Es un gusto para mi anunciar a los Nominados al #LatinGRAMMY en la categoría Mejor Álbum De Música Ranchera "Suerte" https://t.co/q304axQnSU

— Beto Sierra (@BetoSierra_) September 23, 2015

Mexican singer and songwriter Natalia Lafourcade, was the big winner at the 16th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, celebrated at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Thursday night.

Lafourcade, who had won a Latin GRAMMY with her group  Natalia y La Forquetina in 2006, began the day nominated in five categories and won four, including Record Of The Year and Best Alternative Music Album for "Hasta La Raíz, and Song Of The Year and Best Alternative Song, for its title track.

She was kept from a sweep by Juan Luis Guerra who took Album Of The Year for Todo Tiene Su Hora. Guerra, who had been nominated for four awards won three, as earlier in the day he had won Best Contemporary Tropical Album for Todo Tiene Su Hora and Best Tropical Song for “Tus Besos.”

The Colombian group Monsieur Periné, with a fresh sound that, improbably, draws from swing and gypsy jazz won Best New Artist.

As is the nature of these presentations, the 16th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards was a music sampler that offered from merengue, pop and rock to banda music and reggaeton. But what might have set this show apart were the collaborations, including the much anticipated pairing of the once, and perhaps future, Fresh Prince, Will Smith, a multiple GRAMMY winner, and the Colombian group Bomba Estereo. Their explosive, techno-tribal  "Fiesta (Remix)" was a jolt of energy even in such high energy show.

Also the Colombian group ChocQuibTown, which earlier in the day had won Best Tropical Fusion Album with El Mismo, collaborated with the Litz Alfonso Cuban Ballet, the first time a Cuban dance group took part of a Latin GRAMMY award ceremony.

But there were also moments such as when the Mexican pop rock group Maná joined  the iconic Tigres del Norte on "Somos Más Americanos."  "They have shouted at me a thousand times/ I should go back to my country/Because there’s no room for me here," they sang. "I want to remind the gringos: I didn’t cross the border, the border crossed to me."

Maná had already made a strong political statement after winning for Best Pop-Rock Album. In his acceptance, singer and guitarist Fher Olvera conceded that "We didn't expect this," but then took the opportunity to note that the United States has a Latin population of 50 million, "it's the second largest country in which Spanish is spoken, that means we have to exercise our power. We must vote."

Reality also cracked the party atmosphere when in his acceptance for winning Best Urban Performance (for "El Perdón" with Enrique Iglesias) Nicky Jam remembered the victims of terrorism in Paris.

Another highlight was the performance by Brazilian singer and songwriter Roberto Carlos, the 2015 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year. He offered a medley of hits including a crisp, ska-tinged  "Te Amo, Te Amo,"  and, after taking a moment to give thanks,  "Propuesta," "Distancia" and "Un Millon de Amigos," which got the audience up, singing and clapping along.

Meanwhile, the incomparable Rita Moreno, who has not only won an Oscar, an Emmy, a GRAMMY and a Tony, the only Latino to do so, but was honored with a 2012 Latin Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, had one of the moments of the evening as she playfully declared herself a reggaeton fan, before announcing the winner of the Best Urban Music Album won by Tego Calderón with El Que Sabe, Sabe.

Across generations and styles the 16th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards spoke to the vitality of Latin music. Some familiar names, yes, but perhaps even more important, also a celebration of constant evolution.

The Biggest Night in Latin Music actually began a few hours earlier, in the afternoon in fact, as 37 of the 47 categories in the 16th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards were awarded at the Latin GRAMMY Premiere in a ceremony held at the KÀ Theatre at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Presented by Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy  and Laura Tesoriero, Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Latin Recording Academy ; and hosted by Costa Rican singer, pianist and composer Debi Nova, the event moved crisply, featuring unplugged-style live performances as well as the presentations.

The main winners at Latin GRAMMY Premiere were the Mexican singer and songwriter Natalia Lafourcade and Dominican singer and songwriter Juan Luis Guerra, both with two awards.

Lafourcade, who began the day nominated in five categories, won for Best Alternative Music Album with Hasta La Raíz, and Best Alternative Song for its title track "Hasta La Raíz".  Earlier in the ceremony, Hasta La Raíz also won in the Best Engineered Album category, which is awarded to engineers, mixers and mastering engineers. Lafourcade, who took the stage clearly moved to share in the moment, called "Hasta La Raiz," "the album I've enjoyed most recording." It was just the beginning. The rewards kept coming.

Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY winner Juan Luis Guerra added to his collection with wins for Best Contemporary Tropical Album for Todo Tiene Su Hora and "Best Tropical Song," for "Tus Besos."

