LOS ANGELES, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Recording Academy) - The 9th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards nominations were announced today at a press conference attended by national and international media at the House of Blues Sunset Strip. Artists reading nominations this morning included Buika, Lila Downs, Flex, Kany Garcia, Esai Morales, Gustavo Santaolalla, and Ximena Sarinana. In a year that recognized an array of artists and creative professionals across numerous styles, the nominations celebrate and spotlight a unique mix of established and emerging artists. The 9th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, set for Nov.13 at Toyota Center in Houston, will be broadcast live on the Univision Network from 8 - 11 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central).
Cafe Tacvba leads the nominations with six; Juanes and Gustavo Santaolalla garnered five nods each; Andres Calamaro, Kany Garcia and Julieta Venegas each received four nominations; 2008 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Gloria Estefan, Victor Manuelle, Soraya Moraes, Ximena Sarinana, and Joan Sebastian are among those who earned three nods apiece. And a contingent of long-established artists and emerging music makers - including Pepe Aguilar, Maria Bethania, Andrea Bocelli, Tego Calderon, Daddy Yankee, Placido Domingo, Jose Feliciano, Vicente Fernandez, Flex, Gilberto Gil, Alejandra Guzman, Los Tigres Del Norte, Gian Marco, Manu Chao, Sergio Mendes, Molotov, Ednita Nazario, Laura Pausini, Maria Rita, Olga Tanon, Tito El Bambino, Caetano Veloso, and Wisin y Yandel - each earned nominations.
"In its ninth year, the Latin GRAMMY nominations continue to reflect a diverse and eclectic worldwide Latin music community of well-respected artists while bringing fresh new acts and trends to the forefront," said Gabriel Abaroa, President of The Latin Recording Academy. "With more than 5,000 entries this year, it's encouraging to see so many music makers and professionals participate in the awards process, and to see so many albums, songs, and creators getting due recognition from peers. The world will be watching on Nov. 13, and there will be much to celebrate."
This year's Album Of The Year category features established superstars as well as rising new talent: Spain's Buika for Nina De Fuego; Mexico's Cafe Tacvba for Sino and Vicente Fernandez for Para Siempre; Puerto Rico's Kany Garcia for Cualquier Dia; and Colombia's Juanes for La Vida...Es Un Ratico. A similar diversity can be seen in the Best MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) Album category: Maria Bethania for Dentro Do Mar Tem Rio - Ao Vivo; Chico Buarque for Chico Buarque Carioca - Ao Vivo; Seu Jorge for America Brasil O Disco; Omara Portuondo e Maria Bethania for Omara Portuondo e Maria Bethania; Roberta Sa for Que Belo Estranho Dia Pra Se Ter Alegria; and Caetano Veloso for Multishow Ao Vivo Ce.
Cafe Tacvba's six nominations include: Album Of The Year and Best Alternative Album for Sino, Record Of The Year and Best Alternative Song for "Volver A Comenzar," and Song Of The Year and Best Rock Song for "Esta Vez."
Earning five nods each are: Juanes for Album Of The Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Album for La Vida...Es Un Ratico, and Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best Short Form Music Video for "Me Enamora;" and musician/songwriter/producer Gustavo Santaolalla with two nominations in Record Of The Year (as producer on Cafe Tacvba's "Volver A Comenzar" and Juanes' "Me Enamora"), two nominations in Album Of The Year (as producer on Cafe Tacvba's Sino and Juanes' La Vida...Es Un Ratico), and a nomination in Best Short Form Music Video (Bajofondo's "Pa' Bailar," as a member of the group).
Andres Calamaro, Kany Garcia and Julieta Venegas earned four nominations apiece: Calamaro for Best Rock Solo Vocal Album (La Lengua Popular), two nods in Best Rock Song ("Carnaval De Brasil" and "Mi Gin Tonic"), and Best Alternative Song ("5 Minutos Mas [Minibar]"); Garcia for Album Of The Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Album (Cualquier Dia), Song Of The Year ("Hoy Ya Me Voy"), and Best New Artist; and Venegas for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year ("El Presente"), and Best Alternative Album and Best Long Form Music Video (MTV Unplugged).
Five artists garnered three nods each: 2008 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Gloria Estefan for Traditional Tropical Album and Best Long Form Music Video (90 Millas) and Best Tropical Song ("Pintame De Colores," with Emilio Estefan Jr., Alberto Gaitan & Ricardo Gaitan); Victor Manuelle for Best Salsa Album (Soy), Best Traditional Tropical Album (Una Navidad A Mi Estilo), and Best Tropical Song ("Llego El Amor"); Soraya Moraes for Best Christian Album (Spanish Language) (Tengo Sed De Ti), Best Christian Album (Portuguese Language) (Som Da Chuva), and Best Brazilian Song ("Som Da Chuva," with Marco Moraes); Ximena Sarinana for Best New Artist, Best Alternative Song ("Normal"), and Producer Of The Year; and Joan Sebastian for Album Of The Year (producer on Vicente Fernandez's Para Siempre), Best Banda Album (No Es De Madera), and Best Regional Mexican Song "Estos Celos").
The 9th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will feature 49 categories and will be supported on radio via Univision Radio (the official Spanish-language radio network of the Latin GRAMMY Awards), and highlighted on the Internet by Univision Online (the official online partner of the Latin GRAMMY Awards) at latingrammy.univision.com. For more information, a complete list of nominees, and media credentialing instructions, please visit www.grammy.com.
Tickets to the 9th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will be on sale starting Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. CT, and may be purchased at select Houston area Randall's locations, via phone by dialing 1.866.4HOUTIX (1.866.446.8849), or via the Internet at www.toyotacentertix.com. Tickets will be available at the Toyota Center box office beginning Sept. 17 at 9 a.m. CT.
