Latin Recording Academy announces Lifetime Achievement Award recipients

Recipients of the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award and Trustees Award were announced today by The Latin Recording Academy®. Alberto Cortez, Lucho Gatica, Olga Guillot, Los Tigres del Norte, Os Paralamas do Sucesso and Chavela Vargas will receive The Latin Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award. João Araújo, Leopoldo Federico, and Fernando Hernández will be honored with the Trustees Award. Recipients of these awards will be acknowledged at a special ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas. Under the overall production of Mary Black and the musical direction of Maestro Oscar Stagnaro, a special Berklee School of Music Latin Ensemble will perform a musical tribute to the honorees.
"Representing many genres from countries across the globe — from the Americas to Europe — these recipients have reached the status of living legends of Latin music," said Gabriel Abaroa, President of The Latin Recording Academy. "Through their inspiring passion, craft and vision, they have made significant contributions and improvements to the overall condition of Latin culture. The Board of Trustees of The Latin Recording Academy is extremely proud and honored to pay tribute to these creative forces as true pioneers of their time."
Lifetime Achievement Awards: This Special Award is presented by vote of The Latin Recording Academy's Trustees to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording.
Argentine singer/songwriter Alberto Cortez was only 12 years old when he wrote "Un Cigarillo, La Lluvia Y Tú," a composition that showcased his maturity and wisdom at a young age. Fifty-five years later, he has established himself as one of the most poetic songwriters in the Spanish language. His debut album came in 1960 and from then on, he produced dozens of hits including "Mi Arbol Y Yo," "En Un Rincón Del Alma," and "Cuando Un Amigo Se Va." Cortez has lived in Madrid since 1964 and today, he continues to tour and perform for thousands of fans around the world.
Born in Chile, Luis "Lucho" Gatica has enjoyed international success and earned recognition as the bolero king after relocating to Mexico in the late '50s. He has released more than 50 albums and has performed in many concerts all over the world. His versions of standards such as "El Reloj," "Contigo En La Distancia," "La Barca," and "No Me Platiques Mas" are renowned among bolero connoisseurs. Gatica is currently recording a celebration album and continues to act as a judge on the Chilean version of the hit television show "American Idol."
Olga Guillot, the bolero queen (a title earned over the course of 52 best-selling albums) debuted the now renowned classic "La Gloria Eres Tú" in 1946. A few years later she went on to record "Miénteme" and "Tú Me Acostumbraste," which became hits across Latin America and earned her three consecutive
awards in Cuba. In the early '60s, she settled in Mexico where she has appeared in a dozen films. In 1964, she became the first Latin artist to perform at New York's Carnegie Hall and throughout her illustrious and still active career, she has received numerous accolades from around the world.
Born in Rosa Morada, Mexico, and later relocated to San Jose, Calif., Los Tigres del Norte began a career that has spanned more than three decades. The group adopted a modern approach to songwriting, emphasizing contemporary social themes common to Mexican-Americans following the tradition of the popular "Corridos." Since being signed to Fonovisa Records in the '80s, Los Tigres del Norte have released more than 50 albums, recorded more than 500 songs, appeared in more than 12 films and performed to thousands of fans throughout the United States, Mexico, Latin America, Europe and Asia. In 1987 they won their first GRAMMY® Award and they have received three Latin GRAMMY® Awards.
Brazilian rock icons Os Paralamas do Sucesso came together in the '70s to form a group that would combine elements of Caribbean, pop, reggae, rock and ska. Coupled with sophisticated, politically conscious lyrics, their unique sound would attract fans throughout South America. The band has recorded 14 albums and classic hits such as "Mensagem De Amor" and "Uma Brasileira" remain vital and alive as the band continues to record and perform to this day.
Born in Costa Rica, Chavela Vargas moved to Mexico at age 14 to pursue a career in music. It was not until her early 40s that she collaborated with ranchera master José Alfredo Jiménez on the first of her 80 albums. She embraced and transcended this male-dominated genre by dressing in men's clothes, smoking cigars and wooing female audiences with her provocative singing and records, which include classics such as "La Llorona" and "Paloma Negra." Rediscovered by Oscar®-winning director/producer Pedro Almodóvar in the mid-1990s, her recordings can be heard in films such as Alejandro González Iñarritu's Babel, and Julie Taymor's Frida.
Trustees Award: This Special Award is presented by vote of The Latin Recording Academy's Trustees to individuals who, during their careers in music, have made significant contributions, other than performance, to the field of recording.
At the age of 15, João Araújo, a Brazilian talented businessman began working for the Polygram record label in Brazil and since then has launched, produced, and promoted virtually every big name in Brazilian music, including Bahian News, Gal Costa , Djavan, Tamba Trio, Caetano Veloso, and Ronnie Von. At the end of the '70s, he formed Som Livre — the label of Globo TV — which produced, promoted and distributed the soundtracks of the popular genre telenovelas. Araújo built a music powerhouse in Brazil that has had astounding success in Europe and the United States, as well. Recently, he has been elected as Honorary Chairman of the Recording Industry Association of Brazil (ABPD).
Tango master Leopoldo Federico began his career playing with a barrio orchestra in his native Argentina playing the bandoneón — an accordion-like instrument that characterizes the tango genre. He has toured all over the world with his own orchestra as well as played with many outstanding tango icons such as Astor Piazzola, Atilio Stampone and Julio Sosa. Among the approximately 80 compositions he has written are memorable tango anthems such as "Cabulero," "Capricho Otoñal," and "Sentimental Y Canyengue." Today, he continues to have an active role in advocating for artist rights in Argentina as President of AADI, the Argentine Association of Performers.
Music executive Fernando Hernández has been an instrumental figure in the history of the Mexican recording industry, working with record labels such as CBS, BMG, EMI Capitol, Universal, Polygram, and Rodven. He has worked with chart-topping artists such as Chayanne, Rocío Dúrcal, Alejandro Fernández and Ricky Martin and signed giant acts such as Juan Gabriel, Emmanuel, Ana Gabriel and José José, among many others. Hernández has made significant contributions to the development of the grupero movement, the rock en español genre, and the popularization of salsa in Mexico. He is the current President of the Mexican Recording Industry Association (AMPROFON).
The Latin Recording Academy is an international, membership-based organization comprised of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking recording artists, musicians, songwriters, producers and other creative and technical recording professionals. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for Latin music and its makers. In addition to producing the Latin GRAMMY Awards to honor excellence in the recorded arts and sciences, The Latin Recording Academy provides educational and outreach programs for the Latin music community. For more information about The Latin Recording Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.