LOS ANGELES, CA. (Top40 Charts/ BMI) - Leading U.S. performing right organization Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) held its 15th annual Latin
Music Awards at the Beverly
Wilshire in Los Angeles. Esteemed composer and producer Gustavo Santaolalla was named a BMI Icon; Juan Luis Morera Luna and Llandel Veguilla Malave, better known as reggaeton duo
Wisin & Yandel, and singer/songwriter
Espinoza Paz comprised the three-way tie for Latin Songwriter of the Year; 'De Rodillas Te Pido' garnered Song of the Year honors for writer Jose A. Sosa; and Editora Arpa Musical received the Latin Publisher of the Year crown. Hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Assistant Vice President, Latin Music,
Delia Orjuela, the black-tie dinner also touted the writers and publishers of the past year's 50 most-performed Latin songs on U.S. radio and television.
The BMI Icon award is bestowed on creators who have had a 'unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.' An all-star musical tribute paid homage to the achievements of Gustavo Santaolalla, who joins an elite list of past honorees that includes Latin music titans Los Tigres Del Norte, Juan Luis Guerra and Carlos Santana, along with legends Willie Nelson, Brian Wilson, Isaac Hayes, Paul Simon, Dolly Parton and the late James Brown.
Reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel and troubadour Espinoza Paz shared the Latin Songwriter of the Year title. The win marks the second consecutive Songwriter of the Year crown for Wisin & Yandel's Juan Luis Morera Luna and Llandel Veguilla Malave. Three of the co-writing pair's hits were on BMI's most-performed list: 'Noche De Entierro (Nuestro Amor)' (Los Benjamins featuring Wisin & Yandel), 'Pam Pam' (Wisin & Yandel) and 'Pegao' (Wisin & Yandel featuring Los Vaqueros). Mexican singer/songwriter Espinoza Paz earned his first Songwriter of the Year trophy by also contributing three songs to the top 50: 'Mil Heridas' (Banda Cuisillos), 'Prohibido' (El Coyote y su Banda Tierra Santa) and 'Te Compro' (Duelo).
'De Rodillas Te Pido' earned BMI Latin Song of the Year honors for award-winning songwriter Jose a.k.a. 'Pepe' A. Sosa. Recorded by renowned group Alegres de la Sierra, 'De Rodillas Te Pido,' Sosa also took home an award for composing the band's hit 'Y Si Volviera A Nacer.'
With the highest percentage of copyright ownership of the year's most-performed songs, Editora Arpa Musical garnered the Latin Publisher of the Year crown.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of the BMI Foundation's fifth annual peermusic Latin Scholarship to Boston's Simmons College student Daniela Blau.
BMI also honored beloved Mexican troupe La Banda El Recodo with a commemorative plaque celebrating the prolific group's 70th anniversary.
Premier Latin songwriters Manuel Eduardo Castro (SACM), Agustin Cejudo, Edgar Cortazar, Hector Delgado 'El Father,' Cuauhtemoc Gonzalez Garcia, Don Omar, Luis 'Louie' Padilla and Julieta Venegas (SGAE) took home two awards each. Additional big winners included Mariano Barba for 'Aliado Del Tiempo's' second award; Ramon Gonzalez Mora for 'Voy A Llorar Por Ti;' Adrian Pieragostino for 'Me Duele Escuchar Tu Nombre;' Kike Santander for 'Quien Me Iba A Decir?;' Sergio Vallin for 'Bendita Tu Luz;' and Luigi Giraldo and A.B. Quintanilla III for 'Chiquilla.'
A complete list of 2008 BMI Latin Award winners is featured on bmi.com.
