323.965.1990

The Latin Recording Academy:
Teresa Romo: teresa.romo@grammy.com
310.392.3777
Iveliesse Malave: Ive@grammy.com
305.576.0036

The Latin Recording Academy® Announces Maricarmen “Tuti” Bou, Amarilys Germán, Paula Kaminsky And Rozalén As The Leading Ladies Of Entertainment 2025

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The Latin Recording Academy® Announces Maricarmen “Tuti” Bou, Amarilys Germán, Paula Kaminsky And Rozalén As The Leading Ladies Of Entertainment 2025

Latin GRAMMYs/Aug 19, 2025 - 01:00 PM

Amazon Music joins for the second consecutive year as presenting sponsor of the Latin GRAMMY® Week event

For images, click here

MIAMI (AUGUST 19, 2025) — The Latin Recording Academy® announced its 2025 Leading Ladies of Entertainment honorees. The program, created nine years ago, honors and recognizes professional and socially conscious women in the arts and Latin entertainment fields who have made significant contributions and inspired future leaders.

This year’s honorees are:

  • Maricarmen “Tuti” Bou, Vice President of Sony Music Entertainment in Puerto Rico

  • Amarilys Germán, Entertainment Executive and Manager to Latin GRAMMY® and GRAMMY®-winning artist Juan Luis Guerra

  • Paula Kaminsky, Managing Director at Global Talent Services US (GTS), a talent management agency

  • Rozalén, Latin GRAMMY®-nominated singer/songwriter

“I am proud to present our Leading Ladies of Entertainment honorees, an exceptional group of women who have distinguished themselves not just through their successful careers but also through their work outside of the professional realm,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “Our past honorees have helped grow our Mentorship Program, and we look forward to having this year’s class continue that legacy and empower future generations of young women.”

The private event to celebrate this year’s honorees will take place during Latin GRAMMY® Week in Las Vegas, with Amazon Music joining as presenting sponsor for the second consecutive year. Amazon Music is also donating to the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®’s Scholarship Fund in support of future Latin music makers. In addition, Espolòn Tequila joins as the official sponsor of the event. Moira Noriega will serve as executive producer of the event, working under the direction of The Latin Recording Academy’s production team led by Ayleen Figueras.

"We are thrilled to continue our support of The Latin Recording Academy's Leading Ladies of Entertainment for a second year. These exceptional women exemplify the leadership, innovation and dedication that are driving the Latin music industry forward,” said Rocío Guerrero, Director of Music, Latin-Iberia at Amazon Music. “Through this initiative and our contribution to the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation's Scholarship Fund, we're committed to supporting and amplifying the voices of future generations of female leaders in Latin music. The impact these honorees have made both professionally and through their community work perfectly aligns with the mission at Amazon Music to elevate and celebrate Latin talent."

This year’s class, along with past honorees, are invited to become mentors of the Leading Ladies of Entertainment Mentorship Program, hosted by the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. Paying-it-forward and forging opportunities for future generations is a core pillar of this initiative, and the program aims to foster the next generation of women in the industry. Applications for the mentorship program will open at a future date to be announced. For any questions, email lgcf@grammy.com.

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ABOUT MARICARMEN “TUTI” BOU:

Veteran executive Maricarmen “Tuti" Bou began her career in the music industry in 1988 with what was then CBS Records, which would later become Sony Music. At 26, she was named publicist for the record label, and since then, she has launched the careers of Latin GRAMMY® and GRAMMY®-nominated artists including Shakira, Elvis Crespo, Chayanne and Ricky Martin. Her ability to recognize emerging talent has led her to manage Latin GRAMMY® winners and GRAMMY® nominees Kany García and Pedro Capó during her more than 37 years at Sony Music. Beyond her work as a music and entertainment executive, Bou is also committed to philanthropic causes, collaborating with organizations like SER, Fundación CAP, and, most recently, True Self Foundation, which supports the LGBTQ+ community in Puerto Rico. She currently serves as Vice President of Sony Music in Puerto Rico.

