Ozomatli http://www.bmi.com/affiliate/rss/C2282 This BMI RSS feed contains news articles, events, and musicworld articles for a specific affiliate or group. en affiliates@bmi.com Copyright 2008 2008-07-05T00:29:00-05:00 Santana Namesake Creates His Own Sound http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/535864 Santana, Salvador, Ozomatli, Santana, Carlos, Latin, Urban Salvador Santana, son of legendary Grammy winner and BMI Icon Carlos Santana, paid a visit to BMI’s Los Angeles office to talk about his forthcoming album, SSB. The album, scheduled to drop in February, features collaborators including his father and Asdru of Ozomatli. Santana is expected to tour in support of SSB and is planning a stint at the 2008 SXSW music festival in Austin.

Since forming in early 2004, the Salvador Santana Band (SSB) has been on a mission to take its music to the people. Much like his father's band, Salvador's group is dedicated to the art of fusion, both culturally and musically. The SSB blends the flavors of Latin music, hip-hop, reggaeton and spawns eclectic grooves and loose, earthy jams built on tight, funky rhythms. SSB crisscross‘s genres culturally and musically, and offers an energetic, expressive perspective rarely found in today's musical climate.

]]> 2008-01-04T20:36:00-05:00 L.A. ‘Industry Insider’ Spotlights Latin Music http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/535490 Martin, Ricky, Castro, Cristian, Aguilar, Pepe, Aguilera, Christina, Babyface, Black Eyed Peas, Boyz II Men, Braxton, Toni, Carey, Mariah, Cibrian, Kiko, Crow, Sheryl, Estefan, Gloria, Foster, David, Gray, Macy, Innis, Jackson, Janet, Kambon, Camara, King, Carole, Krys, Sebastian, Miguel, Luis, Natasha, JD, Ozomatli, Ross, Diana, Russell, Brenda, Santana, Carlos, Sardina, Rafa, Shakira, Soraya, Stone, Angie, Summer, Donna, Thalia, Vives, Carlos, White, Barry, Latin BMI, Gibson Guitar and Billboard magazine will present a Latin music-focused “Industry Insider” panel series on Wednesday, October 17. Focusing on Latin music, the “Producers Roundtable” will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Gibson Guitars Showroom in Beverly Hills. The showroom is located at 9350 Civic Center Drive, Suite 130. The panel will be moderated by Billboard Latin music correspondent Ayala Ben-Yehuda, and will feature some of Latin music’s top producers, including KC Porter, Mark Portman, Kiko Cibrian, Sebastian Krys, Marco Flores, Rafa Sardina, and Homero Patron. Held every other month, panel admission is through rsvp only. For general admission, contact MPerez@bmi.com.

About the panelists:

KC Porter - This Grammy Award-winning producer, arranger and composer has chart-topping works with such Latin superstars as Carlos Santana, Ricky Martin, Luis Miguel, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Ana Gabriel, and the late Selena. Porter has also worked his magic with English-language stars, including Lara Fabian, Bon Jovi, Janet Jackson, Chaka Khan, 98 Degrees, Brian McKnight, Toni Braxton and Boyz II Men, crossing their hits over to Spanish-speaking and international audiences. One of his latest projects was co-writing and producing Ozomatli’s latest album, Don’t Mess with the Dragon.

Rafa Sardina – Sardina, a Los Angeles based, ten-time Grammy Award-winning mixer/engineer has built an eclectic and impressive client list in the recent years: Macy Gray, Stevie Wonder, Dr Dre, Dru Hill, Jessy Moss, Mariah Carey, Luis Miguel, Sheryl Crow, Soul Coughing, Marc Antoine, Angie Stone and Alejandro Sanz, among others. He has worked with numerous high-profile artists and producers, including Dr Dre, Camara Kambon, Lulu Perez, Babyface, Scott Litt and David Foster. Most recently, Sardina has launched a production company focusing on developing new talent in his state-of-the art studio, open since 2006.

