Shakira sweeps Latin Grammys, wins 4 awards
(AP)Updated: 2006-11-03 14:41
NEW YORK - Shakira dominated the Latin Grammy awards as she won a leading four trophies, including album of the year for "Fijacion Oral Vol. 1" and song and record of the year honors for "La Tortura," her smoldering duet with Alejandro Sanz.
 Singer Shakira poses backstage with the four Grammys she won at the 7th annual Latin Grammy Awards in New York, November 2, 2006. [Reuters] |
Though Shakira, who also won best female pop vocal album, stole the spotlight at the event Thursday night - gyrating her way through a rendition of "La Tortura" with her chest heaving and hips swaying - she also took the time to shine a light on one of the most heated issues in the United States, that of immigrants working in this country illegally. She threw her support to those trying to become citizens as they work without documentation.
"I hope soon they will receive they recognition they deserve from the government," the Colombian superstar said.
The engineers of "Fijacion Oral Vol. 1" also won a Grammy.
Three awards, including best new artist, went to Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Calle 13 during the New York debute for the awards show honoring Spanish-and Portuguese-language speaking artists.
Calle 13 picked up awards for best music album and best short music video Grammy for its reggaeton song "Atrevete te, te!" Its members were ecstatic as they won, bouncing onstage to pick up the video award.
"I'm honestly wetting myself," Calle 13 rapper and lyricist Residente.
"I'm very nervous. I want an 'arroz con habichuelas' when I get to my house," he said in reference to the Puerto Rican staple of rice and beans.
Argentine rocker Gustavo Cerati collected two awards: best rock song for "Crimen" and best rock vocal album for "Ahi vamos."
Salsa legend Gilberto Santa Rosa took home his first Grammy every: best salsa album for "Asi es nuestra Navidad," recorded with Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.
"I had the record as the most nominated without winning, so I'm super surprised," said Santa Rosa, during a show laced with salsa by Willie Colon, la Fania All-Stars, Andy Montanez and Tito Nieves.
Other winners included Mexican singer/accordion player Julieta Venegas, who was nominated for four awards. She won best alternative album for "Limon y sal" in the pre-televised awards ceremony.
Under the Mexican regional award categories, Joan Sebastian took away the best banda album award for "Mas alla del sol."
The self-titled disc by Cafe de los Maestros won best tango album. The recording's Argentine producer, Gustavo Santaolalla, already won an Oscar this year for best original score on the movie "Brokeback Mountain" and recently composed music for the film "Babel."
But producer of the year accolades went to Cachorro Lopez for "Dias felices," by Christian Castro; the self-titled disc "Diego"; "Dulce beat," by Belanova; Venegas' "Limon y sal"; and the self-titled "Vanessa Colaiutta."
Inside Madison Square Garden, a sold-out show featured a reggaeton performance by Ivy Queen, Wisin & Yandel, and Hector "El Father."
Mexican pop-rockers Mana and Dominican crooner Juan Luis Guerra sang "Bendita sea tu luz" together.
This was the second straight year Univision has broadcast the awards. The show attracted more than 5 million watchers in 2005 - its first year in Spanish - up from about 3.2 million in 2004, according to the ratings agency Nielsen Media Research
The Latin Grammys is now in its sixth year. In the past, the show has alternated between Miami and Los Angeles. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg took to the stage to a Latin beat, escorted by several female dancers dressed in red. "Welcome to my house," Bloomberg said in Spanish.
Musicians from Puerto Rico earned 33 Latin Grammy nominations, including all the nominations for best urban music album and best salsa album.
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