ABOUT AMARILYS GERMÁN:

Amarilys Germán is a distinguished entertainment executive and manager of Juan Luis Guerra, recognized for her key role in promoting artists internationally. Born in Santo Domingo and trained in tourism and public relations, she began her career collaborating with local groups and figures such as Kinito Méndez. Her talent for production and management led her to work on international events with Latin GRAMMY® and GRAMMY® award-winning artists such as Maná, Ricky Martin, and Shakira, establishing herself as a leader in public relations and show production. Since 1998, she has led Guerra's career, coordinating world tours, media strategies and global partnerships. She also helped the growth of talents such as Vicente García early in his career. With more than two decades of experience, Germán is distinguished by her leadership, strategic vision and commitment to artistic excellence.

ABOUT PAULA KAMINSKY:

Paula Kaminsky is a renowned marketing executive with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment and marketing industries. She currently serves as Managing Director at Global Talent Services US (GTS) where she specializes in talent management. At GTS, Kaminsky is focused on the development of key artists, including: Ela Taubert, who won the 2024 Latin GRAMMY® for Best New Artist, has accumulated over 380 million Spotify streams, and has also inked deals with Coca-Cola, Toyota and Diesel; and Joaquina, who won Best New Artist at the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs® at age 19 and has sponsorship deals with JCPenney, NARS Cosmetics and Sony. She also works with rising stars like Roa, Andry Kiddos and Kobi Cantillo, among others. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her responsible, creative, and determined approach. Her extensive background includes leading campaigns and initiatives for developing artists as well as growing those of established talent.

ABOUT ROZALÉN:

Rozalén is one of the most influential singer/songwriters in the Spanish-speaking world, celebrated for her artistic excellence and unwavering commitment to social causes. With six acclaimed studio albums, she has earned multiple Gold and Platinum records, a Goya Award, the 2021 National Award for Contemporary Music in Spain and several Latin GRAMMY® nominations. A psychologist with a master’s in music therapy, she has built a body of work that uses music as a powerful tool for transformation, addressing themes such as gender equality, inclusion, mental health, historical memory and social justice. She is the author of “La Puerta Violeta,” a Latin GRAMMY®-nominated feminist anthem against gender-based violence, and other widely recognized songs that have become social hymns. Her concerts are pioneers in accessibility, always featuring Beatriz Romero, a sign language interpreter who shares the spotlight to fully integrate deaf audiences. Over the years, she has collaborated with leading artists including Joaquín Sabina, Jorge Drexler, Kany García, Carlos Vives and Mon Laferte, among many others. Beyond the stage, Rozalén works with organizations such as Entreculturas, Plan International, Save the Children and Médicos Sin Fronteras, participating in education, health and human rights projects in countries including Colombia, Bolivia, Chad and Guatemala.

ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy® is a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing, celebrating, honoring and elevating Latin music and its creators. Established as the global authority on Latin music, the membership-based organization composed of music professionals produces the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, The Biggest Night in Latin Music®, which honors excellence in the recording arts and sciences, in addition to providing educational and outreach programs for the music community through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®. For more information, please visit LatinGRAMMY.com.

ABOUT THE LATIN GRAMMY CULTURAL FOUNDATION:

The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established by The Latin Recording Academy® with the vision of becoming a global champion of music education and empowering communities through Latin music and culture. In 2024 the Foundation celebrated its 10-year anniversary, and during the last decade it has fostered the next generation of Latin music creators through scholarships, education programs and grants that advance Latin music and celebrate its rich cultural heritage. To date, the Foundation has donated more than $13.9 million with the support of The Latin Recording Academy’s members, artists, corporate sponsors and other generous donors. For additional information or to donate, please visit latingrammyculturalfoundation.org. And follow us @latingrammyfdn on Instagram and at Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on Facebook and LinkedIn.

ABOUT AMAZON MUSIC:

Amazon Music is an immersive audio entertainment service that connects fans, artists, and creators through music, podcasts, and culture. Amazon Music brings fans closer to what they love, with curated and personalized playlists, artist livestreams, artist merch, and Amazon Exclusive podcasts. Prime members get access to over 100 million songs in shuffle mode, All-Access playlists, plus the largest catalog of top ad-free podcasts, included with their membership. Customers can upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited for full, on-demand access to 100 million songs in HD and a growing catalog of Ultra HD and Spatial audio. Anyone can listen to Amazon Music by downloading the free Amazon Music app, or wherever they listen to music, including Alexa-enabled devices. Learn more at www.amazonmusic.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Nathalie Alberto

