GUILLERMO "MEMO" ACOSTA AND EGIDIO CUADRADO TO RECEIVE THE TRUSTEES AWARD 

MIAMI (JUNE 24, 2021) — The Latin Recording Academy^® announced today that Martinho da Vila, Emmanuel, Sheila E. & Pete Escovedo, Fito Páez, Millie Quezada, Joaquín Sabina and Gilberto Santa Rosa will receive this year's Lifetime Achievement Award. Additionally, Guillermo "Memo" Acosta and Egidio Cuadrado will receive the Trustees Award.  The honorees will be celebrated during a private ceremony executive produced by Eduardo Osorio at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas on Nov. 17, 2021, as part of the 22nd Annual Latin GRAMMY week.

"We are delighted to recognize this remarkable group of legendary artists, who remain very active, with this year's Lifetime Achievement and Trustees Awards," said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. "Their outstanding accomplishments have created a timeless legacy within the Latin music world and beyond, and we look forward to honoring and celebrating each of them during Latin GRAMMY Week as we return to Las Vegas this November with our resilient community of Latin music lovers."

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.

2021 Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees:

Martinho da Vila (Brazil)

Martinho da Vila delves into the very essence of Brazilian music — the soul of percolating samba and its many permutations — including the wide-encompassing movement known as MPB (música popular brasileira). His 1969 self-titled solo debut LP featured gorgeous sambas that swung effortlessly, leaving behind a sweet aftertaste of longing and nostalgia. Since then, da Vila has recorded almost an album per year, selling millions of records while forming a close bond with samba school Unidos de Vila Isabel and exploring a wide variety of styles in his compositions. The soulful "Canta, Canta, Minha Gente," the velvety "Mulheres" and the achingly beautiful "Casa De Bamba" are among his many hits. His works have earned him three Latin GRAMMYs.

Emmanuel (Mexico)

Mexican singer Emmanuel is one of the few performers who established balada as a song format overflowing with beauty and depth. His debut LP, Diez Razones Para Cantar, that included songs he wrote, came out in 1977, when the balada aesthetic was reaching a pinnacle of baroque opulence. Al Final (1979) became an international hit two years later, and in 1980 he recorded his fourth album, titled Íntimamente, which sold millions of copies around the world and boasted massive hits like "Insoportablemente Bella," "El Día Que Puedas," "Quiero Dormir Cansado" and "Todo Se Derrumbó." From that moment on, songs like "La Chica de Humo," "Toda la Vida," "Bella Señora," " Sentirme Vivo" and "La Última Luna" became part of the soundtrack of the life of his faithful fans.

Pete Escovedo/ Sheila E. (U.S.)

To watch father and daughter Pete Escovedo and Sheila E. playing together is an unforgettable experience: two brilliant percussionists breathing in unison to the syncopated beat. Pete Michael Escovedo fell in love with Afro-Caribbean music as a young man and decided to follow his passion, founding a jazz sextet with family members that evolved into the iconic Chicano rock band Azteca in 1972. Five years later, Escovedo launched a solo career, unifying elements of jazz, salsa and Latin soul under the elegant groove of his timbales. Born in a musical family Sheila Cecilia Escovedo, made a name for herself in the late '70s as the fiery percussionist with The George Duke Band. Global success followed when Prince asked her to join the Purple Rain sessions. Performing as part of Prince's touring band, Sheila cooked up an exquisite hybrid of pop, funk and Latin that would anchor mega-hits "The Glamorous Life" and "A Love Bizarre."

Fito Páez (Argentina)

One of the most brilliant singer/songwriters to emerge from Argentina, Fito Páez has redefined the essence of Latin pop-rock. He became an instant national star in 1985 with his second album, Giros, and hit a majestic peak of critical and commercial success in 1994 with El Amor Después Del Amor, a masterpiece steeped in Beatlesque pop with hints of Argentine folk that included hits like "A Rodar Mi Vida" and "Un Vestido Y Un Amor." Páez's tender lyrics and anthemic hooks have consistently transcended his country of origin and have landed him eight Latin GRAMMYs and a GRAMMY^®.

Milly Quezada (Dominican Republic)

In a field dominated by men until her arrival in the '70s, Milly Quezada single-handedly changed the history of merengue through the warmth and exuberant energy of her voice. Always true to the authentic roots of the Dominican Republic's quintessential dance genre, she quickly established herself as "the queen of merengue." As a teen, she formed the group Milly, Jocelyn & Los Vecinos with her sister and brothers, and enjoyed a succession of hits like "Volvió Juanita," that allowed her to tour the Americas, Europe and even Japan. Quezada took an extended break from the limelight following the tragic death of her husband in 1996, but returned as a solo artist the following year, cementing her reputation as a Dominican legend thanks to classics like "Entre Tu Cuerpo Y El Mío," "Toma Mi Vida," "Porque Me Amaste" and "Para Darte Mi Vida." She has received three Latin GRAMMYs.

