La cantante y pintora María Rivas es una apasionada de la música

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La cantante y pintora María Rivas es una apasionada de la música

Latin GRAMMYs/Sep 25, 2013 - 02:46 PM

La cantante y pintora María Rivas es una apasionada de la música - pero no solamente de un género o estilo en particular.  Rivas, que comenzó su carrera en 1990 con su extraordinario disco debut Primogénito, pareciera estar enamorada de todos los sonidos del mundo. 

Con su voz de terciopelo y acompañada por eximios músicos del jazz latino, la cantante ha demostrado su eclecticismo a través de un repertorio rico y variado que incluye elegantes versiones de clásicos como "Bésame Mucho" y "Moliendo Café"; páginas históricas del jazz como "A Night In Tunisia"; la melancolía inglesa del grupo de rock progresivo Genesis y su "Mad Man Moon" - además de sorpresas tan inesperadas como su deliciosa interpretación del himno grunge "Smells Like Teen Spirit" de Nirvana.

No sorprende, entonces, que Rivas haya sido la candidata perfecta para crear la pintura oficial que celebra este año la 14a. edición del Latin GRAMMY.  Rivas se volcó a este proyecto con toda la pasión que la caracteriza, desde el momento mismo en que le ofrecieron el trabajo.

"Cuando me dieron la noticia de que había sido elegida para realizar la ilustración del Latin GRAMMY, me encontraba en Mallorca visitando a mi familia", nos cuenta la cantante desde su casa en Venezuela.  "Afortunadamente tenía conmigo materiales de pintura, así que pude empezar a dibujar bocetos enseguida.  Una tarde, pinté la figura del gramófono, pero noté que le faltaba algo.  Como la música hoy en día se ha transformado en un arte audiovisual, decidí agregarle al cuadro un ojo saliendo del gramófono junto a las notas multicolores, reflejando así las tendencias del nuevo milenio".

El trabajo terminado fue creado con acrílicos sobre tela, utilizando colores fosforescentes y la influencia del movimiento cubista.  La soltura de las líneas y la armonía de la composición final no dejan la menor duda:  pese a que María Rivas acaba de cumplir treinta años de carrera musical, las artes plásticas han sido una presencia constante en su vida.

"El destino me llevó hacia la música, pero siempre me quedó la cosita de querer mostrarle al mundo mi estilo pictórico", explica.  "Estudié arte durante toda mi vida, y de niña tuve la influencia de mi padre, al que le gustaban Picasso y Matisse.  Él tenía un periódico, y hacía todos los rótulos y las letras, además de caricaturas.  Gracias a él aprendí el arte de la caligrafía".

Sin embargo, Rivas no llegó a colaborar con la Academia Latina de la Grabación por aspiración propia.  Lo hizo gracias a la ayuda de un amigo que creyó en su talento y postuló su trabajo sin que ella lo supiera.

"A este amigo le gusta mucho mi estilo de pintura.  Cuando se enteró que se estaba realizando la pre-selección para elegir al ilustrador de este año, me pidió que le pasara copias de todas mis obras.  Hubo una ronda final de cuatro artistas, y por suerte me eligieron a mí.  Mi amigo dice que es por la justicia romántica de la vida que finalmente recibo un reconocimiento por mi pintura".

La buena noticia ha generado en Rivas una ola de inspiración.  Después de terminar la pintura para el Latin GRAMMY, comenzó una nueva serie de siete pinturas inspiradas en algunos de sus músicos favoritos de Latinoamérica.  Uno de los cuadros rinde tributo a Agustín Lara y su tórrido amor por María Félix.  También están Oscar D'León, Astor Piazzolla, Sara Montiel, y el cantante del grupo Soda Stereo, Gustavo Cerati, entre otros.

"La idea de esta nueva colección es representar a los arquetipos y el misticismo de la música latinoamericana", dice Rivas.  "Combiné mi trazo propio con la estética de pintores como Matisse, Picasso y Chagall, el movimiento fauvista y el mundo de los comics, que siempre ha sido una gran influencia.  Para mí, Agustín Lara fue el Cole Porter del mundo latino, y María Félix la equivalente de Ava Gardner.  Los dos se vincularon en una pasión destructiva, que además generó una música tan tierna como romántica".

La idea de Rivas es exponer los nuevos cuadros durante una gira, durante la cual la cantante interpretaría clásicos del cancionero latinoamericano.

"Me encantaría llevar esta gira a Miami, pero también a Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina y otros países.  La idea del trabajo es evocar la música latina a través de las almas de todos estos grandes artistas".

