Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame Opens Honoring Julio Iglesias, Jose Feliciano

By Alexandra Gratereaux Fox News Latino (Original Article)

The first honorees of the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame were announced this week in Miami Beach.

During the ceremony, six songwriters from the romantic Spanish-language era were recognized including Julio Iglesias and Jose Feliciano. The event was also the debut of the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame organization, the first of its kind catered to Latin composers.

“There are so many great writers in the Latin world,” said producer and songwriter Desmond Child, who helped create and shape the organization and ceremony.

“We are on a mission and we’ve now immortalized [these songwriters],” he added.

The event, which took place at the Bacardi Building in downtown Miami, home to the Young Arts Foundation, also included Mexican composer Armando Manzanero, who wrote such classics such as “Voy a apagar la luz” and “Contigo aprendi.” (more…)

Natalie Cole on the red carpet before the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame gala

BY JORDAN LEVIN MIAMIHERALD.COM (Original Article)

Natalie Cole looked and sang like a diva at the inaugural Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame gala at the New World Symphony on Tuesday night, delivering a lovely rendition of Acercate Mas (Get Closer) in a “Unforgettable” style duet with video of her father Nat King Cole. “It’s not easy being first, and Dad was a first in so many ways,” Cole told the audience at the New World Center on Miami Beach, as she accepted the Premio Pionero Desi Arnaz on behalf of her father, who was friends with the famous Cuban actor and singer. Nat King Cole was revered in Cuba for recording three albums of Latin American songs. “I can only imagine Desi and my Dad are looking down on us.”

But backstage in her dressing room the pop idol’s daughter, still wearing an elaborate ruffled pink gown, was sniffling with a nasty cold. “You know, the show must go on,” Cole said. She not only overcame blocked sinuses, but worries about singing in Spanish for the first time – in front of a mostly Latino audience. “They’re kinda looking at me like ‘oh really’,” she said. But she took heart from the song. “There’s something about the music that’s so moving,” said Cole, who will release an album of her father’s Spanish repertory this summer. “The melodies and the meaning are so beautiful. I’m having so much fun.”

Two Cuban-American music producing icons inaugurate the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame

By Kristina Puga, NBCLATINO.com (Original Article)

When “Livin’ la Vida Loca” comes on the radio, most people solely give credit to Ricky Martin, not realizing that without songwriters Desmond Child and Draco Rosa, there would be no lyrics to the popular, upbeat song. That is one of the reasons Cuban immigrant songwriter/producers in the American mainstream for more than four decades, Desmond Child and Rudy Perez, fought so hard to create a Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame. It finally came to fruition in October of 2012, and on April 23, the first awards gala will be held in Miami honoring seven iconic songwriters, including Manuel Alejandro, Jose Feliciano, Jose Angel Espinoza “Ferrusquilla,” Julio Iglesias, Armando Manzanero, Concha Valdez Miranda, and post-humous inductee Roberto Cantoral. (more…)

LA MUSA Awards Adds “A-List” of Performing Artists

Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame has an A-List of talent performing at the Inaugural Induction Gala “LA MUSA AWARDS” on Tuesday April 23rd, 2013 at the New World Center in Miami Beach.

Hosted By: Carlos Ponce & Eglantina Zingg
Conducted By: Gary Lindsay

Featuring Passionate Performances and Tributes By:
Alicastro, Michelangelo, Lucie Arnaz, Angelica Aragon, Steven Bauer, Rubén Blades, Michael Bolton, Buika, Lena Burke, Cabas, Roberto Cantoral, Jr., Luz Casal, Desmond Child, Natalie Cole, Joaquin Cortés, Aida Cuevas, Manolo Diaz, Placido Domingo, Jr., Shaila Durcal, Dyango, Orlando Gonzalez Esteva, Alejandra Guzman, Jose Feliciano, Michelle Fragoso, Carlos Gomez, Juan Luis Guerra, Olga Maria Touzet Guillot, Arthur Hanlon, José José, Milton Rubén Laufer, Maria Martha Serra Lima, Claes Nobel, Horacio Palencia, Ralph Peer ll, Rudy Perez, Edgar Ramirez, Gabriel Ramos, Reyli, Draco Rosa, Prince Royce, Jon Secada, Chuchito Valdés, Yul Vazquez, Mariano Rivera Velázquez, Jimmy Webb, Mauricio Zeilic, Hernaldo Zúñiga, & New World School Of The Arts String Quartet

2013 Latin Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductees:
Manuel Alejandro, Jose Feliciano, Jose Angel Espinoza “Ferrusquilla”, Julio Iglesias, Armando Manzanero, Concha Valdez Miranda and Posthumous Inductee Roberto Cantoral

Living Legend Award Winner: Andy Garcia

Special Awards Presented To:
Nat King Cole, Olga Guillot, Natalia Jiménez, Ralph S. Peer, Draco Rosa, Prince Royce, Olga Tañon and Consuelo Velázquez

Introducing the Desi Arnaz Pioneer Award

Tickets on sale now.

Press Release: Songwriters Hall of Fame

For Immediate Release

MICHAEL BOLTON, ANDY GARCÍA, AND JOAQUÍN CORTÉS ARE JUST SOME OF THE STARS JOINING THE FIRST LATIN SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION GALA CEREMONY ON APRIL 23 2013!