Mark Portman - This Los Angeles-based, Grammy Award-nominated producer/songwriter/musician has worked on over 130 albums, several movies and TV shows. His roster of Latin stars includes Luis Miguel, Julio Iglesias, Alejandro Sanz, Jaci Velasquez, Cristian Castro, Luis Fonsi, Olga Tanon, Pedro Fernandez, Reik, Ednita Nazario, and Los Temerarios. He has collaborated and worked with renowned producers including David Foster, Phil Ramone, Quincy Jones, Teddy Riley and Latin producer Rudy Perez. Among his other roster of superstars are Barbra Streisand, Carole King, Carole Bayer Sager, Blackstreet, Diana Ross, Christina Aguilera, Brenda Russell, Dave Koz and others.

Sebastian Krys - Based in South Florida, this multiple Grammy Award-winning producer has over 20 top ten Billboard Latin Hits, including 9 No. 1 singles and albums. Krys has worked with artists including Marc Anthony, Carlos Vives, Sandy & Junior, Shakira, Mana, JD Natasha, Jeremias, Long Beach Dub All Stars w/Black Eyed Peas, Aterciopelados, Ricky Martin, Will Smith, Obie Bermudez, Gian Marco, Luis Fonsi, Gloria Estefan, Soraya, Mandy Moore, Jennifer Lopez, and more.

Homero Patrón – This Grammy Award-winning musician, director and composer has worked with artists such as José José, Emmanuel, Marco Antonio Muñiz, Rocío Durcal, Ray Conniff, Barry White, Tom Jones, Nana Moskoury, Raphael, Nelson Ned, Juan Gabriel, Manoella Torres, Vicky Carr, Gualberto Castro, Angélica María, César Costa, Alberto Vazquez, Charles Aznavour, and Jose Luis Rodríguez “El Puma,” to name just a few. Patrón has also produced albums for such superstars as Juan Gabriel, Lucha Villa, Javier Solís, Angeles Ochoa, Ana Gabriel, Yuri, Pedro Fernandez, Vicky Carr, Olga Tañon, Vicente and Alejandro Fernández, Pepe Aguilar, Lucero, Alicia Villarreal, Pablo Montero, Ana Bárbara, Laura Flores, Nana Mouskouri and Marco Antonio Solís.

Kiko Cibrian - Multi-talented producer, musician and vocal producer who has worked with Luis Miguel, Christian Castro, and up-and-coming artists Innis, Jesse & Joy, Patricia Manterola, Souljahz, and Frankie J, Reik, along with projects such at Billboard’s Latin Series: Best of 1997, Billboard’s Latin Series: Best of Pop 1996, along with the Sinatra Duets.

Marco Flores - Flores has produced and written over 400 songs, four of which placed number one on Billboard's charts in the same year (2000), and has achieved an impressive 14 platinum albums and 22 gold albums. His roster includes works with Richard Marx, Luther Vandross, Selena, Barrio Boyzz, Donna Summer, Toni Braxton, Bonnie Raitt, Thalia, Gloria Estefan, Carlos Ponce, Jordi, Ricky Martin, Jose Feliciano, and many more.

]]> 2007-09-26T17:53:00-05:00 Monte Negro http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/535422 Monte Negro, Jane's Addiction, Molotov, Ozomatli, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The, Santana, Carlos, Latin, Rock, On The Scene You are what you eat. Monte Negro, a bilingual Los Angeles based rock band, has devoured enough music genres over the years to do justice to the bilingual and bicultural musicians that constitute the group. Digesting healthy portions of Jane's Addiction, The Cure, The Clash, and the Sex Pistols, Monte Negro has also piled onto its proverbial plate Latin-alternative rockers such as Caifanes, Los Fabuloso Cadillacs, Maldita Vecindad, Mano Negra, Soda Stereo, and Spinetta. As with any good meal, Monte Negro combines sophisticated taste influences with unique combinations of flavor, and stews it all together with time and a pinch of luck.

Ten years of hard work and genuine soul-searching has led to the band’s selection of the finest musical ingredients and cultivation of an organic variety of sounds resulting in a truly original rock band. Mexican-American brothers Kinski and Rodax—the vocalist and bass player—like so many first-generation Americans working toward assimilation, initially overlooked the richness of their roots. Anima, their first band together, was a punk/new-wave band almost completely devoid of their Latino heritage. Although the lyrics were in Spanish, the two weren’t into being referred to as a Spanish version of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, resulting in their voyage away from rock en español and into an English repertoire. As the pair matured and selected other band members, they have come full circle, attaining the subtlety of a good wine and the hardiness that only embracing one’s culture can bring.