News

Maria Rivas nombrada como artista oficial de la 14a Entrega Anual del Latin GRAMMY

Latin GRAMMYs/Sep 25, 2013 - 02:30 PM

La Academia Latina de la Grabación® y la Artista Venezolana Develaron el Arte Oficial durante el Anuncio de las Nominaciones en la Ciudad de Los Angeles

 

MIAMI (25 de septiembre del 2013) —  La pintora y artista visual María Rivas ha sido designada la artista oficial de la 14a. Entrega Anual del Latin GRAMMY®, anunció hoy La Academia Latina de la Grabación®. La obra de Rivas será utilizada orgullosamente como la imagen oficial del evento de la música latina más importante del mundo y adornará la portada de las invitaciones de este año, las entradas para el espectáculo, el afiche, el programa y otras importantes aplicaciones. La obra encomendada fue develada hoy en Los Ángeles en una conferencia de prensa en la que se anunciaron los nominados de este año a los Latin GRAMMY®. Para acceder a las últimas noticias y a contenido exclusivo, súmese a las redes sociales de La Academia Latina de la Grabación como seguidor en Twitter y como fan en Facebook.

 

"Cada año esperamos con ansias compartir y presentar un artista respetado proveniente de la comunidad latina, cuya obra capte la exuberancia que encarna la Música Latina, junto con el compromiso de nuestra organización para con la expresión creativa." dijo Gabriel Abaroa Jr., Presidente/CEO de La Academia Latina de la Grabación. "Sin duda, la imagen que María Rivas -ella misma música y compositora- ha creado, ejemplifica la fascinante sinergia que los Latin GRAMMYs se esfuerzan por transmitir cada año. Su presentación multidimensional, los matices de de colores y el empleo de sus imágenes transformadas de instrumento musical a figura humana realmente evocan la belleza y la magia que rodea a la cultura latina y a su música".

 

Rivas, que es oriunda de Venezuela y actualmente vive entre España y la Florida, es una afamada artista de la grabación, compositora, pintora y artista visual internacional. Desde temprana edad, mostró un gran talento en los soportes de pintura, artes plásticas, diseño gráfico y de modas, ilustración, y obras en óleo y en acrílico. Las capacidades refinadas de Rivas le han permitido crear un estilo artístico exclusivo al cual se refiere como "curvismo", que refleja su sujeto musical de una manera visual y flexible. La más reciente serie de Rivas titulada "American Jazz Greats" ("Los Grandes del Jazz Estadounidense") presenta interpretaciones en lienzo de algunos de los artistas de la música jazz más influyentes, tales como Chet Baker, Miles Davis y Nina Simone. Su obra se expone en galerías y en museos de todo el mundo, y forma parte de colecciones de aficionados privados de arte. La carrera musical de Rivas abarca más de 30 años y 10 álbumes, entre ellos, el sumamente popular y exitoso álbum Manduco (1992). Ha encabezado recitales en América Latina y del Norte, en Europa y en Asia, y también ha interpretado en el famoso Festival de Jazz de Montreux. Rivas ha recibido numerosos premios y reconocimientos artísticos por sus logros musicales, así como por sus esfuerzos humanitarios y relacionados con el medio ambiente; entre ellos se le atribuye ayudar a divulgar la iniciativa del reciclaje en su Venezuela natal.

 

La 14a. Entrega Anual del Latin GRAMMY será televisada en vivo el 21 de noviembre por la Cadena Univision (8 p.m. hora del este/7 p.m. hora del centro) desde el Mandalay Bay Events Center en Las Vegas. Para más información, visite www.latingrammy.com.

La Academia Latina de la Grabación es una organización internacional compuesta por artistas, músicos, compositores, productores, y otros profesionales técnicos y creativos de la grabación, de habla hispana y portuguesa. La organización se dedica a mejorar la calidad de vida y las condiciones culturales de la música latina y sus creadores. Además de producir la Entrega del Latin GRAMMY para premiar la excelencia en las artes y ciencias de la grabación, La Academia Latina de la Grabación brinda programas educativos y de asistencia para la comunidad musical latina. Para más información acerca de La Academia Latina de la Grabación, por favor visite LatinGRAMMY.com. Para obtener noticias de último momento y contenido exclusivo, sigue @LatinGRAMMYs en Twitter,  hazte un fanático en Facebook, e únete a las redes sociales de la organización en Foursquare, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, y YouTube.