Joaquín Sabina (Spain)

Joaquín Sabina has elevated the art of writing songs in Spanish to unsuspected heights, building a musical universe marked by his eccentric but simple forays into confessional poetry and wry sociopolitical observation which has influenced several generations. The release of his second album, 1980’s Malas Compañías, created a stir with timeless hits “Calle Melancolía” and "Pongamos Que Hablo De Madrid." Sabina's mercurial combination of folk, rock and balada idioms, coupled with his stark and bluesy delivery, complexed sense of humor and an uncanny ability to express complex feelings in his lyrics, has made him hugely popular in Spain and the Americas and to date, active as always, is followed by at least three generations.

Gilberto Santa Rosa (Puerto Rico)

Gilberto Santa Rosa is one of the few salsa artists to emerge in the '80s, as the genre's explosion of the previous decade was experiencing an inevitable decline. Following brief stints with popular Puerto Rican orchestras of the '70s, he was enlisted by pioneering bandleader Willie Rosario in 1981, cementing his reputation as a rootsy salsa singer. By the time of his solo debut, Good Vibrations, in 1986, the five-time Latin GRAMMY winner had assimilated the honeyed salsa romántica style popular at the time, merging it with the raucous tropical grooves that he treasured. This remarkable balance informs such massive hits as "La Agarro Bajando," "Conteo Regresivo," "Conciencia" and "Que Alguien Me Diga," as well as his electrifying concert performances.

2021 Trustees Award Honorees:

Guillermo "Memo" Acosta (Mexico)

A prolific producer and songwriter blessed with an unerring instinct for discovering new talent, Memo Acosta has been a key figure in the development of Latin music since the '50s, both through his work as A&R with Discos Musart and as the founder of his own record label Discos GAS. Forming lifelong friendships with some of the brightest musical stars of his time, Acosta established a reputation for spotting promising singers and songwriters in genres as varied as bolero, ranchera and even rock, and has been involved in the production of over 4,000 albums, including Nat King Cole's legendary LPs in Spanish. One of the first executives to advocate for, and take strong action against music piracy, Acosta always lead all aspects of the industry with fervor.

Egidio Cuadrado (Colombia)

Egidio Cuadrado began playing the accordion at age six and eventually became one of the instruments most respected masters, participating in many vallenato festivals and competitions in his native Colombia. In the early '90s, Carlos Vives enlisted him for a tropical orchestra, La Provincia, that sought to keep the spirit of vallenato alive by blending it with contemporary pop-rock idioms. This led to several collaborations between the two artists, including the 1995 masterpiece La Tierra del Olvido, with Cuadrado's accordion occupying a lead role throughout the album. A natural live performer, Cuadrado embodies the zest of Colombian folklore, inspiring a new generation of musicians to keep the tradition alive.

Latin GRAMMY Week will culminate with the 22nd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards^®, which will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 18, 2021, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. CT) on Univision.

For more information and the latest news, visit the official Latin Recording Academy site at LatinGRAMMY.com. Follow us on Facebook (LatinGRAMMYs), Twitter (@LatinGRAMMYs) or Instagram (@LatinGRAMMYs), and use #LatinGRAMMY on all popular social media platforms.

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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy^® is an international 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:
The Exclusive Agency on behalf of The Latin Recording Academy
Elina Adut
eadut@eadut.com

Porter Novelli on behalf of The Latin Recording Academy

Leopoldo Coronado Domenge

leopoldo.coronado@porternovelli.com

The Latin Recording Academy
Iveliesse Malavé 
ive@grammy.com

This year’s honorees are Alaska, Omar Alfanno, Francisco Céspedes, Lila Downs, Daniela Mercury and Chichí Peralta

Click here for additional images

MIAMI (JUNE 30, 2026) — The Latin Recording Academy® announced today that Alaska, Francisco Céspedes, Lila Downs, Daniela Mercury and Chichí Peralta will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Omar Alfanno will be awarded the Trustees Award, as part of this year’s Special Awards ceremony.

