From the editor … - Editorial

Latin Beat Magazine, Sept, 2002 by Rudy Mangual

From the editor

¡Bienvenidos! Welcome to our September 2002 Volume12 Number 7 issue of Latin Beat Magazine. Every issue of our publication is always special in one way or another but the month of September takes precedence over the rest for celebrating national Hispanic Heritage month. All multi-media avenues will be focusing on Latinos nationwide during this entire month, while local leaders and government representatives will be honoring the contributions and struggles of Latinos in their communities. Latin Beat joins in the observance of Hispanic Heritage month by praising the talents and accomplishments of our artistic brothers and sisters.

Another entity that has been honoring Latinos is the Grammy organization, and this year marks the Third Annual Latin Grammys, to be held at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on September 18, 2002. The Grammys annually honors the most significant recordings, compositions, videos, and engineering and production efforts in Latin music. Noticeably absent from the major Grammy categories was any Mexican music genre representative. For the past three years, the Latin Grammy organization has neglected to acknowledge our Mexican counterparts in the prestigious categories of Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year. Considering the fact that in the United States, Mexican music represents the largest percent of sales of music, you would think someone at the Grammy organization would acknowledge our brothers to the south. Something to think about ...

Nominations for this year's Latin Grammy Awards include four nominations each for the "Queen of Salsa" Celia Cruz for her album La Negra Tiene Tumbao and Colombian superstar Carlos Vives for his album Dejame Entrar capturing the categories of Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Salsa Album of the Year (Cruz) and Contemporary Tropical Album of the Year (Vives). Spain's pop singer Alejandro Sanz pulled a trio of nominations for his MTV Unplugged album: Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year. Both Paulina Rubio and Marc Anthony, who have found success on the American pop charts, were also nominated; Rubio's Yo No Soy Esa Mujer for Music Video of the Year, and Anthony for his latest Spanish-language salsa release Libre, nominated for Salsa Album of the Year. Nominations for New Artists of the Year include Cabas, Circo, Gian Marco, Jorge Moreno, and Sin Bandera. Other nominees for Salsa Album of the Year include El Gran Combo (Nuevo Milenio), Giro (Mi Nostalgia), and Tito Rojas (Quiero Llegar a Casa). Merengue Album of the Year nominees include Eddy Herrera (Atrevido), Los Toros Band (Pa'La Calle), Kinito Mendez (A Palo Limpio), Olga Tañon (Yo Por Ti) and Fernando Villalona (Mal Acostumbrado). Nominations for Latin Jazz Album of the Year went to Richie Beirach, Gregor Huebner and George Mraz (Round About Federico Mompou), Willian Cepeda (Expandiendo Raices), Charlie Haden (Nocturne), Gonzalo Rubalcaba Trio (Supernova), and Omar Sosa (Sentir). Ranchero Album of the Year nominees include Pepe Aguilar (Lo Mejor De Nosotros), Ana Barbara (Te Regalo La Lluvia), Aida Cuevas (Enhorabuena), Alejandro Fernandez (Origenes), and Vicente Fernandez (Mas Con El Numero Uno). Producer of the Year nominees include Humberto Gatica, Sebastian Krys, Geronimo Labrada, Jr., and Kike Santander. For a complete listing of all the Latin Grammy nominees this year, visit their website.

On behalf of all of the staff at LB Mag, we say goodbye and wish the best of luck to our good friend Arturo Gómez of WDNA 88.9 FM, who for nearly ten years supplied us with a Top 20 hit parade from the Miami, Florida area. Gómez plans to relocate to the West Coast very soon. We welcome DJ Franco Silva, the host of the program Oye Latino on WMNF-FM out of Tampa, Florida, for taking over the vacant spot and supplying our readers with a Top 20 hit parade from the state of Florida.