NEW YORK (ASCAP) - The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) celebrated its 13th annual El Premio ASCAP Awards at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan on April 5, 2005. The star-studded gala, hosted by People Espanol's Joselly Castrodad and CBS-2 News/Anchor Correspondent
Mario Bosquez, honored the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most performed songs in Latin
Music in 2004.
Among the honorees, performers and notables attending the black tie celebration were Claudia Acuna, Obie Bermudez, Big Mato, Ruben Blades, Claudia Brant, El General, Sergio George, GemStar, Monchy & Alexandra, Nina Sky, NORE, Eduardo Osorio, Jennifer Pena, Rudy Perez, Joan Sebastian, Marco Antonio Solis, Spanish Harlem Orchestra with Maestro Oscar Hernandez, and Alicia Villareal.
ASCAP received special recognition from Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of the City of New York, who declared Tuesday, April 5, 2005 in the City of New York as "ASCAP Latin Music Awards Day." In a proclamation presented to the Society, Mayor Bloomberg cited "The Latin Music Awards are an opportunity for the music community to honor past achievement and nurture unrealized potential. New York City, home to countless Latin music fans, thanks ASCAP for its continuing commitment to musical excellence, and congratulates Ruben Blades and the rest of tonight's winners on their great success."
Rudy Perez was presented with the Songwriter of the Year award for his ten award-winning songs. As a testament to his writing strength and endurance, Perez has won this honor three times before, including last year. Billboard chart-topping artist Jennifer Pena performed as part of ASCAP's special tribute to Perez.
ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento and ASCAP Senior Vice President, Membership Group - Latin Alexandra Lioutikoff presented the Publisher of the Year award to Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing who shared the honors with a total of 30 winning songs each.
One of the many highlights of the evening was the special presentation of the ASCAP Founders Award to Ruben Blades by ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento with pop idol Obie Bermudez, who also performed a song dedicated to Ruben. Grammy Award-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Oscar Hernandez, closed the night with a special musical tribute honoring Blades.
The ASCAP Founders Award is given to songwriters who have made pioneering contributions to music by inspiring and influencing their fellow music creators. Previous recipients who have received this honor include Burt Bacharach & Hal David, Elvis Costello, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Arturo Sandoval, Stephen Sondheim, James Taylor, Tom Waits, and Stevie Wonder, among others.
"Mas Que Tu Amigo," written and recorded by Marco Antonio Solis, and published by Crisma, Inc. was named the top Latin Song of the Year. Independent Group of the Year was awarded to Del Castillo.
ASCAP also presented awards in the following categories: Tropical, Regional Mexicana, Urbano, Rock, Pop/Balada and the newly created Television category honoring the Top Rated Theme for Soap Opera and Top Rated Theme for TV Variety Program.
"Amor Real" from Amor Real, written by Leonel Garcia and Nahuel Schjris (SGAE) and published by Sony/TV Discos Music Publishing, was named the Top Rated Theme for Soap Opera. "Don Francisco Presenta," from Don Francisco Presenta, written by Gerardo Flores and published by Nuestro Music, was named the Top Rated Theme for TV Variety Program.
For the complete list of winners, go to https://www.ascap.com.
ASCAP is the dominant creative force in Latin music. Based on Billboard's 2004 year-end charts, ASCAP members secured 85% (9 of top 10) of the Latin Tropical/Salsa Airplay, 80% (8 of top 10) of the Hot Latin Tracks Songwriters, 80% (9 of top 10) of the Latin Pop Airplay Titles, and 70% (10 of top 10) of the Hot Latin Tracks.