Nathalie.Alberto@grammy.com

Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® Awards The 2025 Warner Music Latina Scholarship To Arlen Borrego Miranda

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Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® Awards The 2025 Warner Music Latina Scholarship To Arlen Borrego Miranda

Latin GRAMMYs/Aug 13, 2025 - 11:00 PM

The Foundation awarded more than $1.3 million across a total of 49 scholarships

to music students around the world

Credit: John Parra/Getty Images for the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation

Click here for more images

MIAMI (AUGUST 13, 2025) — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® awarded the 2025 Warner Music Latina Scholarship to trumpeter Arlen Borrego Miranda during a special ceremony at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. The ceremony, hosted by 2022 Prodigy Scholarship recipient Valentina García, featured a performance by Latin GRAMMY® and GRAMMY®-nominated artist Elena Rose, alongside scholarship recipients and alumni. The musical director for the evening was Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY-winning producer, composer and conductor Carlos Fernando López, a triple graduate of the Frost School of Music. Additionally, 48 more scholarships were awarded to music students around the world.

Also known as the Prodigy Scholarship, the annual award supports music education and Latin music genres, and was sponsored by a record label for the first time in the Foundation’s history. The scholarship allows Borrego Miranda to pursue a bachelor's degree at Berklee College of Music starting this fall. In addition, it also supports the costs of tuition, room, board and wrap around services that include ongoing mentorship and learning opportunities provided in partnership with the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. Previous sponsors include: Sebastián Yatra (2024), Nicky Jam (2023), Sofia Carson (2022), Juanes (2021), Julio Iglesias (2020), Emilio and Gloria Estefan (2019), Carlos Vives (2018), Miguel Bosé (2017), Juan Luis Guerra (2016) and Enrique Iglesias (2015).

Since its establishment in 2014, the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation has committed an extraordinary sum of more than $13.9 million in scholarships, grants, musical instruments and educational programs throughout the United States and Ibero-America.

“Each year we have the privilege and responsibility of reviewing and awarding scholarships made possible by the generosity of our donors,” said Raquel "Rocky" Egusquiza, Executive Director of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. “We are moved by the talented students and grateful to our partners who have enabled us to provide more than $1.3 million across 49 scholarships to music students worldwide, ensuring the rich legacy of Latin music.”

“At Warner Music Latina we believe in the power of education as a catalyst for creativity and cultural preservation,” said Roberto Andrade, Managing Director at Warner Music Latina. “Partnering with the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation to sponsor the Prodigy Scholarship reflects our long-term commitment to nurturing the next generation of Latin music talent. We’re proud to help Arlen take this next step and are honored to support the future of our music.”

“Music has saved my life. Finding this path from a young age and having the opportunity to pursue this dream, thanks to the support of Warner Music Latina and the incredible Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, exceeds everything I ever imagined,” said Borrego Miranda. “I am committed to making the most of this incredible gift by working hard and making everyone proud. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Additionally, the Foundation awarded the first Emerging Talent Scholarship, in partnership with Berklee College of Music, to saxophonist Aina López Pla. The Emerging Talent Scholarship covers a bachelor’s degree at Berklee, room and board, as well as a laptop and ongoing mentorship and learning opportunities provided in partnership with the Foundation.

The Foundation also announced the recipients of its Gifted Tuition Scholarships and Tuition Assistance Scholarships—with an additional 48 talented students from diverse backgrounds receiving the opportunity to pursue an education at some of the most prestigious music institutions in the world.

Gifted Tuition Scholarship Recipients:

Two (2) Gifted Tuition Scholarships of up to $120,000 each were awarded to students to cover tuition costs towards a four-year bachelor's degree in music, and wrap around services, starting this fall:

  • Frost School of Music at the University of Miami awarded one scholarship to vocalist Irenda Arano Díaz to attend the elite music school.

  • Gil Family Foundation awarded one scholarship to drummer Miguel Francisco Pie Gil to attend the school of his choice.

Tuition Assistance Scholarship Recipients:

In addition, 45 students each received the Tuition Assistance Scholarship, a one-time scholarship that ranges in value from $10,000 to up to $12,500 toward the tuition costs for the university or college of their choice and includes wrap around services provided by the Foundation.