Monte Negro has matured past the natural tendency to bring too many different elements to the table when writing and recording music. From an overproduced sound full of bleeps and fodder from a DAT machine, to heavy drums, and too many guitar sounds, the band has developed a much more refined style. In accordance with the more you eat, the less flavor, Monte Negro has realized just how powerful simplicity can be, which is highlighted on their new album, Cicatrix, which will be released in August 2007 through Feed The Hungry Music/Adrenaline Music Group.

The road to enlightenment, however, is long. Kinski, whose older brother nicknamed him after the neurotic German actor Klaus Kinski, began hanging out at the Hong Kong Lo in L.A., catching rock en español acts as the movement gained momentum in the mid-'90s. Rodax, who studied and played jazz in Mexico, carved out a broader musical landscape before moving to the states. Kinksi and Rodax then recruited Jason Li Shing, a Chinese-Japanese American guitarist, at his high school talent show. Jason’s selective taste for aggressive rock can be juxtaposed with his passion for such expressive female vocalists as Bjork and PJ Harvey, and he eventually underwent his own musical rite of passage that led him to learn the koto, a Japanese traditional zither, and experiment with the harp. After trying a heavier sound with another drummer, Monte Negro hired drummer Xavier Lopez and arrived at its current line-up in 2003 with the band name, Madrepore. As the band’s sound evolved with Cicatrix, the band decided to reflect this with a new band name, Monte Negro.

The music of Monte Negro, defies a simple description. Most say melodic rock, which is true, yet there are distinct undertones and layers making it eclectic and bohemian, American yet definitely worldly. Their music has landed them in magazines such as Spin, La Banda Elástica, and Billboard, and they have worked with famed producers such as Gavin MacKillop (Goo Goo Dolls, Sugarcult) and Tone (Green Day, Carlos Santana). Playing alongside bands like Todos Tus Muertos, Incubus, At The Drive In, and Molotov, Monte Negro most recently performed with the Mexican alternative band Zoe and L.A.’s multiethnic band, Ozomatli.

Today, Monte Negro is finally producing the sound they describe as an "amalgamation of styles filtering through our creative sides." Pop sensibilities mix with darker experimentation to give the listener an acoustic journey through the Monte Negro landscape. Monte Negro’s goal is simple: play for a lot of people and get a reaction.

As lead singer Kinski states, "We hope that people either love us or hate us. As long as we can get a visceral reaction and not be met with indifference, I think we've achieved what we set out to do."

With a savory attitude and an accomplished new sound, Monte Negro emerges as a nourished entity.

]]> 2007-09-05T18:55:00-05:00 West 8 Five http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/535421 West 8 Five, Maroon 5, Ozomatli, Latin, Pop, Rock, On The Scene West 8 Five is an energetic young band that was formed in New York City. Their music is a soulful blend of catchy pop/rock and Latin rhythms.

"It's like a night out for margaritas and tequila shots with Maroon 5 and Jack Johnson!"

The band's Spanish/English fusion creates a uniquely contagious sound that unfailingly gets fans on their feet. A quick look at the fan base tells the diverse, culturally transcendent story of this band - breaking boundaries in the tradition of some of the best music of our time.

The band started out as an acoustic duo back in the spring of 2003 when lead singer/guitarist Adam Piotrowski met fellow singer/bassist Felipe Cano at New York City's HB Studio, the esteemed theatre school founded by Herbert Berghof and Uta Hagen. The duo quickly unlocked a strong creative chemistry between one another, naturally blending their musical and personal backgrounds to create an exciting sound. As their music grew, they soon met drummer Jeremy Portwood and percussionist Demian Arriaga who together added an exicitng rhythmic flare to the music.

Their following grew quickly in NYC and the band began packing shows at the city's hottest music venues such as The Mercury Lounge, The Knitting Factory, The Cutting Room, and Crash Mansion to name a few. Soon after they were invited to play with Grammy award-winning artists Ozomatli at the closing show of the esteemed Breckenridge Spring Massive Festival in Colorado, joining a small list of well-known artists who have been given that honor.

Following the release of their debut album, Life Is Good, the band recently relocated to southern California for a host of new opportunities following a wave of press throughout the entertainment and music community including features in Spin Magazine (Nov '06) and Stuff Magazine (Mar '07).

