Latin Recording Academy Announces Lifetime Achievement & Trustees Award

The Latin Recording Academy® today announced the recipients of its Lifetime Achievement Award and Trustees Award. João Donato, Armando Manzanero, Las Hermanas Márquez, Joseito Mateo, Jorge Oñate, and Susana Rinaldi will receive The Latin Recording Academy's prestigeous Lifetime Achievement Award, while Manuel Bonilla, Juan Carlos Calderón, and Hebe Camargo will be honored with The Latin Recording Academy esteemed Trustees Award. These honorees will be acknowledged at a special, invitation-only, ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas as part of the weeklong Latin GRAMMY Awards celebration. The 11th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards telecast will be broadcast live on the Univision Network from 8-11 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central) from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Nov. 11, 2010.

"As we prepare to enter a new decade for the Latin GRAMMY Awards, we continue the rich tradition of honoring and recognizing the innovative talents of outstanding individuals who throughout their careers have enhanced the spectrum of Latin music," said Gabriel Abaroa, President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. "The Board of Trustees of The Latin Recording Academy takes great pride in celebrating the inspiring and groundbreaking endowment these International Artists have contributed to the world of Latin music. The Special Awards Ceremony has become a beautiful, sensitive and loving event celebrating the living legends that have helped pave the way for Latin music."

Lifetime Achievement Awards: This Special Award is presented by vote of The Latin Recording Academy's Trustees to performers who have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording during their careers.

While recognized as a key player in making Brazilian music internationally known, Brazilian jazz and bossa nova pianist João Donato began his career playing the accordion. Known for his instrumental compositions and fusions of funk, soul, jazz, and Afro-Cuban rhythms, Donato reinvented himself in 1972 when he began writing lyrics for new and existing compositions that led him to join the historic "Musica Popular Brasileira," or Brazilian Pop Music movement.

Mexican singer/songwriter and talented pianist Armando Manzanero is considered the premier Mexican romantic composer of the postwar era. His first composition, "Nunca En El Mundo," written at the age of 15, has been recorded in 21 different languages. With a musical career spanning 50 years, he has recorded more than 30 albums and composed more than 400 songs - 50 of which have earned him international fame and have been performed by such artists as Christina Aguilera, Perry Como, Luis Miguel, Elis Regina, and Frank Sinatra, just to name a few. He is the President of the Sociedad de Autores y Compositores in Mexico, and his efforts in defense copyright laws have garnered the organization international acclaim.

Handpicked by prolific composer Ernesto Lecuona, Cuban trio Las Hermanas Márquez began their career in the famed nightclubs of Havana. The trio, originally consisting of sisters Cusa, Trina and
Nerza, quickly became a prominently featured radio act thanks to their popularity and style of boleros and guarachas (an up-tempo genre of popular Cuban music with lyrics). They have captivated audiences throughout the Latin world with an impressive career spanning seven decades. To date, sisters Trina and Nerza continue to perform their beloved traditional Cuban and folkloric music.

Hailing from the Dominican Republic, legendary singer and dancer Joseito Mateo is known as "The King of Merengue." His career, which began humbly singing at birthday parties and local events, quickly took off and elevated him to performing with such legendary artists as El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Célia Cruz and La Sonora Matancera. His career has lasted more than half a century and his music has become a part of Dominican culture.

Known as one of the most renowned figures in the vallenato music world, "El Jilguero De Ámerica" (the Latin American Goldfinch) Jorge Oñate has had an impressive career spanning more than 40 years. Recognized as the premier voice of the genre, he got his start in 1968 with a group called Los Guatapuri, which established him as a major vallenato singer and soon after a composer. He has recorded 46 albums, 25 of which have gone gold, seven platinum and six double platinum. He was elected chairman of the Colombian Songwriters Association of SAYCO (the Colombian Association of Composers and Authors) in 1997.

Innovative Argentinean singer and actress Susana Rinaldi is heralded as being one of the first women to perform tango music, until then, a male-dominated genre. Known for her unique progressive and unmistakable vocal styling, Rinaldi is regarded as one of the foremost interpreters of tango. With an internationally recognized career, she has earned multiple awards and honors in various countries. Her tireless defense of human rights has won her the title of "Buenos Aires' Most Distinguished Citizen." She has served as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 1992 and is currently the vice president of the Argentinean Association of Performers (AADI).

Trustees Award: This Special Award is presented by vote of The Latin Recording Academy's Trustees to individuals who have made significant contributions, other than performance, to the field of recording during their careers.

The talents of Mexican-born Manuel Bonilla include evangelist, missionary and singer/songwriter and television producer. With more than 52 years of dedication and service to the ministry, he has traveled around the globe offering messages of hope, faith and salvation to millions. For more than 20 years, he has produced and co-hosted, with his wife Anita, a Christian television program, "Glory To God," and participated in mass crusades with such names as Billy Graham and Benny Hinn.

At a young age, celebrated Spanish composer, producer and songwriter Juan Carlos Calderón discovered jazz. This love affair quickly extended into the pop world and compositions for film, developing into a career that has lasted more than four decades and includes working with an impressive roster of international talent. His song "Eres Tú," which he composed for the group Mocedades, sold more than 1 million copies in the United States alone and he was one of the first crossover acts to conquer the mainstream airwaves in the United States. His compositions have been recorded by Herp Albert, Sheena Easton, Julio Iglesias, Luis Miguel, and many more international superstars.

Although beginning her career as a singer, Brazilian television's most recognized host and actress Hebe Camargo has since become a household name throughout Brazil. Camargo appeared in the first Brazilian television program for women, "O Mundo É Das Mulheres," (Women's World), and has captured the heart of a nation with her top-rated television show, "Hebe," which has been on the air since 1986. She is credited with introducing hundreds of national and international musicians and actors to Brazil and is known as the "Madrinha da Televisão Brasileira" (the Godmother of Brazilian television).

The Latin Recording Academy is an international, membership-based organization comprised of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking recording artists, musicians, songwriters, producers and other creative and technical recording professionals. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for Latin music and its makers. In addition to producing the Latin GRAMMY Awards to honor excellence in the recorded arts and sciences, The Latin Recording Academy provides educational and outreach programs for the Latin music community. For more information about The Latin Recording Academy, please visit www.latingrammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/latingrammys, and a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/latingrammys.

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