For the second consecutive year, Gibson Gives, Gibson’s philanthropic division, sponsored three (3) Tuition Assistance Scholarships—awarded to students who study guitar as their principal instrument—and gifted a Gibson guitar to each of their respective scholarship recipients.

Further generating impact, AIE Sociedad de Artistas, Amazon Music, Bulova, Kraft Family Inc. and Open Society Foundations sponsored Tuition Assistance Scholarships. To view all scholarships awarded and their respective recipients, please refer to the chart below for additional details.

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ABOUT THE LATIN GRAMMY CULTURAL FOUNDATION:

The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established by The Latin Recording Academy® with the vision of becoming a global champion of music education and empowering communities through Latin music and culture. In 2024, the Foundation celebrated its 10-year anniversary, and during the last decade, it has fostered the next generation of Latin music creators through scholarships, education programs and grants that advance Latin music and celebrate its rich cultural heritage. To date, the Foundation has donated more than $13.9 million with the support of The Latin Recording Academy’s members, artists, corporate sponsors and other generous donors. For additional information or to donate, please visit latingrammyculturalfoundation.org or our Facebook page. And follow us @latingrammyfdn on Instagram, and at Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on Facebook and LinkedIn.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Nathalie Alberto

Nathalie.Alberto@grammy.com

The Latin Recording Academy® Announces Its 2025 Special Awards Recipients

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The Latin Recording Academy® Announces Its 2025 Special Awards Recipients

Latin GRAMMYs/Aug 07, 2025 - 01:00 PM

This year’s honorees include Susana Baca, Enrique Bunbury, Ivan Lins, Pandora,

Eric Schilling and Olga Tañón

Click here for additional images

MIAMI (AUGUST 7, 2025) — The Latin Recording Academy® announced today that Susana Baca, Enrique Bunbury, Ivan Lins, Pandora and Olga Tañón will receive this year's Lifetime Achievement Award, as part of its annual Special Awards Presentation. Additionally, Eric Schilling will receive the Trustees Award. The first recipient of the Latin Music Educator Award will also be recognized during the ceremony.

“It is an immense privilege to honor these musical legends—who continue redefining our Latin music and heritage—as well as our inaugural Latin Music Educator Award recipient,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “We look forward to celebrating them all as part of our 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY® Week festivities.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to performers who have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to Latin music and its communities. The Trustees Award is bestowed on individuals who have made significant contributions to Latin music during their careers in ways other than performance. Both distinctions are voted on by The Latin Recording Academy's Board of Trustees.

The Latin Music Educator Award is a new distinction, in partnership with the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®, that recognizes one exceptional educator from the global music community who is making a significant impact by incorporating Latin music into their curriculum. Additionally, the recipient’s school music program will receive a $10,000 instrument donation to support continued music education.

The honorees will be celebrated during a private event, presented for the second consecutive year by Windstar Cruises, on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, in Las Vegas.

2025 Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees:

Susana Baca (Peru)

Throughout a distinguished career that spans decades, Susana Baca has investigated, cherished and safeguarded the once forgotten traditions of Afro-Peruvian music. A luminous performer — and three-time Latin GRAMMY winner and GRAMMY nominee — she belongs in the same exclusive group of folk songstresses as Mercedes Sosa and Violeta Parra. Born in 1944, Susana Esther Baca de la Colina grew up in Lima, surrounded by music. She initially worked as a schoolteacher, then began traveling across the Peruvian coastline with her husband, Ricardo Pereira, studying the country’s Black culture. By the mid-‘90s, her exquisite recording of the Chabuca Granda gem “María Landó” had established her as a global diva, igniting a growing interest in the Afro-Peruvian genre. In 2020, Baca demonstrated the purity of her vision with A Capella, a stunning solo session. She continues touring and recording to this day.

Enrique Bunbury (Spain)

Pioneering, musically omnivorous and intensely poetic, Enrique Bunbury is not only one of the most visionary rock stars ever to emerge from Spain, but also a 21st century master when it comes to crafting transcendent songs in the Spanish language. Born in Zaragoza in 1967, Enrique Ortiz de Landázuri Izarduy gained fame between the late ‘80s and the early ‘90s as the vocalist for the band Héroes del Silencio. But it was his solo output — beginning with classic albums like 1999’s Pequeño and 2002’s Flamingos — that found him developing a wondrous sound nourished by the reckless passion of Latin American folklore and the chiaroscuro shades of cabaret music. A live performer of hypnotic bravado, the Latin GRAMMY winner has continued to expand his stark aesthetic on memorable LPs like 2023’s Greta Garbo and 2025’s Cuentas Pendientes.