“It is a great privilege to honor these living legends—an exceptional group whose influence transcends generations and genres—who continue to enrich and redefine our musical heritage,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “We are delighted to celebrate their extraordinary careers, along with the recipient of the Latin Music Educator Award, during the 27th Annual Latin GRAMMY® Week.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award honors performers who have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to Latin music and its communities. The Trustees Award is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to Latin music over their careers, in ways other than performance. Both distinctions are voted on by The Latin Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees. The honorees will be celebrated on November 9 during Latin GRAMMY Week in Las Vegas.

For the second consecutive year, the Latin Music Educator Award winner will be honored at the ceremony. This award, presented in partnership with the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®, honors an exceptional educator in the global music community who has made a significant impact by integrating Latin music into their curriculum. As part of the award, the recipient’s school music program will receive a musical instrument donation valued at up to $10,000 to support music education. Submissions for this award are open until August 3, 2026. To apply and view guidelines, click here.

2026 Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees:

Alaska

The bewitching strain of electronic pop anchored on majestic melodies and provocative lyrics found in Alaska one of its most iconic trendsetters. As part of the bands Alaska y Dinarama and Fangoria, the singer was always ahead of her time. Born in Mexico City in 1963, Olvido Gara Jova moved to Spain at a young age and began her musical career with Kaka de Luxe, one of the first bands of the Spanish punk movement. In 1979, she founded Alaska y los Pegamoides, which four years later evolved into Alaska y Dinarama. Hits such as “Ni Tú Ni Nadie” (1984) and “A Quién Le Importa” (1986) made history with their extraordinary melodic sophistication – an element that would also appear in the sumptuous synth-pop of Fangoria. Alaska remains active in recording studios and concert halls across Spain and Latin America.

Francisco Céspedes

To discover the musical worldview of Francisco Céspedes entails venturing into a nocturnal soundscape where the elegance of jazz walks hand in hand with the warmth of bolero. Born in Cuba and established in Mexico, Francisco Fabián Céspedes Rodríguez transcends his Latin roots with a cosmopolitan sound that found devoted followers all over the world. He abandoned his initial vocation as a doctor to devote himself to music, and moved to Mexico City in 1992, where he wrote songs for artists like Luis Miguel, and collaborated with Alejandro Sanz and Plácido Domingo. In 1997, his debut album, Vida Loca, established him as an icon of romantic balladry with the melancholy mood of the title track. Since then, he has been nominated for a Latin GRAMMY® several times, and released many albums, including one with Armando Manzanero. He tours regularly in Europe and Latin America, and released an album earlier this year on which he collaborated with the late Pablo Milanés.

Lila Downs

One of the most transcendent ambassadors of Mexican culture, Lila Downs has spent the past thirty years exploring the fertile creative bridge that unites her identity and roots. The daughter of a Mixteca mother and an American father, Ana Lila Downs Sánchez was born in Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, in 1968. From her very first album, Ofrenda, she showcased a restless creative personality and visionary talent for experimentation and daring musical fusions. In Downs’ creative universe, her stunning vocal range moves comfortably among the velvety textures of jazz, healing cumbia grooves, and the emotional exuberance of bolero. The winner of six Latin GRAMMYs® and a GRAMMY®, Downs released Cambias Mi Mundo in 2026, an album that finds her at a transformative creative peak.

Daniela Mercury

Daniela Mercury began her career revolutionizing the Brazilian music scene. During her inaugural performance in São Paulo in 1992, she literally shook the foundation of the building, forcing the event to be momentarily interrupted. A pioneer of the new Brazilian genre of axé, the singer and dancer from Salvador, Bahia, brought her powerful voice and precise movements to stages all over the world. Her song “O Canto Da Cidade” became a Brazilian music anthem that has endured for over three decades. With more than 20 million records sold and 26 albums – including the masterpiece Feijão Com Arroz (1998) – her innovative fusion of styles is informed by an expansive mosaic of rhythms and colors. Throughout her career she has continued to expand the limits of her sound while offering memorable concerts, including the live album Balé Mulato, which garnered a Latin GRAMMY in 2007.

Chichí Peralta

Chichí Peralta — musician, singer/songwriter, composer, arranger and producer — is one of the most influential figures in contemporary music from the Dominican Republic. Born in Santo Domingo, he discovered percussion at the age of four, beginning a career that has spanned over four decades, marked by innovation and artist versatility. The founder of Chichí Peralta & Son Familia, he developed a unique sound that blends tradition, modernity and Caribbean identity, enriching Latin American music and showcasing Dominican culture on international stages across the Americas, Europe and Asia. The winner of a Latin GRAMMY in 2001, Peralta has recorded two of his productions with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road and amassed a discography that reflects his ongoing artistic quest, while contributing to shaping future generations of musicians.