]]> 2007-09-05T18:46:00-05:00 Luigi Giraldo http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/535018 Giraldo, Luigi, Ozomatli, Latin, Hitmaker It might be confusing tracking the mighty Los Kumbia Kings/Kumbia All-Starz franchise without a scorecard, but suffice to say that by fusing traditional Mexican music with the urban styles of hip-hop, funk, r&b and reggae, both groups have handily redefined the parameters of modern Latin music. The songs are key ingredients: hook laden choruses with a rich sheen of pure pop accessibility.

Luigi Giraldo, a former teen star and an accomplished studio master, is a key player in this evolving sound, co-writing signature songs with the two groups’ founder and mastermind, A.B. Quintanilla, including the BMI Award-winning “Shhh,” “Se Fue Mi Amore,” “Me Gente” (also recorded in collaboration with Los Angeles heroes Ozomatli) and recent tracks like "Chiquilla and the hit, "Dulce Niña (na na na)" as performed by the Kumbia All-Starz’s heartthrob lead vocalist, Pee Wee.

In light of Giraldo’s expansive credits, his remarkable proficiency across the board is even more evident as he adds to the mix as a vocal and keyboard arranger, producer, programmer, and engineer, with a broad collection of modern artists like Frankie Negron, Patricia Manterola and Raul Brindis.

Giraldo first came to the pop music forefront in the ’90s with the extravagantly attired teen group Los Fantasmas del Caribe (Ghosts of the Caribbean). And although he his left his glossy pirate costume far behind in his evolution into one of Latin music’s most proficient modern hitmakers, he has clearly found a map to new musical treasures.

]]> 2007-05-28T01:09:01-05:00 “BMI Presents” @ SXSW http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/534465 X-Clan, Public Enemy, Ozomatli, Latin, Rock, Austin, Industry, Songwriter "BMI Presents” showcase featuring hip-hop stalwarts Public Enemy, bilingual rockers Ozomatli and legendary rap group X-Clan at the Town Lake Stage during the SXSW Music Festival. The Town Lake Stage is located at Auditorium Shores in downtown Austin, and the event is free and open to the public.

Check out details on BMI's activities at SXSW.

Visit the official SXSW2007 website.

]]> 2007-03-16T14:15:00-05:00 ‘BMI Presents’ Public Enemy, Ozomotli & X-Clan at SXSW http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/534472 X-Clan, Public Enemy, Ozomatli, Latin, Rock, Urban BMI will present musical icons Public Enemy, bilingual rockers Ozomatli and legendary rap group X-Clan on Friday, March 16 at the Town Lake Stage during the SXSW Music Festival being held in Austin, Texas, March 14-18. X-Clan will kick off the show at 5:45 p.m. and then hand the mic off to Ozomatli at 6:30 p.m. to keep the evening rolling. Public Enemy will close the night, taking the stage at 7:45 p.m. The Town Lake Stage is located at Auditorium Shores in downtown Austin, and the event is free and open to the public.

  • Public Enemy
  • Ozomatli
  • X Clan

On the eve of their 20th anniversary, Public Enemy - one of music's most influential and important groups - shows no signs of slowing down. Their messages are as urgent and compelling as ever, and their performances just as electrifying. The legends have embarked on more than 55 tours and performed over 1,300 concerts for fans in 45 countries. Boasting three certified multi-platinum albums, three gold albums, four gold singles and a platinum-selling home video, Public Enemy continues to blaze musical and technological trails with new songs and new media, pulling rap music into the future, all while keeping its musical roots firmly intact. Since the group burst onto both the rap and pop music world in 1987 with their first single, "Public Enemy #1," their startling combination of Chuck D's commanding orations and Flava Flav's show-stopping antics to keep the message entertaining set the pace for hip-hop, both in the studio and live. Performing with a live band over the last five years, Public Enemy's trademark "noise" is louder than ever.

Ozomatli's signature sound crosses genre and language barriers with a thundering Spanish/English hybrid of salsa, hip-hop, cumbia, dub and Middle Eastern funk. Since the group's conception in 1995, Ozomatli has released five albums, all the fruits of relentless gigging, personal tribulations and musical maturation. 2007's Don't Mess with the Dragon finds the group's co-founders still at its core, more congruous and appreciative of each other's strengths. With veteran Latin producer KC Porter at the helm, Don't Mess with the Dragon provides a dazzling display of Ozomatli's style-bending concoctions. The group's effervescent dedication to shedding light on social injustices remains audible in new tracks like "Temperatura" and "Magnolia Soul," while genre-twisting experiments including "After Party," "La Segunda Mano" and the title track illustrate Ozomatli's contemporary relevancy and hit-making know-how.

