Juanes, Kany Garcia win big at Latin Grammys
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Commercial success stories triumphed over critical darlings at the 9th Annual Latin Grammy Awards - presented at Houston's
Colombian pop/rock star Juanes won for Album of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Album for "La Vida Es un Ratico." His "Me Enamora" also won for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Short Form Music Video.
Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Garcia triumphed in a Best New Artist field that included Mexican alternative singer-songwriter Ximena Sarinana - a commercial success in Mexico who has yet to break big in the United States. Garcia also took home the award for Best Female Pop Vocal Album for "Cualquier Dia."
In the night's first upset, Wisin & Yandel beat out critical favorite Tego Calderon when they won Best Urban Album for "Los Extraterrestres." In the Urban Song category, Flex's "Te Quiero," a song that ruled the charts relentlessly in pop and regional Mexican versions, emerged the winner.
Alternative/pop singer-songwriter Venegas won Best Long Form Music Video and Best Alternative Music Album earlier in the day for her "MTV Unplugged." Backstage, Jose Tillan, co-producer of Venegas's "Unplugged" special, dedicated his award to "those who are in love in the state of California. They should have the same rights as me and my wife have," said Tillan, referring to the state's recent vote to ban same-sex marriage.
On the strength of his work on Marc Anthony's "El Cantante" soundtrack and several songs by Gloria Trevi and others, tropical producer Sergio George beat out a diverse field of pop and alternative producers for Producer of the Year. "El Cantante" also won Best Salsa Album.
Duranguense duo Los Horoscopos de Durango beat veteran singer-songwriter Joan Sebastian in Best Banda Album for "Ayer, Hoy Y Siempre." Sebastian went on to win for Best Regional Mexican Song for "Estos Celos," from Vicente Fernandez's "Para Siempre" album. That release won for Best Ranchero Album.
Best Rock Solo Vocal Album went to Andres Calamaro for "La Lengua Popular," who joked backstage, "I thought in order to win this award I'd have to go into Juanes's house and steal it." It was his first Grammy.
