7th Latin GRAMMY Nominees Announced

Press release
Source: Latin Recording Academy

The 7th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards nominations were announced September 26, 2006, at a press conference attended by international media at the Theater @ Madison Square Garden. The nominations recognized established artists and creative professionals along with emerging talent.

Colombian singer/songwriter Shakira led the nominations with five; Ricardo Arjona, Gustavo Cerati and Julieta Venegas garner four apiece; Calle 13, Chayanne, Gustavo Celis, Fonseca, Cachorro López, and Joan Sebastian are among those who earned three nods each; Cabas, Café Tacuba, Diego El Cigala, Alejandra Guzmán, Sergio Mendes, Ricardo Montaner, Maria Rita, Gilberto Santa Rosa and Bebo Valdés each received two nominations. And a contingent of diverse music makers — including Pepe Aguilar, Belanova, The Black Eyed Peas, Andrea Bocelli, Café De Los Maestros, Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Luis Fonsi, Gilberto Gil, India, La Oreja De Van Gogh, Los Tigres Del Norte, Pablo Montero, Nortec Collective, Carlos Ponce, RBD, Rick Rubin, Kike Santander, Gustavo Santaolalla, Alejandro Sanz, Lalo Schifrin, Sin Bandera, Olga Tañon, Thalia and Wisin & Yandel — each earned nominations.

Artists helping announce the nominations this morning included Obie Bermúdez, Tego Calderón, Calle 13, Willie Colón, Fonseca, Alejandra Guzmán, India, and Los Tigres Del Norte.

"This year's nominations truly reflect a dynamic and vibrant community of music makers that includes artists, producers, engineers, songwriters and everyone involved in the creative process," said Latin Recording Academy President Gabriel Abaroa. "In our seventh year, the spotlight continues to shine not only on established performers but on emerging and longstanding creative professionals who usually remain behind the scenes. It's inspiring to see so many albums, songs, and music makers getting due recognition from their peers, as well as such a cross section of genres being recognized within some of the categories. There will be much to celebrate on Nov. 2."

Shakira's five nominations include: Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best Short Form Music Video for "La Tortura," and Album Of The Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Album for Fijación Oral Vol. 1.

Earning four nods each are: Guatemalan singer/songwriter Ricardo Arjona for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year for "Acompáñame A Estar Solo," Best Male Pop Vocal Album (Adentro), and Best Short Form Music Video ("Mojado"); Argentinian guitarist/vocalist Gustavo Cerati for Best Rock Song ("Crimen"), Best Rock Solo Vocal Album (Ahi Vamos), and two nominations in Album Of The Year (artist/producer for his own Ahi Vamos and producer on Shakira's Fijación Oral Vol. 1); and Mexican singer/songwriter Julieta Venegas for Record Of The Year and Best Short Form Music Video for "Me Voy," and Album Of The Year and Best Alternative Album for Limón Y Sal.

Among those who earned three nominations apiece are: Calle 13 for Best Urban Music Album (Calle 13), Best Short Form Music Video ("¡Atrévete Te, Te!"), and Best New Artist; Chayanne for Album Of The Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Album for Cautivo, and Best Short Form Music Video ("Te Echo De Menos"); engineer/producer Gustavo Celis for Record Of The Year (Shakira's "La Tortura"), Album Of The Year and Best Engineered Album (Shakira's Fijación Oral Vol. 1); Fonseca for Record Of The Year and Best Tropical Song for "Te Mando Flores," and Best Contemporary Tropical Album (Corazón); producer Cachorro López for Record Of The Year (Julieta Venegas' "Me Voy"), Album Of The Year (Julieta Venegas' Limón Y Sal) and Producer Of The Year; and Joan Sebastian for Best Banda Album (Más Allá Del Sol), Best Grupero Album (En El Auditorio Nacional) and Best Regional Mexican Song ("Más Allá Del Sol").

In addition to Calle 13, this year's Best Urban Music Album nominees include Daddy Yankee (Barrio Fino En Directo), Don Omar (King Of Kings) and Wisin & Yandel (Pa'l Mundo). Joining Julieta Venegas with nods in the Best Alternative Music Album category are Babasónicos (Anoche), Café Tacuba (Un Viaje), Nortec Collective (Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 3), and Pastora (La Vida Moderna).

A new category to the Latin GRAMMY Awards, Best Cumbia/Vallenato Album features nominees Alfa 8 (Yo Bailo Cumbia), Binomio De Oro De América (Grafiti De Amor), Jorge Celedón Y Jimmy Zambrano (Grande Exitos En Vivo), Los Hermanos Zuleta (Cien Días De Bohemia), and Iván Ovalle (Veinte Años Después).

The 7th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, set for November 2, 2006, at Madison Square Garden in New York , will be broadcast live on the Univision Network from 8 – 11 p.m. ET/PT.

The telecast will be supported on radio via Univision Radio, and highlighted on the Internet by Univision Online at www.latingrammy.univision.com..

For a complete list of nominees, please click here.

For the first time ever, Latin GRAMMY tickets will be made available to the general public and can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office at www.thegarden.com, or through Ticketmaster.

The Latin Recording Academy also unveiled the official 7th Latin GRAMMY artwork at the nominee announcement ceremony. The work, created by New York-based artist Andrea Arroyo, will be the image used on the telecast program book, poster and souvenir tickets. To learn more about the artist and view the art, click here.