Ceremonias de la Tercera Ceremonia de Introducciónal Salón de la fama de la Música Latina - TT: 3rd Annual International Latin Music Hall of Fame Ceremonies - Artículo Breve

Latin Beat Magazine, June, 2001 by Marie López

The International Latin Music Hall of Fame's Third Annual Induction Ceremony & Concert was held this past April 4 at the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture, in the Bronx. The evening's emcee, NJN television host/Bergen Record columnist Miguel Pérez, introduced young, upcoming and legendary performers to the stage, where they dazzled a full house.

Eleven year-old sonero-in-training Luisito Figueroa, the first to perform, electrified the audience with a self-assured and mature demeanor as he sang and danced his way across the stage, doing several songs. ILMHF President and founder Joe Hernández first saw Philadelphia native Figueroa and his equally youthful mambo partner Shakira, when he served as a judge at the 17th Annual Hispanic Youth Showcase on New Jersey's public TV. Both Were winners in their categories. "It is my intention to showcase future stars like these every year," Hernández told me.

Many memorable moments occurred during the evening. Another youngster, Jonathan Camacho sat in the spotlight, playing his cuatro in front of a huge still shot of recently deceased Maso Rivera, who was posthumously inducted that night.

Raúl Azpiazu paid tribute to his father, inductee Don Azpiazu, with a rendition of El Manicero (The Peanut Vendor), a song recognized and covered all over the planet since being recorded by the elder Azpiazu on RCA Victor Records in 1930.

Vocalist Adela Dalto sang a series of selections honoring inductees Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joao Gilberto, and Toña La Negra.

The ILMHF Ensemble, which accompanied ballad singer Paloma and the other performers during the evening, was comprised of Alfredito Valdés, Jr., who accepted his late father Alfredo Valdés' induction award, Nelson González, George Delgado, Andy González, Jimmy Delgado, Johnny Rodríguez, Jr., and Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros.

Many wiped away tears as the late Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez's children, Pete Emilio and Cita, accepted their father's posthumous induction award. José Mangual, Sr.'s sons, José, Jr. and Luis, took to the stage to accept their late father's induction award.

The sight of Vitín Avilés being handed his award by Hall of Famer Larry Harlow, Joe Cuba being presented with the Benny Moré Memorial Award, and Ray Romero and Candido Camero receiving their awards, stirred up the emotions for more than a few in the crowd. A lighter moment occurred when Johnny Pacheco presented Héctor Casanova with his award. "If I win the lottery," Pacheco quipped, "I'll buy a building for the Hall of Fame!" A stunning and spectacular display was that of Graciela, a recipient of the ILMHF Lifetime Achievement Award. The entire audience rose as the legendary lady appeared on stage and was given her award by Hall of Famer Ray Barretto. The auditorium erupted into thunderous applause as Graciela, sister of Frank "Machito" Grillo, member of Havana's all-female group Orquesta Anacaona and famed vocalist for both the Machito and Mario Bauzá orchestras, launched into a dynamic impromptu version of one of her trademark songs, Ay, José. She showed an appreciative audience that she's still got it! Lifetime Achievement recipient, singer/guitarist Johnny Albino took the opportunity to give a special gift to the ILMHF - a pair of his maracas that dated back to his first Japanese tour, some 40 years ago.

In addition to Avilés, Camero, Casanova, and Romero, living ILMHF inductees for the year 2001 included Francisco Aguabella, Rubén Blades, Tite Curet Alonso, Ruth Fernández, Olga Guillot, Tata Güines, La Buena Vista Social Club, Andy Montañez, Carlos "Patato' Valdés, Wilfrido Vargas, Rafael Solano, Armando Peraza and Lucho Gatica. Other posthumous inductees for the evening were the recently deceased Libertad Lamarque and Yayo "El Indio," Juan Morel Campos, Julio Jaramillo, Astor Piazzolla, Sylvia Rexach, Pedro Vargas, Javier Solís, Antonio Mesa, Felipe Pirela, Cal Tjader, Luis Carlos Meyer, Xavier Cugat, Pedro Infante, Antonio Machín, and Rita Montaner.

ILMHF Special Recognition Awards were bestowed upon actress Rita Moreno, Latin Beat Magazine's Rudy Mangual, Dr. Cristobal Díaz Ayala, Chata Gutierrez, and Vicki Solá, WBAI broadcaster Chico Alvarez, LP Music Group's Martin Cohen, and music recorder/archivist Ernie Ensley.

The end of the evening was marked by a huge on-stage jam. The entire event was simulcast live, worldwide by LaMúsica.com. According to Hernández, highlights will be aired in the future on different TV networks throughout the country.

Besides remaining dedicated to the continuation of his dream, that Latin music's legends be honored and recognized on an international level, Joe Hernández is thankful to many for making his non-profit organization's event such a resounding success. He is grateful to artist Erich Padilla, whose large murals graced each end of the stage, to his hardworking staff, to the staff at Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture, to the public for their support, and to sponsors White Rose, Nestle USA, Tito Puente's Restaurant, Touch Design, Good Humor, and Met and Pioneer supermarkets.