Ivan Lins (Brazil)

The creator of such timeless Brazilian anthems as “Madalena” and “Começar de Novo,” Ivan Lins is a keyboardist and singer/songwriter of staggering harmonic imagination and melodic genius — a Rio de Janeiro native who began his career under the spell of bossa nova, but quickly took flight and developed a deeply personal, cosmopolitan musical language of his own. Born in 1945, Ivan Guimarães Lins first gained exposure in Brazil during the late ‘60s. Gradually, his songs bewitched several generations of American jazz stars, from Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan to Quincy Jones and Michael Bublé. With over 800 compositions to his credit, the prolific Lins has been releasing new records from the ‘70s to the present. He is a two-time GRAMMY nominee and has won multiple Latin GRAMMYs, including Album Of The Year in 2005 for Cantando Histórias, a soulful retrospective live session.

Pandora (Mexico)

The landscape of Latin pop was forever transformed in 1985 when Mexican vocal trio Pandora released “Cómo Te Va Mi Amor,” the first of many international hit singles. It wasn’t only the song’s opening sax line, supple backbeat and sweet keyboard lines that captured the public’s imagination. There was also an air of hope and everlasting romance in the vocalizing of the band’s stars: sisters Isabel and Mayte Lascurain, and Fernanda Meade. Pandora’s now-legendary, self-titled debut was only the beginning. The GRAMMY nominees have collaborated with such musical legends as Armando Manzanero and Frank Sinatra, Julie Andrews and Luis Miguel. In 2019, Más Pandora Que Nunca expanded the trio’s repertoire with a number of stellar duets. Still going strong, Pandora is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with Pandora 40, a new compilation album of their greatest hits from the last four decades, along with an autobiographical tome detailing their personal and professional trajectory.

Olga Tañón (Puerto Rico)

One listen of the 1994 mega-hit “Es Mentiroso” is enough to appreciate the inordinate amounts of attitude and swing that Puerto Rican singer Olga Tañón has brought to merengue — a genre that at the time was predominantly male and confined to the Dominican Republic. But Tañón is much more than a merengue superstar. She has experimented with a multitude of styles, lending her gutsy voice to bachata, salsa and Latin pop. Olga Teresa Tañón Ortiz was born in San Juan in 1967, and kicked off her career as a member of tropical group Chantelle before experiencing massive success on her own. From the vibrant urbano tropical fusion of 2017’s “La Gran Fiesta” to the feverish groove of 2021’s “Mi Forma De Ser,” the multiple Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY winner continues to shine as a beacon of contemporary merengue music.

2025 Trustees Award Honoree:

Eric Schilling (United States)

The recipient of 12 Latin GRAMMYs and eight GRAMMYs, Eric Schilling is a visionary audio engineer who has shaped and transformed the sound of Latin recordings over the last quarter century. He began his career as a teenager, taping live radio broadcasts by rock legends in the San Francisco Bay area, where he was mentored by Motown veteran Bob Ohlsson. Moving to Florida proved serendipitous, as Schilling established a long-standing creative partnership with Gloria and Emilio Estefan, becoming their engineer of choice on classic albums such as Mi Tierra and 90 Millas. Schilling has also added a sumptuous sheen of audio magic to quintessential 21st century LPs by Shakira, Alejandro Sanz, Thalía, Juan Luis Guerra, Cachao and many others. An expert in engineering major broadcast events, he has also won 8 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Sound Mixing.

Alex Hadad will serve as executive producer of the event, working under the direction of The Latin Recording Academy’s production team led by Ayleen Figueras.

For the latest news, visit the official Latin Recording Academy site at LatinGRAMMY.com. Follow us on Facebook (LatinGRAMMYs), X (@LatinGRAMMYs), Instagram (@LatinGRAMMYs), and the Latin GRAMMYs WhatsApp Channel, and use #LatinGRAMMY on all popular social media platforms. The official Latin GRAMMY app is also available on iOS (Apple) and Android (Google Play).