Other notables include engineer and producer Sebastian Krys, who won Producer Of The Year; singer and songwriter Alex Cuba, 2010 Best New Artist and a presenter at the Premier, who won for "Healer" in the Best Singer-Songwriter category, while Rubén Blades, with Roberto Delgado and his orchestra, won Best Salsa Album for Son De Panamá.

Pedro Fernández won Best Ranchero Album with Acaríciame El Corazón, while Solido won in the Best Tejano Album category for Sentimientos, and Pesado took the Best Norteño Album prize for Abrázame. Meanwhile, saxophonist Ed Calle won Best Instrumental Album for Dr. Ed Calle Presents Mamblue, a celebration of Miami´s sprawling music scene as he cast a wide net including musicians from various genres and styles.

As for the live music, the Uruguayan group No Te Va Gustar, nominated in the Best Rock Album category, opened the event with an acoustic country rock version of  "Viajando Sin Espada." The Brazilian group Onze: 20 did a soulful, unplugged version of their "Sem Medo de Amar" while the Colombian group Monsieur Periné, a Best New Artist nominee, offered a very compact, engaging take of  "Nuestra Canción," blending old time gypsy swing and a cheeky, Betty Boop-ish performance by vocalist Catalina García.

Meanwhile, Colombian singer Astrid Asher, a Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album nominee, offered a strong, stripped down version of "Quien" that moved seamlessly from a tango to a danzón feel.

As with the simple and efficient award ceremony itself, sometimes less is more.

Four-time Latin GRAMMY® winner and GRAMMY® winner Roberto Carlos was feted as the 2015 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year at the South Pacific Ballroom of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday night.

The sold out event (the 1300 attendees was a new record for the gala) gathered top talent such as Alejandro Sanz (who interpreted "Lady Laura"), Romeo Santos ("Un Gato En La Oscuridad"), Dionne Warwick ("Honestly"/Falando Serio"), Jesse & Joy ("La Montaña") and Paula Fernandes and Camila ("Propuesta").

It speaks to the success, power and permanence of Roberto Carlos's music that it took just a few bars of any of his songs to make the audience, full of usually hard-to-please music industry people, to gasp in recognition, nod or mouth the lyrics along. Optimism, positive messages and melodies with an engaging, childlike innocence can go a long way and in Roberto Carlos' case, it has made his music the soundtrack for various generations.

The theme was, of course, love and some of the performances stayed close to the original versions. But Leslie Grace and Maluma gave "Jesus Cristo" a powerful, gospel tinge while Julieta Venegas and Carlos Vives offered a very personal, earthy interpretation of "El Progreso,"  Roberto Carlos's passionate cry for protection of nature, against arms trafficking and change, aspiring to be "as civilized as the animals are." Likewise, Victor Manuelle turned "El Desahogo" into an irresistible salsa song (with a teasing, James Bond-theme like arrangement) with a very clever, engaging soneo (improvised singing) included, culminating with Victor Manuelle, still singing, walking down from the stage and embracing with Roberto Carlos. It earned the first standing ovation of the evening.

Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President /CEO of The Latin Recording Academy noted that "every year we say 'How are we going to go beyond this?' And every year it gets better. But how could it not get better with Roberto Carlos?"

And with that, Abaroa brought to the stage Laura Tesoriero, Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Latin Recording Academy and Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy® to present Roberto Carlos the Person of the Year award.

After thanking The Latin Academy and "the marvelous artists who were here singing my songs, it is something very special," Roberto Carlos named them all, one by one. "This is a very special moment in my life. I'll never forget this day. Thank you."

After a pause, Roberto Carlos came back to close the evening, first interpreting "Emociones," his big band style summing up of a life, his own "My Way."  "If I cried or I laughed, the important thing is I felt emotions."  And he segued it, almost inevitably, with "Un Millon De Amigos," his positive, upbeat anthem about wanting to have a million friends ("I want a choir of little birds/ I want to take this friendly song/ to whoever might need it/ I want to have a million friends/ and this way sing stronger.")

On Wednesday night, it felt as if he already has them.

Roberto Carlos became part of an impressive list of past recipients that includes Miguel Bosé, Plácido Domingo, Gloria Estefan, Vicente Fernández, Juan Luis Guerra, Carlos Santana, Joan Manuel Serrat, Shakira, and Caetano Veloso. 

It is fitting that the week leading to the 16th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awardsc, The Biggest Night in Latin Music^®, a celebration of its present and future, beings with an event honoring the people whose contributions have helped shape its sound.