Politically charged hip-hop forefathers X-Clan relay passionate messages with enlightened lyrics and infectious grooves. The early 90s saw co-founders Grand Verbalizer Funkin' Lesson Brother J, Professor X the Overseer, Sugar Shaft the Rhythm Provider and Grand Architect Paradise release two groundbreaking LPs, To The East Blackwards and Xodus. Hits including "Funkin' Lesson," "Heed the Word of the Brother" and "Raise the Flag" were dance-inducing conduits for the messages of figures including Malcolm X and Sonny Carson. Following the success of their first two albums, X-Clan took an extended hiatus, choosing to focus on individual projects and recording endeavors. During this time, the group's architect Professor X passed away. Now led by Professor X protégé Brother J, the X-Clan revitalization began with the release of a brand new album, Return from Mecca, in 2006.

]]> 2007-02-26T20:01:00-05:00 BMI Writers Win Big at 2005 Latin Grammys http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334608 Artists, Bacilos, Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga, Cachao, Crespo, Elvis, D'Rivera, Paquito, Downs, Lila, Garza, David Lee, Guerra, Juan Luis, Guzman, Joel, Intocable, Juanes, Lee, David, Lins, Ivan, Luna, Lina, Miguel, Luis, Molotov, Ozomatli, Rosas, Johnny Lee, Santaolalla, Gustavo, Sardina, Rafa, Sauceda, Sunny, Vives, Carlos, Awards, Industry Awards, Latin Grammy Awards 6th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, taking home nearly 60% of the night's big awards. Almost 30% of the winners were represented by foreign societies -- such as Spain's SGAE and Mexico's SACM -- and just over 10% was won by members of the other American performing rights organizations.

JuanesIvan LinsJuan Luis Guerra

Latin Grammy favorite Juanes continued his red hot streak winning all three of the awards for which he was nominated, including Best Rock Song for "Nada Valgo Sin Tu Amor," Best Music Video for "Volverte a Ver" and Best Rock Solo Vocal Album for Mi Sangre. The Colombian rocker, whose duet "Fotografía" was named the 2005 BMI Latin Song of the Year, has earned a total of 12 Latin Grammy Awards to date.

OzomatliBanda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga

Veteran Brazilian jazz singer Ivan Lins added two more trophies to his collection, including the coveted Album of the Year for his "Cantando Histórias," which also won Best MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) Album. Dominican merengue artist Juan Luis Guerra also took home two Latin Grammys, one for "Las Avispas," named Best Tropical Song, and the other for Best Christian Album (Spanish Language) for Para Ti.

IntocableBebo Valdés

Other BMI Latin Grammy winners included Intocable, Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga, Josue Contreras, Bebo Valdés, David Sánchez, Ozomatli, Carlos Vives, Rafa Sardina, Bacilos, Molotov, David Lee Garza, Sunny Sauceda, Joel Guzman, Elvis Crespo, Cachao, Lila Downs, Luis Miguel, Paquito D'Rivera, Lina Luna and Gustavo Santaolalla, who picked up his sixth award.

David SánchezCarlos VivesSunny Sauceda

Held November 3 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the 6th Annual Latin Grammy Awards featured an expanding range of genres including pop, salsa, reggaeton and rock, and was broadcast live for the first time exclusively in Spanish on the Univision Network.

BacilosCachao

As part of Latin Grammy week, the Latin Recording Academy (LARAS) honored Mexican crooner José José as its 2005 Person of the Year at a gala dinner and concert on November 1. Known as the "Prince of Song," the legendary singer was feted for his humanitarian contributions and for his more than 40 year music career that includes album sales of over 40 million, six Grammy nominations and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Recording Academy.

