Juanes, Jaguares, “In the Heights” win Grammys

Image- MSNBC (Photo of Juanes at the 2008 Latin Grammys; Argentine producer Gustavo Santaolalla accepted Juanes’ honor tonight).

The Grammy Awards ceremony may be going on as we publish this post (we "heart" M.I.A.!), yet several awards have already been given out. Though most Latin American musicians have opted to skip the ceremony, awards in the “Latin” category have been doled out:

• Colombian Juanes beat Luis Miguel, Jorge Drexler, and others to win Best Latin Pop Album. In a message published via his publicist, Juanes dedicated his award to “those held hostage in the Colombian jungle.”
• “If Jaguares win, it will be because NARAS owes (lead singer Saúl Hernández) one (and only one),” mentioned one article ahead of today’s awards. Deserved or not, the Mexican rockers won Best Latin Rock Or Alternative Album ahead of worthy finalists like Locos Por Juana and Nortec Collective.
• In other categories, reggaeton duo Wisin y Yandel won Best Latin Urban Album while José Feliciano got top honors in Best Tropical Latin Album. In addition, Nati Cano and Mariachi Divas shared Best Regional Mexican Album honors while Los Tigres del Norte captured Best Norteño Album.
• Last but not least, “In The Heights” can add another honor to the four Tony Awards received in 2008. The musical inspired by the New York City Latino enclave of Washington Heights received Best Musical Show Album ahead of “Gypsy”, “South Pacific”, and others.
  

Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, vive.in, San Antonio Current, Prensa Libre, El Pais, grammy.com, Milenio

Today’s Video: “In the (Washington) Heights”

Earlier today we mentioned how “In the Heights” won four Tony Awards including honors as best musical. The musical’s creator- Lin Manuel Miranda- was inspired by his surroundings in the upper Manhattan to create a theater piece which may soon go on a nationwide tour.

The following video is an excerpt from a Tony Awards special where Miranda tours around the Latino enclaves in Washington Heights and also discusses the impact the musical has had on the community.

Sources- Playbill.com, The Latin Americanist, YouTube

“In the Heights” honored at Tonys

A hip-hop musical inspired by Latino life in New York City neighborhood earned four Tony Awards last night. “In the Heights” had been nominated for 13 awards and in the end was given nods as the year’s top musical along with best original score for the theater, best choreography and best orchestrations.

The musical struggled off-Broadway and took a big gamble to be produced on the Great White Way against “heavily marketed mega-musicals”. Yet the risk paid off as “In the Heights” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda accepted several honors:

Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the music and lyrics for "In the Heights," rapped his way through his acceptance speech for best score, saying: "I know I wrote a little show about home. Mr. Sondheim, look, I made a hat. (a reference to a lyric in Sondheim's 'Sunday in the Park with George') But there never was a hat — it's a Latin hat at that!"

Also recognized at the Tonys was Brazilian opera star and Broadway newcomer Paulo Szot; he received best musical leading actor for his role in the revival of “South Pacific”.

Sources- courant.com, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, Guardian UK, BBC News, Bloomberg,

Image-New York Times

Today’s Video: Lucky 13 for “In the Heights”

Earlier today the nominations were announced for this year’s Tony Awards with “In the Heights” receiving thirteen of them. Best Musical and Leading Actor in a Musical are two of the categories with nods for the musical described by one source as “a look at Latino life in upper Manhattan.”

Below is a commercial for “In the Heights” which gives an idea of what the musical is all about:

(Hat tip: Guanabee, Vivirlatino).

Sources- Guanabee, Vivirlatino, NY1, New York Daily News, YouTube