LAS VEGAS — Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra swept the Latin Grammy Awards on Thursday, taking home five musical honors including album of the year, record of the year and song of the year.
Guerra's album, "La Llave De Mi Corazon," and its playful, upbeat title track also won the singer and his band, 440, trophies for best merengue album and tropical song.
Praise for "La Llave," also extended to its production, as the album garnered the award for best engineered album.
"I want to dedicate this award to the Dominican Republic," said Guerra of his homeland upon being named the Latin Recording Academy's person of the year, recognizing career and personal achievements. Guerra talked about Tropical Storm Noel, which recently thrashed the Caribbean nation.
"In recent days, we've had some difficult moments ... but we are a strong and courageous people," said Guerra.
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Guerra, credited with popularizing the bachata dance rhythms outside the Dominican Republic, bested Miguel Bose, reggaeton duo Calle 13, Ricky Martin and Alejandro Sanz for the album-of-the-year prize.
Among the artists he beat out in his record-of-the-year win were Martin and other superstars: Beyonce and Shakira, and Bose and Paulina Rubio.
Martin and Calle 13 each picked up two trophies.
The awards show made its Las Vegas debut, and the flavor of Sin City was evident from the get-go, when Martin opened the show with a rousing performance along with the blue-headed musical trio Blue Man Group.
The superstar performed a medley of "Lola" and "La Bomba," while Blue Man Group added their signature frenetic dance visuals.
Later, Reggaton star Daddy Yankee performed "Ella Me Levanto," flanked by the scantily clad showgirls of "Folies Bergere," each wearing colorful feather headpieces.
Martin took home the award for long form music video for "MTV Unplugged" and was up for album of the year and male pop vocal album.
Fellow Puerto Rican group Calle 13, which started the evening with four nominations, picked up the trophy for urban music album for their politically charged "Residente o Visitante," beating out Daddy Yankee, Orishas and Ivy Queen.
"We are super thrilled, nervous, this has been a lot of pressure," singer Rene Perez said onstage. "To all of Mexico, Colombia, from the heart — to all Latinos: From here, no one will remove us."
One track, "Pal Norte," on which the group highlights hardships faced by immigrants trying to enter the U.S. illegally, was up for the urban music song trophy.
Among the other winners, Italian singer Laura Pausini won the trophy in the female pop vocal album category for "Yo Canto," while Michael Salgado won the Norteno album trophy for "En Vivo."
Los Horoscopos De Durango picked up the banda album award, while La Quinta Estacion took home the award for pop album by a duo or group with vocal.
Partial list of winners at Thursday's 8th Annual Latin Grammy Awards:
Album of the year: "La Llave De Mi Corazon," Juan Luis Guerra 440
Song of the year: "La Llave De Mi Corazon," Juan Luis Guerra 440
Record of the year: "La Llave De Mi Corazon," Juan Luis Guerra 440
Brazilian contemporary pop album: "Acustico MTV," Lenine.
Brazilian rock album: "Acustico MTV," Lobao.
Samba/Pagode album: "Acustico MTV 2 Gafieira," Zeca Pagodinho.
MPB (Musica popular Brasileira) Album: "Ao Vivo," Leny Andrade & Cesar Camargo Mariano.
Romantic music album: "Eternamente Cauby Peixoto 55 Anos De Carreira," Cauby Peixoto.
Brazilian roots/regional album: "Bale Mulato Ao Vivo," Daniela Mercury.
Instrumental album: "The Enchantment," Chick Corea and Bela Fleck.
Folk album: "Un Fuego De Sangre Pura," Los Gaiteros De San Jacinto From Colombia.
Tango album: "Te Amo Tango," Raul Jaurena.
Flamenco album: "Techari," Ojos De Brujo.
Latin jazz album: "Rumba Palace," Arturo Sandoval.
Salsa album: "Arroz Con Habichuela," El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico.
Cumbia/Vallenato album: "Son … Para El Mundo," Jorge Celedon and Jimmy Zambrano.
Grupero album: "Solo Pienso En Ti," Grupo Bryndis.
Tejano album: "Evoluciones," Los Palominos.
Regional Mexican song: "A Las Escondidas," Freddie Martinez, Sr., (Joe Lopez with Jimmy Gonzalez and Grupo Mazz).
Rock solo vocal album: "El Mundo Cabe En Una Cancion," Fito Paez.
Rock album by a duo or group with vocal: "Kamikaze," Rabanes.
Rock song: "La Excepcion," Gustavo Cerati, (Gustavo Cerati).
SOURCE: The Associated Press
On the Net: For a complete list, see the Latin Recording Academy, www.grammy.com online.