José JoséJosue Contreras

BMI's 2005 Latin Grammy Winners:

THREE AWARDS
Juanes
Best Rock Solo Vocal Album
Best Rock Song
Best Music Video

TWO AWARDS
Ivan Lins
Album of the Year
Best MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) Album

Juan Luis Guerra
Best Tropical Song
Best Christian Album (Spanish Language)

MolotovLuis Miguel

SINGLE WINNERS
Bacilos
Best Pop Album by Duo or Group

Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
Best Banda Album

Cachao
Best Traditional Tropical Album

Lina LunaGustavo SantaolallaDavid Lee Garza

Elvis Crespo
Best Merengue Album

Josué Contreras
Best Regional Mexican Song

Lila Downs
Best Folk Album

Joel GuzmanLila Downs

David Lee Garza
Best Tejano Album

Joel Guzman
Best Tejano Album

Intocable
Best Norteño Album

Rafa SardinaPaquito D'Rivera

Lina Luna
Best Latin Children's Album

Molotov
Best Rock Album by Duo or Group

Luis Miguel
Best Ranchero Album

Ozomatli
Best Alternative Music Album

Paquito D'Rivera
Best Classical Album

Johnny Lee Rosas
Best Regional Mexican Song

David Sánchez
Best Instrumental Album

Gustavo Santaolalla
Producer of the Year

Rafa Sardina
Record of the Year

Sunny Sauceda
Best Tejano Album

Bebo Valdés
Best Latin Jazz Album

Carlos Vives
Best Contemporary Tropical Album

]]> 2005-11-06T17:00:00-05:00 BMI Songwriters and Publishers Win Big at 12th Annual Latin Awards in Las Vegas http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234421 Ayala, Ramon, Branch, Michelle, Brown, James, Bryant, Del, Conjunto Primavera, Estefan, Emilio, Estefan, Gloria, Estefano, Game, The, Hayes, Isaac, Intocable, Juanes, Leo, Lopez, Jennifer, Morrison, Van, Ozomatli, Parton, Dolly, peermusic, Quintanilla III, A.B., Quintero, Mario, Santana, Carlos, Santander, Kike, Shakira, Thalia, Wilson, Brian, Latin, Pop, Rock, International, BMI Latin Awards Ceremony Highlighted by Special Tribute to BMI Icon Carlos Santana

Performing rights organization BMI presented its 12th Annual Latin Awards last night (4/21) with top honors going to Emilio Estefan and Est�fano as Songwriters of the Year, "Fotograf�a" by Juanes as Song of the Year, and SER-CA Publishing, Inc. as Publisher of the Year. The black-tie ceremony, hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Assistant Vice President of Latin Music Diane J. Almodovar, recognized the writers and publishers of the past year's most performed Latin songs on US radio and television. The invitation-only gala was held for the first time in Las Vegas at the Four Seasons Hotel and featured a special tribute to BMI Icon Carlos Santana.

Click here for photos from the 2005 BMI Latin Awards
Click here for the 2005 BMI Latin Awards Song List

Multiple Grammy winning songwriter/producer Emilio Estefan and six-time BMI Latin Songwriter of the Year Est�fano shared the Songwriter crown this year by placing three titles each on the most performed list of 50.

Carlos SantanaEmilio Estefan

Emilio Estefan's award-winning tracks included Cristian Castro's "No Hace Falta," Shalim's "Se Me Olvid� Tu Nombre," and Victor Manuelle's "Tengo Ganas." As head of Estefan Enterprises, which includes music publishing, music and movie production, several restaurants and managing the career of his superstar wife Gloria Estefan, the Cuban-born entrepreneur is best known as founding member and leader of groundbreaking crossover group the Miami Sound Machine.

EstéfanoJuanes

Est�fano accepted his sixth BMI Latin Songwriter of the Year Crystal for his award-winning songs "Ahora Qui�n" by Marc Anthony, "Quit�monos La Ropa" by NG�, and "Y Todo Queda En Nada" by Ricky Martin. He also won the top honor in 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Born in Colombia, the multitalented songwriter, artist and producer got his start in Miami in the early 90s and has written hits for Julio Iglesias, Thal�a, Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Chayanne, Paulina Rubio and many others.

"Fotograf�a," written, published and performed by Colombian rocker Juanes (featuring Nelly Furtado) and co-published by peermusic III ltd., was named BMI Latin Song of the Year for tallying the most US radio and television performances. The international hit is from the nine-time Latin Grammy winner's multiplatinum CD, Un Dia Normal, which has garnered more awards than any other Latin album in history. Juanes, who now has a total of seven BMI awards, was recently named one of Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World."