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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy® is a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing, celebrating, honoring and elevating Latin music and its creators. Established as the global authority on Latin music, the membership-based organization composed of music professionals produces the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, The Biggest Night in Latin Music®, which honors excellence in the recording arts and sciences, in addition to providing educational and outreach programs for the music community through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®. For more information, please visit LatinGRAMMY.com.

ABOUT WINDSTAR CRUISES:

For four decades, Windstar Cruises has been reimagining small-ship cruising with a distinctive blend of relaxed luxury and genuine connection to the world’s most captivating destinations. From its origins with motor sailing yachts tailored for upscale yet casual travel, Windstar has grown into a diverse fleet of five Star Class all-suite yachts and three Wind Class sailing yachts, hosting only 150-350 guests each. Windstar is proud to support the arts with special activities, sponsorships and theme cruises throughout the year.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Nathalie Alberto

Nathalie.Alberto@grammy.com

The Latin Recording Academy Announces Latin GRAMMY® Celebra: La Música De Andalucía, Honoring The Musical Legacy Of The Region

News

The Latin Recording Academy Announces Latin GRAMMY® Celebra: La Música De Andalucía, Honoring The Musical Legacy Of The Region

Latin GRAMMYs/Jul 28, 2025 - 02:00 PM

This event will honor legends such as Rocío Jurado, Lola Flores, Camarón de la Isla, and Enrique Morente; as well as icons like Raphael, Joaquín Sabina, Alejandro Sanz, Manuel Alejandro, and Miguel Ríos

It will also celebrate contemporary artists with special appearances by David Bisbal, Manuel Carrasco, Vanesa Martín and India Martínez, among others

Tickets go on sale today, and the funds raised will support musical development in the region

MIAMI (JULY 28, 2025) — On Wednesday, September 10, The Latin Recording Academy®, in collaboration with la Junta de Andalucía, continues its calendar of events in the Andalusian community—which began in 2023—by hosting Latin GRAMMY® Celebra: La Música de Andalucía, in Sevilla.

The event, which will take place at the Cartuja Center CITE, will honor Andalucía and some of its most influential musical artists. From timeless voices and exceptional artists that reflect the region’s rich musical legacy, like the legends Rocío Jurado, Lola Flores, Camarón de la Isla, or Enrique Morente, to icons like Raphael, Joaquín Sabina, Alejandro Sanz, Manuel Alejandro, and Miguel Ríos. The event will also include special appearances by David Bisbal, Manuel Carrasco, Vanesa Martín and India Martínez, among others.

“We are proud to return to Sevilla to honor Andalucía’s musical legacy and the extraordinary artists who have emerged from this land, whose influence has been pivotal in the global impact of Latin music,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of the Latin Recording Academy.

With over 30 artists on stage, the event—co-financed by the Programa FEDER Andalucía 2021-2027—will showcase the diversity of genres from Andalucía, from traditional flamenco to contemporary Latin music rhythms, and is presented by la Junta de Andalucía and sponsored by the Iberian ham brand Enrique Tomás. Spanning centuries of creativity and innovation, the event will recognize Andalucía’s enduring influence on global music, celebrating both the legends who have passed away and today’s unparalleled icons.

Macarena Moreno and the team from The Latin Recording Academy, led by Ayleen Figueras, oversee executive production; Carlos Narea will handle musical production under the direction of Pablo Cebrián. Tickets go on sale today via the Cartuja Center CITE website, and funds raised will support the region’s musical development.

The Latin Recording Academy and la Junta de Andalucía continue to celebrate Latin music in Andalucía, following the success of last year’s Latin GRAMMY® Celebra: Paco de Lucía event, in Cádiz, and the Latin GRAMMY® Session, in Málaga.

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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy® is a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing, celebrating, honoring and elevating Latin music and its creators. Established as the global authority on Latin music, the membership-based organization composed of music professionals, produces the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, The Biggest Night in Latin Music®, which honors excellence in the recording arts and sciences, in addition to providing educational and outreach programs for the music community through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®. For more information, please visit LatinGRAMMY.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS / EQUIPO SINGULAR:

María García: maria.garcia@equiposingular.com

Victoria Alonso: victoria.alonso@equiposingular.com