OLGA TAÑÓN WILL RECEIVE THE SPECIAL LA VOZ DE LA MUSA
(THE VOICE OF THE MUSE) AWARD

ALSO TAKING PART IN THIS HISTORIC CELEBRATION TO BE HELD AT THE NEW WORLD CENTER IN MIAMI BEACH ARE ALEJANDRA GUZMÁN, YUL VÁZQUEZ AND CARLOS GÓMEZ

Actors Andy García (The Lost City, Ocean’s Twelve, The Godfather: Part III), Yul Vázquez (Magic City, The A-Team), and Carlos Gómez (The Glades, Sleeper Cell); Grammy Award -winning singer/songwriter Michael Bolton; tropical performing star Olga Tañón; flamenco dance sensation Joaquín Cortés, and one-of-a-kind rocker Alejandra Guzmán will all take part in this historic event, which seeks to honor the world’s greatest Latin songwriters, and their music, in every genre. (more…)

Andy Garcia named “Premio Leyenda en Vida” recipient at upcoming LSHOF LA MUSA Awards

Andy Garcia will receive the “Premio Leyenda en Vida” award at upcoming Latin Songwriters Hall Of Fame LA MUSA Awards ceremony.

PREMIO LEYENDA EN VIDA (LIVING LEGEND AWARD) is an annual award created by the Latin Songwriters Hall Of Fame to honor great icons of Latin culture and music. On the occasion of our first inaugural induction ceremony, LA MUSA AWARDS on April 23rd 2013 at the New World Center in Miami Beach, the PREMIO LEYENDA EN VIDA will be presented to Grammy Award winning and Oscar-nominated actor, director, producer and musician, Andy Garcia.

Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame Honoring Olga Tañon, Among Others

By Justino Aguila Billboard.com (original Article)

The Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame — in association with Billboard — will have its inaugural induction ceremony on April 23, and will honor some of the music industry’s most established names including Grammy-winning Olga Tañon who will receive special recognition for her career achievements.

The black tie gala, taking place at the New World Center in Miami beach, will pay tribute to Latin music’s most iconic songwriters including Manuel Alejandro (Spain), Jose Angel Espinoza “Ferrusquilla” (Mexico), Jose Feliciano (Puerto Rico), Julio Iglesias (Spain), Armando Manzanero (Mexico) and Concha Valdéz Miranda (Cuba).

Actor Carlos Ponce and actress/model Eglantina Zingg will host the ceremony and Gary Lindsay will be conducting the show’s orchestra.

The new organization, established as a non-profit, was founded by Desmond Child and Ruby Perez. The intent of the group is to “honor the world’s greatest Latin songwriters and their music in every genre.” (more…)

La canción del productor Rudy Pérez que Whitney Houston no llegó a cantar

By OSCAR SUAREZ UNIVERSO INCREIBLE (orginal article and video)

El prestigioso productor, compositor y arreglista cubano Rudy Pérez nos contó sobre el inmenso placer que sentía Whitney de volver al circuito internacional con esa nueva canción.

También nos reveló, durante la entrevista en video, las cualidades de notables intérpretes con los que ha trabajado, como Beyonce, Marc Anthony, Julio Iglesias, Cristina Aguilera, y muchos otras estrellas de ls música.

Rudy Pérez ha ganado varios premios Billboard, Grammy, y más de 400 discos de oro y platino.

Confesó que tiene un libro en preparación con miles de anécdotas con las grandes figuras que ha trabajado, por lo que solo nos confió algunos pequeños detalles de Beyonce y Julio Iglesias. (more…)

First honorees of Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame announced

The first honorees of the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame were announced in Miami on Monday
BY JORDAN LEVIN | MIAMIHERALD.COM | Original Article

Jose Feliciano Armando Manzanero Julio Iglesias (STAN-ISLAVPESKA-ASSOCIATED-PRESS) Manuel Alejandro Concha Valdes Miranda Jose Angel Espinoza ‘Ferrusquilla’ Roberto Cantoral

Six songwriters from an earlier era of romantic Spanish-language popular music were announced Monday in Miami as the first artists to be honored by the recently formed Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame. The honorees include two stars well known in the United States, the Spanish balladeer and romantic idol Julio Iglesias, and the New York-raised, blind Puerto Rican singer-songwriter and guitarist Jose Feliciano. The other four inductees announced in Monday’s press conference at the Bacardi Building in downtown Miami, the home of the Young Arts Foundation, included revered Mexican composer Armando Manzanero, author of such classics as Voy a Apagar La Luz and Contigo Aprendi. Also from Mexico is Jose Angel Espinoza “Ferrusquilla,” known as an actor in Mexican and American films of the ’50s and ’60s, as well as for authoring ballads such as La Ley Del Monte and Echame A Mi La Culpa. Another inductee from Spain, Manuel Alejandro, wrote numerous hits for ’70s and ’80s romantic idols such as Raphael, Emmanuel and Jose Jose. (more…)

Julio Iglesias in First Five to Enter Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame

By Judy Cantor-Navas | January 28, 2013 5:35 PM EST | Original BillboardBiz Article

Manuel Alejandro, Jose Angel “Ferrusquilla” Espinosa, Jose Feliciano, Julio Iglesias, Armando Manzanero, and Concha Valdez Miranda are the first five songwriters to be honored by the recently created Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame at a ceremony presented in association with Billboard.

The composers, from Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Cuba, will be inducted at a ceremony on Tuesday, April 23, at the New World Center in Miami Beach. John Leguizamo will host the gala event, which takes place during the Billboard Latin Music Conference. (more…)