SER-CA Publishing, Inc. was named Publisher of the Year, boasting six titles on the Latin song list, including three by Norte�o/Tejano fusion band Intocable. The honor is given to the publisher with the highest percentage of ownership of songs on the most performed list. Founded 40 years ago in Monterrey, Mexico, by Don Servando Cano, the company focuses on Regional Mexican artists like Ramon Ayala, Cornelio Reyna, Bronco El Gigante de America, Grupo Pesado, Duelo and Los Invasores de Nuevo Leon, among others.

The gala ceremony also paid tribute to multiple Grammy Award-winning artist Carlos Santana, who was named a BMI Icon for his "unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." The first songwriter to receive the Icon honor at BMI's Latin Awards, Santana joins a distinguished list of past honorees, including James Brown, Brian Wilson, Dolly Parton, Isaac Hayes and Van Morrison.

The Icon presentation featured a special musical salute with performances by Mana guitarist Sergio Vallin, Conjunto Primavera lead singer Tony Melendez, Jaguares percussionist Leo Mu�oz and Latin rock group Ozomatli. From his most recent hits, including 2004 Pop Song of the Year "The Game of Love" (featuring Michelle Branch), "Smooth" (featuring Rob Thomas), and "Why Don't You & I" (featuring Chad Kroeger), to Santana Band classics like "Evil Ways," "Black Magic Woman," and "Oye Como Va," Carlos Santana has been creating a unique fusion of passionate, guitar-powered music for more than 30 years, creatively blending potent rock and roll with blues-driven elements and sensuous Afro-Cuban rhythms.

Double award-winning songwriters included Ram�n Gonz�lez Mora, Juanes, Luis "Louie" Padilla, Archie Pe�a, A.B. Quintanilla III, Mario Quintero, Kike Santander and Jos� Miguel Vel�squez. Publishers earning two or more Citations of Achievement were Sony/ATV Music Publishing (including Sony/ATV Acuff Rose and Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing LLC); Foreign Imported Productions and Publishing, Inc.; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.; peermusic (including Peer International Corp. and peermusic III ltd.); Disa Latin Publishing LLC; Kike Santander Music LLC/Santander Songs; World Deep Music Publishing Corporation; EMI Music Publishing (including EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. and EMI Music Publishing Italia [SIAE]); Iron Tigga Music/King of Bling Music; Nati Publishing; Seg-Son Music, Inc.; Songs of Camaleon; and Universal Music Publishing (including Universal M?sic Italia [SIAE] and Universal-M?sica Unica Publishing).

Another of the evening's highlights included the announcement of the winner of the 2nd annual BMI Foundation/peermusic Latin Scholarship. This year's $5,000 scholarship recipient was 22-year-old Mexican singer/songwriter Manelick de la Parra for his song "Me Toco Amarte." Established by the BMI Foundation and funded by the generosity of the peermusic publishing companies, the scholarship is awarded annually through a competition for original Latin songs and instrumental compositions.

]]> 2005-04-21T18:00:00-05:00 Artists Announced for Tribute to Carlos Santana at BMI Latin Awards in Las Vegas http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234386 Artists, Conjunto Primavera, Ozomatli, peermusic, Santana, Carlos, Awards, Musical Styles, Latin, BMI Latin Awards Conjunto Primavera's Tony Melendez and the LA-based band Ozomatli are scheduled to perform in honor of Carlos Santana when the songwriter/artist is honored as an Icon by performing rights organization BMI. The presentation and performance will take place during the 12th annual BMI Latin Awards April 21 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas.

Carlos Santana
Tony Melendez of Conjunto Primavera

Santana will be the first songwriter designated a BMI Icon at the company's Latin Awards. The honor is given to a creator who has been "a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers."

The BMI Latin Awards recognize the songwriters and publishers of the most played Latin songs on U.S. radio and television of the company's repertoire of approximately 4.5 million musical works from around the world.

Ozomatli
Sergio Vallin

In addition to a Latin Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Publisher of the Year, the 2nd annual peermusic Latin Scholarship will also be presented. A partnership with the BMI Foundation, the peermusic Scholarship, open to music students around the country, is a $5,000 award for continuing education. The winner will be announced that evening.]]> 2005-03-22T17:00:00-05:00