BILLBOARD LATIN MUSIC AWARDS
BY JORDAN LEVIN
jlevin@MiamiHerald.com
The most popular artists in Latin music were celebrated Thursday night, as the Billboard Latin Music Awards took over the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables.
The biggest winner of the night was young Mexican singer Mariano Barba, who continued his surprise rise from obscurity to take home awards in four of the five categories in which he was nominated. The hunky 26-year-old beat established stars Shakira and Joan Sebastián to win the prize for hot Latin song of the year; Barba also took home awards for regional Mexican album -- new artist, and regional Mexican airplay song of the year by a male solo artist, and new artist.
The Billboard Latin Music awards honor the bestselling recordings and most-played songs on radio according to the Billboard charts, from Feb. 11, 2006, through Feb. 3 of this year.
Pop and hip-hop, sometimes in combination, dominated the rest of the awards. Teen pop group RBD demonstrated its continuing sales power with three awards; for pop album of the year, duo or group, top Latin albums artist and Latin tour of the year. Leggy Mexican pop singer and awards show favorite Paulina Rubio won prizes for female pop album for her latest CD, Ananda, and Latin pop airplay song of the year, female.
Colombian rock star Juanes presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Spanish singer Miguel Bosé, who recently celebrated his cult status among his fellow musicians with Papito, an album of duets with artists including Juanes and Rubio, who joined Bosé to perform Nena.
Reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel, who've had a string of hits this past year, beat Gasolina star Daddy Yankee to win for hot Latin songs artist of the year, as well as Latin ringtone of the Year. The Puerto Rican duo were joined by David Bisbal in the Spanish pop singer's Torre de Babel for the finale.
Hearthrob male quartet Aventura and newcomer Toby Love, both of whom combine Dominican bachata and merengue with hip-hop and R&B, also won two awards each.
Salsa singer La India's return after a four-year hiatus was rewarded with two awards, for tropical album, female, and Latin dance club play track of the year.
ALTERNATIVE ACT
Mexican pop rock band Maná beat more innovative and lesser-known acts to win Latin rock/alternative album, for their latest, Amar es Combatir, and Latin pop airplay song of the year, duo or group, for the first single, Labios Compartidos. Newcomer Anaís also received two awards, for pop airplay song of the year, new artist; and beat Rubio to win for Latin pop airplay song of the year, female.
Longtime pop singer Ricardo Montaner received the Spirit of Hope award from his son Hector Montaner, in recognition of his humanitarian work.
 | Biografia Billboard Magazine
Hector Montaner Hector Montaner is heir to Venezuela's pop music throne. Son of romantic balladeer Ricardo Montaner, who became famous in the '80s for his sultry, dramatic performances, Hector takes after his father both in his soap opera looks and musical prowess. Born in Maracaibo, Hector studied music from a young age in Venezuela's most prestigious conservatories. Inevitably relocating in the late '90s to Miami, an artistic and musical hub in Latino culture, Hector continued his musical studies and began planting seeds for his solo career stateside. In 2004, Montaner saw a professional dream realized in the recording of his first solo record, entitled Amor del Bueno. With Ricardo as collaborator, author, and executive producer, it is no surprise that the record was well received. The title track was well played and charted in several of Billboard's Latin categories. Montaner's second CD, planned for release in early 2007, is a collaboration with Andres Castro, a producer famous for his work with Carlos Vives, Jon Secada, and Ricky Martin, among others. In hopes of differentiating himself from his father's ballad-heavy career, the sophomore effort is expected to be more rock-oriented. Montaner lives in Miami Beach, FL. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez, All Music Guide |
