By Variety | Created at 2024-11-14 18:31:15 | Updated at 2024-11-22 20:20:51
1 week ago
“Carlos Vives, you’ve taken your culture and your flag with you — beyond borders and above any complexities,” Alejandro Sanz told a sea of hundreds with a teary-eyed Vives sitting in the front row. The 25th artist to be chosen as Person of the Year by the Latin Recording Academy, Vives was honored Wednesday (Nov. 14) night in Miami with a star-studded gala that launched with Ruben Blades and Juan Luis Guerra, along with Gloria and Emilio Estefan, as opening acts.
“You represent something special in music — you love your roots — and I believe everyone in this room and [every performer] can agree that it moves us deeply, otherwise we would not be here,” Sanz continued. The proof is in the lineup: over nearly three hours, several Latin Grammy winners and icons delivered soulful interpretations and impressive renditions of Vives global hits from the 1993 smash “La Gota Fría” to “Un Pobre Loco.”
Among the long list of performers were rock group Los Fabulosos Cadillac, Camilo, Sebastian Yatra, Kany García, Fonseca, Juanes, Julieta Venegas, Maria Becerra, Carin León, David Bisbal, Gente De Zona, Grupo Frontera, Edgar Barrera, Emilia, Luis Fonsi and Wisin. In between nostalgic clips of Vives’ 30 years in Latin music, artists including J Balvin recited short speeches about Vives’ impact in Colombia. In one video, Vives’ longtime accordion player Egidio Cuadrado, who died recently on Oct. 21, spoke of Vives’ musical skills, praising his artistry and the vallenato style he’s come to represent.
The most nominated act at the Latin Grammys, singer-producer Barrera played guitar for Léon who sang Vives’ 2013 hit, “Volví a Nacer.” Barrera endearingly addressed Vives, telling him he taught him — and is constantly inspiring him — to hone in on his own melodies and lyrics.
Vives was on the verge of tears for most of the night but let it all spill out when Spanish flamenco singer Niña Pastori, Antonio Rey and Victor Martinez with the Frost School of Music (University of Miami) came together to sing a powerful rendition of Vives’ “Cumbia de Todos.” One camera focused on the honoree the whole night, capturing the moment Vives closed his eyes as droplets streamed down his face while Pastori’s powerful vibrato filled the room. The performance received the second standing ovation of the night behind Juanes singing “La Gota Fría.”
Previous recipients of Person of the Year include Latin music icons like Shakira, Juanes, Marco Antonio Solis and Alejandro Sanz, to name a few. The gala’s performance lineups, curated specifically for the history and musical taste of each honoree, are usually not completely revealed to welcome surprises for the POTY. Earlier that night, Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud announced a multi-year partnership with Live Nation as sponsors for the Academy’s annual POTY event.