 

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CONTACTOS DE PRENSA:

Lourdes L. Patton/The Recording Academy/310.392.3777/lourdesl@grammy.com

Louis Vázquez/The Recording Academy/310.392.3777/louis.vazquez@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

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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

Erika Ender Joins Latin GRAMMY In The Schools™ Benefiting Panama’s Ciudad De Las Artes

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Erika Ender Joins Latin GRAMMY In The Schools™ Benefiting Panama’s Ciudad De Las Artes

Latin GRAMMYs/Jul 22, 2025 - 07:30 PM

The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® and Fundación Puertas Abiertas joined forces to offer a live educational program

Click here to download image

Credit: Luis González.Heif/Fundación Puertas Abiertas

MIAMI (JULY 22, 2025) — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® and Fundación Puertas Abiertas, established and presided over by the renowned songwriter Erika Ender—Latin GRAMMY® winner, GRAMMY® nominee, and a member of The Latin Recording Academy®’s Board of Trustees—hosted an educational experience at Panama’s Ciudad de las Artes to inspire a new generation of Latin music creators.

This marked the 43rd Latin GRAMMY In The Schools™ program organized by the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, which included a donation of musical instruments to young students, performances, and a special appearance by Ender, along with a Q&A session with Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, Executive Director of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation.

Ciudad de las Artes is an arts and training facility that is home to the Network of Choirs and Orchestras, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the National Ballet of Panama, among others, promoting music, inspiration, and learning while uniting art with social engagement.

“It's a pleasure to celebrate the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation event in Panama, joining forces with my foundation, Fundación Puertas Abiertas, and work together, hand in hand to support youth,” said Ender. “Supporting education, music, and Panamanian talent is both a duty and an honor, and I am proud to be able to make this donation of instruments to the Network of Choirs and Orchestras and connect generations through music in a place as magical as Ciudad de las Artes.”

“Creating spaces to provide opportunities to promote Latin music and its culture is key to our mission,” said Egusquiza. “We are grateful to Fundación Puertas Abiertas and Erika Ender for welcoming us to Panama and for allowing us to work together to empower the future generation of Latin music creators.”

Since its inception, the Latin GRAMMY In The Schools program has benefited educational institutions in various cities across the United States, including Aransas Pass, Dallas, Detroit, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Antonio, as well as internationally in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Mexico City, Mexico; Panama City, Panama, Arecibo, Humacao, Yauco, and San Juan in Puerto Rico; and Sevilla, Spain.

Latin GRAMMY In The Schools is an educational program that informs and connects music students with professionals in the Latin music industry, supporting educational music departments that face financial limitations. The Foundation invites professional musicians, artists, and sound engineers to visit middle and high schools, universities, or music education institutions and 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.

Among the artists who have participated in this program are: Ángela Aguilar, David Bisbal, Marilina Bertoldi, Miguel Bosé, Calle 13, Pedro Capó, Camilo, Chino & Nacho, Chiquis, Luis Coronel, Silvestre Dangond, Joss Favela, Fonseca, Luis Fonsi, El Fantasma, Becky G, Karol G, Kany García, Gente de Zona, Leslie Grace, Carlos Jean, Jesse & Joy, Natalia Lafourcade, Poncho Lizárraga, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mau y Ricky, Claudia Montero, Ednita Nazario, Christian Nodal, Laura Pausini, Ángel "Cucco" Peña, Mireya Ramos, Prince Royce, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Noel Scharjris, Olga Tañón, Thalía, Christian Serratos, Diego Torres, Carlos Vives, Wisin, and Sebastián Yatra.

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ABOUT ERIKA ENDER:

A pioneer in the global music industry, Erika Ender stands as one of the most decorated and versatile creators of all time. As a songwriter, artist, producer, communicator, and philanthropist, she has penned over 40 #1 hits across a broad spectrum of genres, including the most globally successful song in history, “Despacito.” With more than 200 albums featuring her compositions and nearly 400 prestigious awards—including Latin GRAMMYs® and Billboard Awards—she ranks among the most honored Latin songwriters of all time. Her catalog has earned 16 Diamond certifications, 177 multi-Platinum, and 181 Gold awards across multiple countries, cementing her legacy as both an artistic and commercial powerhouse. A member of the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame, recognized by Forbes as one of Central America's Most Powerful Women, and honored with a Guinness World Record™ for her innovative philanthropic initiative “TALENPRO”—the flagship project of her Fundación Puertas Abiertas, established in 2009—she has transformed over 50,000 lives through educational programs, renovated learning environments, university scholarships, early childhood nutrition programs, and more. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, Erika Ender transcends music: she is a visionary who shapes the world with every note, word, and action. For more information: www.erikaender.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 $12.5 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 X and Instagram, and at Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on Facebook and LinkedIn.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

The Latin Recording Academy

Nathalie Alberto

Nathalie.alberto@grammy.com

Fundación Puertas Abiertas

Ilka Ender

ilka@funpaee.org