2026 Trustees Award Honoree:

Omar Alfanno

The composer of timeless classics of Latin music such as “El Gran Varón,” “A Puro Dolor,” “Y Hubo Alguien” and “Amores Como El Nuestro,” Omar Alfanno transformed deeply human narratives into songs that are an essential part of the Latin American songbook. Born in Santiago de Veraguas, Panama, in 1957, his songs have been recorded by more than 500 artists, including Gilberto Santa Rosa, Jerry Rivera, Marc Anthony and Shakira. His work contributed to defining the sound of contemporary tropical music, while his narratives and melodic sensibility have served as a reference point for many composers over the past five decades. A member of the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame, and winner of a Latin GRAMMY, Alfanno continues to hone his craft, guiding new talent and promoting musical education among young people with limited financial means in Panama through the Fundación Omar Alfanno.

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) or Instagram (@LatinGRAMMYs), and join the conversation using our official hashtag #LatinGRAMMY on all popular social media platforms.

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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy® is an international 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 CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Iveliesse Malavé

ive@grammy.com

Four talented music institutions, nonprofit organizations, musicologists and researchers will receive a total of $20,000 for research and preservation of Latin music

Deadline to apply is August 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET

MIAMI (JUNE 18, 2026) — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® announced that applications are now open for its 2026 Latin Music Research and Preservation Grant Program. This program provides grants to support music institutions, nonprofit organizations, musicologists and researchers worldwide who are committed to preserving and advancing the legacy of Latin music through research and archival initiatives.

This year, the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation will award a total of four grants as follows:

• Two (2) Research Grants for a maximum amount of $5,000 each, funding one project focused on historical research, folklore and anthropology of a Latin music genre.

• Two (2) Preservation Grants for a maximum of $5,000 each, supporting one project aiming to archive and preserve Latin music heritage.

“The research and preservation of Latin music is essential to honoring its cultural impact and these grants ensure future generations remain connected to the stories, traditions and communities that shaped it,” said Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, Executive Director of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation.

Since its inception in 2015, the program has awarded more than $285,000 in grants to support projects, one of which received both a Latin GRAMMY® and GRAMMY®.

To apply, view guidelines, and learn about past project winners please click here (the materials can be submitted in English, Spanish or Portuguese). The deadline to apply is Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. If you have any additional questions, please email LGCF@grammy.com and/or visit http://www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.org/en.

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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. For over a decade, the Foundation 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 invested more than $15 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 program expands access to music education through a donation of instruments to two local schools

Click here to download photos

Credit: Gabriel Aponte/Getty Images for the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation

BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA (MAY 15, 2026) — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®, in partnership with Latin GRAMMY® winner and GRAMMY® nominee Silvestre Dangond, hosted a Latin GRAMMY In The Schools™ program in Bogotá, on Thursday, May 14. The program included a donation of musical instruments to two local schools—Colegio Enrique Olaya Herrera and Fundación Sendero de Acordeones de Riohacha—and students participated in a meet and greet and conversation with Dangond and accordion player, José Juan Camilo.

Dangond continues to support the growth and development of vallenato and previously sponsored two Latin Music Research and Preservation Grants for the Foundation dedicated to funding the folkloric music genre from Colombia.

“I am so proud to be able to support emerging young talent, especially in a country like Colombia, where music is a fundamental part of our identity,” said Dangond. “I see myself reflected in these students—in their dreams, in their passion—and I hope this experience reminds them that, with dedication and a love for music, anything is possible.”

“We thank Silvestre Dangond for his partnership and continued support of our shared mission to nurture future Latin music creators,” said Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, Executive Director of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. “His generosity today created what we hope is an experience that these students will never forget and further ensures the legacy of Latin music.”

Latin GRAMMY In The Schools is an educational program that inspires students ages five-to-18 through music education and mentorship. The program informs and connects music students with professionals in the Latin music industry, supporting educational music departments that face financial limitations. The Foundation invites renowned musicians, performing artists, and sound engineers to share their personal stories and experiences with students, highlighting the effort it takes to overcome career obstacles. The goal is for students to learn to optimize the educational opportunities presented to them, giving them an advantage and strong academic preparation to be able to compete in the music industry.