This morning, The Latin Recording Academy^® presented Leandro "Gato" Barbieri, Ana Belén and Víctor Manuel, Angela Carrasco, Djavan, El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico and Pablo Milanés with the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Awards; while Federico Britos, Humberto Gatica and Chelique Sarabia were honored with the Trustees Award.

The ceremony, attended by 400 invited guests, hosted by Gabriel Abaroa Jr. President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy, was held at the KÀ Theatre at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino Wednesday morning.  It was the 12th annual presentation of the Special Awards and as Manolo Díaz, Vice President of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® and one of the presenters, noted "each event has had an emotional impact that remains unforgettable."

This year was no exception.

There were many highlights and special, moving moments.

Spanish singers Ana Belén and Víctor Manuel, longtime partners in music and in life, were the first to receive the Lifetime Achievement Awards, which are presented by vote of The Latin Recording Academy's Board of Trustees to "performers who have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording during their careers."

Accepting the award, Victor Manuel spoke of "the happiness you give us. But this is like giving a prize to a child for eating ice cream. I've been eating ice cream for 50 years and now to top that, this recognition." Belén focused on the award being a recognition to excellence. "Excellence should be a duty, an obligation, " she said."And even if it´s something utopian, I want to keep searching for it. I don´t believe I´ve reached my excellence -- but I´ve tricked you."

Dominican singer Angela Carrasco, who went from her success as Mary Magdalene in the Spanish adaptation of "Jesus Christ Superstar" to a global Latin music star, took time to thank the audience and the songwriters and composers, asking for  an applause for Camilo Sesto, her mentor and producer. "Why do you give me an award? I do it with all my love. I love it."

Speaking in Portuguese, Brazilian singer/songwriter and guitarist Djavan, one of the great exponents of the MPB (the Portuguese acronym for Brazilian Popular Music),noted that he accepted the award as a recognition to 40 years of work. "An entire life dedicated to music... Every time I speak with God is not to ask for anything but to give thanks."

Sporting his trademark hat and scarf, Argentine saxophonist Leandro " Gato" Barbieri, who will celebrate his 83rd birthday next week, on Nov 28, spoke of his beginnings as a professional musician, when he was 17 years old. "I've played 62 years, made 45 recordings and always, always with the idea of always looking something new, but without destroying what came before."

This was the type of event in which even stars become music fans again, childlike in their enthusiasm and obvious pleasure. That was in display as Latin GRAMMY winner, Latin Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient  and member of the Latin Recording Academy Board of Trustees Johnny Ventura  and salsa superstar Victor Manuelle introduced pianist Rafael Ithier, founder and director of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, a living institutions of Afro-Caribbean music. Ithier shared the award with the members of the group, present and past, "they deserve this award as much as me. This [award] is an encouragement to continue. Our life is very self-sacrificing but one receives this kind of recognition, it makes it all worthy."

Cuban singer/songwriter Pablo Milanés, a leading figure in Nueva Trova movement, was brief as he dedicated the award to his family and also the Cuban people "the best audience I have," and also to the people who listens and respect my work."

Venezuelan renaissance man Chelique Sarabia was the first of the three honored with the Trustees Award, which is presented by vote of The Latin Recording Academy's Board of Trustees "to individuals who have made significant contributions, other than performance, to the field of recording during their careers." He noted that for Venezuelans, his receiving this Latin GRAMMY was "like the Nobel [Prize]" and noted he retired 40 years ago and yet the Latin GRAMMYs, only in its 16th edition, "has a memory." And alluded to the political situation as he said his prize was just "a preamble to the best news we'll have Dec. 6."

Uruguayan violinist Federico Britos not only thanked his teachers and artists such as Barbieri "who we admired so much from Uruguay" but also took time to put the award in context. "It's a recognition to the music, to a life in music. ... All creators, musicians, painters, filmmakers, writers ... all we collaborate to give this world, so complicated, moments like these, of peace and happiness through music."

Singer Celine Dion was a surprise, and eloquent, emotional presenter of the award to Chilean producer and engineer Humberto Gatica. She departed from script ("I'm a little bit of a talker," she said) to praise Gatica, the engineer of her first English language recording. "Humberto has been singing with me all these years."

Gatica, who arrived o the United States in 1968, recalled his beginnings, "I cleaned floors, made coffee, cleaned bathrooms," before going on to work with a who's who of pop music, from Alejandro Sanz, Gloria Estefan and Shakira to Michael Jackson, Dion and Madonna. Gatica's quintessential American story played as a perfect closing for an emotion filled event, rich with history and gratitude.