Seventeen Colombian musical artists and groups are in the running to take home a Latin Grammy Award at the 12th annual awards ceremony to be held tonight at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“The Grammy is a beautiful recognition, because you are nominated by the industry, people who you have been working with for many years, as producers, musicians, and artists. Your own colleagues are the ones who vote,” said Lena, granddaughter of the Cuban legend Elena Burke, who will be in Colombia recording a Colombian song on an album produced by Jose Gaviria.
Colombian composer Jorge Villamizar will accompany Lena and Spanish musician Alex Ubago to present one of the awards, as well as super sexy Colombian actress Sofia Vergara.
In addition to Villamizar’s nomination, 16 others are up to win awards including Siam, for the Best Group Pop Album, Marta Gomez, Moises Angulo, Alex Campos, Caraluna, Toy Cantado, and Don Tetto for Best Group Rock Album.
On the tropical side of things, Paula Zuleta is nominated for her album “Mezcla Soy,” and six Colombian groups are competing for the award for Best Cumbia and Vallenato Album, including Juan Carlos Coronel, Silvestre Dangond & Juancho De La Espriella, El Binomio de Oro, Peter Manjarres and Sergio Luis Rodriguez, Felipe Pelaez, and Ivan Villazon & Ivan Zuleta.
Wildly popular Bogota band Dr. Krapula has two nominations for Best Alternative Album for their disk “Corazon Bombea, en Vivo” and Best Song for hit single “Somos.”
As always, Colombia’s bombshell pop princess Shakira is also up for honors, with her recent album “Sale el Sol” up for Best Album of the Year and Best Album by a Female Pop Vocalist, as well as her song “Loca” for Best Music Video.
Shakira will also be performing live at the ceremony, alongside the big favorite at this years’ award ceremony, Puerto Rican group Calle 13 who has 10 Latin Grammy Award nominations, and many others that include Marc Anthony, Pitbull, Mexican rocker Alejandra Guzman, and Puerto Rican rappers Wilsen and Yandel.
The 12th annual Latin Grammy Awards Ceremony will air live on the Universion Network from 8PM to 11PM eastern time.