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ABOUT SILVESTRE DANGOND:

Silvestre Dangond is a world-renowned artist from Colombia, who is especially known for globalizing the vallenato genre. In his nearly 25 years in the industry, Dangond has won multiple Latin GRAMMYs®, including Best Cumbia/Vallenato Album in 2025 for his latest LP El Último Baile, which also earned him a GRAMMY® nomination. Dangond is preparing for his fourth Estadio El Campín show in less than two years in Bogotá, where he will present “El Baile de Todos Tour,” an international production poised to mark another major milestone in his musical journey. With confirmed dates in key markets such as Argentina, Peru, Chile, Spain, and other cities across Europe, Dangond is bringing vallenato to increasingly wider audiences and solidifying himself as one of the leading figures in contemporary Latin music. He has collaborated with artists including Nicky Jam, Natti Natasha, Carín León, Emilia, Sebastián Yatra, Fonseca and Carlos Vives, and he often works with initiatives in support of the next generation of vallenato artists.

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. For over a decade, the Foundation 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 invested more than $15 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 artist will be honored at a special gala on November 11 in Las Vegas, during Latin GRAMMY® Week

Photo credit: Isaac Reyes

Click here to access the image in high resolution

MIAMI (APRIL 7, 2026)— The Latin Recording Academy® announced that multi–Latin GRAMMY® winner and multi-GRAMMY® nominee, Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez, known as Daddy Yankee, will be the 2026 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year™.

Daddy Yankee, a pioneer and driving force behind the globalization of reggaeton music, will be honored for his nearly three-decade career as a singer, songwriter and performer within the urban genre, as well as for his humanitarian efforts. His career represents an example of perseverance, resilience and creativity.

“Daddy Yankee has been a defining force in the global rise of Latin music,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “His leadership, discipline and vision opened the doors for a genre and inspired an entire generation of creators, and he remains as relevant today as ever. We are proud to honor him as our 2026 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year.”

“This recognition from The Latin Recording Academy is a dream come true. It means a lot because it represents more than just a successful career; it’s recognition of years of discipline, struggle, faith and commitment to our culture,” said Daddy Yankee. “Receiving something like this is to honor Puerto Rico, to honor all Latinos, and specifically to that entire generation that believed in our music when no one else understood it.”

From his humble beginnings in the barrios of Las Lomas and Villa Kennedy in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Daddy Yankee channeled a complex social reality—marked by violence, censorship, and exclusion—into a musical language of his own. In a context where reggaeton music was stigmatized by society, he not only defended artistry but also played a decisive role in its cultural legitimization.

The historic turning point came in 2004 with Barrio Fino, an album that redefined Latin music in the 21st century, selling over eight million copies and spending 24 consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. With the global phenomenon of “Gasolina,” Daddy Yankee opened the international doors to reggaeton and popularized it among new generations. He became the first reggaeton performing artist to embark on an international tour, visiting more than 29 countries and bringing urban music to stages worldwide. Among his international hits are “Limbo,” “Con Calma,” and “Dura,” which reached number one in multiple countries.

His impact on the charts is both historic and sustained. “Despacito,” written in collaboration with Erika Ender and Luis Fonsi, marked a turning point in the music industry: 16 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, 56 weeks atop Hot Latin Songs, and more than 8.9 billion streams, establishing itself as one of the greatest musical phenomena of all time.

In 2022, Daddy Yankee announced his retirement from professional music, stating that Legendaddy would be the last album of his career, and subsequently, “La Última Vuelta World Tour” became one of the highest-grossing Latin tours in history. In his most recent phase, Daddy Yankee has developed a new creative direction focused on purpose-driven music, incorporating spiritual reflection, ethical values and personal transformation. His latest album, Lamento En Baile, includes the song “Sonríele,” which reached number one on Billboard Latin Airplay.

Daddy Yankee’s social impact is equally powerful. He is an agent of change in Puerto Rico, offering meaningful and timely social and educational programs through his foundation, and demonstrating a genuine and consistent commitment to the most vulnerable communities. In recent years, his strategic investment in sports—from the baseball team Cangrejeros de Santurce to the NBA Basketball School in Puerto Rico—confirms a legacy-driven vision focused on developing future generations of athletes.

The Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year honors musicians and their artistic achievements in the Latin music industry, as well as their humanitarian efforts. Daddy Yankee will be celebrated at a private gala on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, in Las Vegas, as part of Latin GRAMMY® Week. The tribute concert will feature renditions of his renowned repertoire performed by an array of international artists and close friends. To purchase tickets, please contact: lgticketing@grammy.com.

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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy® is an international 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 CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Iveliesse Malavé

ive@grammy.com

305.576.0036

For Artist Inquiries:

Nevárez Communications

mayna@nevarezpr.com