MIAMI, FL. (Manzanares Official Website) - MANZANARES was awarded one of the top three Best Latin Songs for "Que Se Va" in the 13th Billboard World Song Contest! This award continues the recognition of Manzanares as one of the top talented songwriting artists of the independent Latin genre! Manzanares' latest album, "Nuevo Latino" recently won the 2006 Independent
Music Awards "Latin Album of the Year".
Manzanares' "Que Se Va" was selected by professional songwriting and music industry judges on the basis of originality, lyrics, melody, composition and commercial appeal.
Winners are selected from thousands of submissions worldwide. The Billboard World Song Contest is an annual music industry contest co-sponsored by Billboard Magazine, Epiphone Guitars, D'Addario Strings, TAXI-The Independent A&R Vehicle, Indie Band Manager, Discmakers, BMI, MENC, Blublocker Sunglasses, GoGirlsMusic.com, The Halsey Institute, FIDOF, and online song submission partner Sonicbids.com.
The Billboard World Song Contest provides songwriters with exposure to some of the music industry's most influential names, as well as the chance to win major prizes that could help skyrocket winning songwriters' careers. This is the 13th consecutive year that the Billboard World Song Contest continues the search for the best and brightest new songwriting talent.
The top three winners in all categories benefit from distribution of the Billboard World Song Contest Winners' CD which will be distributed to music executives, producers, publishers, agents, promoters, and more throughout the industry. The Billboard Song Contest was the first of its kind and continues to break ground in exposing new talent to the world.
Brothers, David and Michael Manzanares, lead the 6-piece band. Their style, "Nuevo Latino" delivers an aggressive approach to the danceable Rumba Flamenca style mixed with an exotic, progressive blend of Rumba, Afro-Cuban rhythms, Soca, and Samba. MANZANARES has been likened to the styles of The Gipsy Kings, Santana, Los Lobos and Ottmar Liebert.
MANZANARES whose performances have included - a recent private party for the film, "The Flock" starring Richard Gere & Claire Danes; a Cancer Benefit with Univision recording artist Jennifer Pena; Summer in the Park with Los Lobos and Quetzal; the wrap party for the Steven Spielberg/Dreamworks/TNT mini-series "Into the West"; and an acoustic performance for a documentary by legendary music producer/manager, Miles Copeland. Their past performances include headlining for Oscar de La Hoya's private party at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada as well as opening for Los Lobos at the MGM Grand.
MANZANARES' second CD release "Nuevo Latino" won the Album of the Year at the New Mexico Music Industry's Award's show. Additional awards included Best Musical Production/Latin; Best Arrangement for Original Composition and Best Engineer.
