Latin Grammys 2000 –
The First Latin Grammys
By Marla Friedler
Glamorous from beginning to end. The pre-telecast show started at 3pm and the first person I met when I walked onto the floor was Cachao – what a thrill. He is a true legend. The night pretty much continued on in that fashion.
It was really a night to remember, not only personally but because of what this night and these awards means to us all. Most people speak about how this has affected Latinos but I think it is more than that. The recognition of Latin music has a much greater significance than to just Latinos. Being half-Latina myself, I can tell you that the pride I felt that night was not related to being Latina, but to being human. I felt proud that the world has finally accepted and recognized a music with such a rich history, a music influenced by many, many cultures.
My favorite performances were actually those I would have least expected. The Son By Four / N’Sync performance was incredible, wherein Son By Four sang in English and N’Sync sang in Spanish. It was really wonderful. The other performer who really literally lit up the stage was Shakira, with her combination of haunting Middle Eastern sounds and stage pyrotechnics. I also really enjoyed the opening number, a tribute to Tito Puente with the Tito Puente, Jr. Orchestra, Ricky Martin, Andy Garcia (on bongos), Celia Cruz and Gloria Estefan as well as the powerful duo of Maná and Santana and the artistry of Djavan.
I thought the presenting team of Jimmy Smits, Jennifer Lopez, Andy Garcia and Gloria Estefan was a wonderful choice. Jimmy Smits always has such an air of sophistication about him.
Being a huge tropical music fan, the only thing I thought was not right was the fact that the tropical music field had only 4 categories wherein the Mexican field had 6 and the Brazilian field had 7. How can one country have 6 or 7 categories and the entire Caribbean have only 4? I hope this is somehow reflected upon next year. RMM was a big winner in the tropical field, winning 2 of the 4 Grammys in that field (and 100% of the categories RMM was nominated for).
Anyway, the Grammys themselves were a lot of fun, a well-oiled machine that went off like clockwork. The Official After Party was also a lot of fun. LA’s own Poncho Sanchez and Johnny Polanco performed and there was plenty of food and drink. Then we were swept away by limo to yet another party at the Conga Room. The next night the party continued at the Conga Room with a performance by Fito Páez, who won 2 Grammys. I finally got home two days later and it took until today to recover enough to write this down.
And The Winners Are:
Record of the Year
Corazón Espinado by Santana and Maná
Album of the Year
Amarte Es Un Placer by Luis Miguel
Song of the Year
Dimelo (I Need to Know)
Marc Anthony, et al
Best New Artist
Ibrahim Ferrer
Best Female Pop Vocals
Ojos Asi by Shakira
Best Male Pop Vocals
Tu Mirada by Luis Miguel
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
Se Me Olvidó Otra Vez by Maná
Best Pop Instrumental
El Farol by Santana
Best Pop Album
Amarte Es Un Placer by Luis Miguel
Best Female Rock Vocals
Octavo Dia by Shakira
Best Male Rock Vocals
Al Lado Del Camino by Fito Páez
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
Corazón Espinado by Santana
Best Rock Song
Al Lado Del Camino by Fito Páez
Best Rock Album
Revés/ Yo Soy by Café Tacuba
Best Salsa Performance
Celiz Cruz And Friends: A Night of Salsa by Celiz Cruz
Best Merengue Performance
Ni Es Lo Mismo Ni Es Igual by Juan
Luis Guerra 440
Best Traditional Tropical Performance
Mambo Birdland by Tito Puente
Best Tropical Song
El Niágara En Bicicleta by Juan Luis
Guerra
Best Ranchera Performance
Mi Verdad by Alejandro Fernández
Best Banda Performance
Lo Mejor De Mi Vida by Banda El Recodo
Best Grupero Performance
En La Madrugada Se Fue by Los Temerarios
Best Tejano Performance
Por Eso Te Amo by Los Palominos
Best Norteno Performance
Herencia De Familia by Los Tigres Del Norte
Best Regional Song
Mi Ferdad by Alejandro Fernández (Kike Santander, songwriter)
Best Folk Album
Miss Criolla by Mercedes Sosa
Best Tango Album
Postales Del Alma by Juan Carlos Baglietto
Best Flamenco Album
Paris 87 by Camarón Con Tomatito
Best Latin Jazz Album
Spain by Michel Camilo & Tomatito
Best Contemporary Pop Album – Brazilian
Crooner by Milton Nascimento
Best Rock Album – Brazilian
Acústico-MTV by Legiao Urbana
Best Samba/Pagoda Album – Brazilian
Zeca Pagodinho Au Vivo by Zeca Pagodinho
Best Musica Popula Braileira Album
Livro by Caetano Veloso
Best Sertaneja Album – Brazilian
Sérgio Reis E Convivados by Sérgio Reis
Best Brazilian Roots Album
Pixinguinha by Paulo Moura e os Batutas
Best Brazilian Song
Acelerou by Djavan
Best Latin Children’s Album
A Mis Ninos De 30 Anos by Miliki, Oscar Gómez and José Morato Producers
Best Classical Album
La Dolores – Tomás Breton by Tito Beltrán, Plácido Domingo, Manuel Lanza, Antoni Ros Marbá & Elisabete Matos
Best Engineered Album
Ni Es Lo Mismo Ni Es Iguel (Juan Luis Guerra 440) – a whole lot of engineers
Producer of the Year
Emilio Estefan, Jr.
Best Music Video
No Me Dejes De Querer by Gloria Estefan (Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Gloria Estefan directors, Douglas Friedman, producer)