Gustavo Santaolalla

Kike Santander

Juanes

Other BMI artists who earned Latin Grammy nominations include Aterciopelados, Gilberto Gil, Gustavo Santaolalla and Caetano Veloso, who each earned three nominations, Bacilos, who received 2 nods, and Albita, Banda Arkangel R-15, Ram�n Ayala y Sus Bravos Del Norte, Banda El Recodo, Banda Machos, Hector Buitrago, Oscar D’Le�n, Dominguinhos, Paquito D’Rivera, Charles Dye, Estefano, Carlos Franzetti, David Lee Garza y Los Musicales, Javier Garza, Pepe Garza, Jimmy Gonz�lez y El Grupo Mazz, Grupo Atrapado, Carmen Jara, Sebastian Krys, Limite, Los Super Seven, Mariachi Sol De Mexico, Luis Miguel, Mojado, Marisa Monte, Eddie Palmieri, William Paz, Chichi Peralta, Dan�lo Perez, Freddy Pi�ero, Jr., K.C. Porter, A.B. Quintanilla y Los Kumbia Kings, David S�nchez, Kike Santander, Sideral, Joel Someilan, Thalia, Los Tigres Del Norte, Nestor Torres, Oscar L. Trevi�o, Los Tucanes De Tijuana and Enrique Valencia.

K.C. Porter

Los Tigres Del Norte

This year's Latin Grammys will be held on September 11 in Miami. The show will be broadcast by CBS (9 to 11 p.m. EDT/PDT) and carried on radio via the Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation worldwide in more than 120 countries.

Thalia

When he was seven years old, Porter's parents moved his family from Encino, California to Guatemala to spread the teachings of the Bahai' movement. There, K.C. picked up the harmonies and culture of the Latin world, melding the native sounds and rhythms of Guatemala with the sights and sounds he remembered from the States. It fostered in him the seeds of creativity that would later help him guide a host of artists, including Boyz II Men, Toni Braxton, Bon Jovi and the late Selena, to new heights of popularity in the Latin/Anglo crossover market.

His family eventually ended up in Mexico, but by the age of 17, K.C. Porter sensed that it was time for him to return to the States. "I knew I had to return to the States to get my education," says Porter, who attended Cal State Stanislaus. Precociously talented, Porter landed a staff arranger job at A&M Studios prior to graduating from college. His bi-lingual background and familiarity with Latin culture led him naturally to producing and writing for this market. During these early years, Porter worked with a number of Latin artists, including Lani Hall, Luis Angel and Maria Conchita Alonso.

While working with these performers, Porter was also developing his own sound. Smooth and peaceful, Porter also brings a contemporary edge to his productions, which helps to explain how he can take a traditional artist like Carlos Santana and tailor a production that retains its authenticity but is successful in attracting a youthful audience.

In 1995, Porter teamed up with Ricky Martin. He produced A Medio Vivir, the singer's third album, and also co-wrote "Maria," the hit single from that album. The two would work on Martin's follow-up album, Vuelva, as well as the breakout number one album Ricky Martin.

His work in the late '90s earned Porter a handful of Grammy Awards and nominations, but the Album of the Year Grammy he landed for his contribution to Supernatural was clearly a highpoint. He began writing with Santana in 1997, and of the four tracks he produced for the album, two ("Corazon Espinado" and "Migra") were born in these writing sessions.

With the success of Supernatural, a promising career has been kicked into a higher gear. Porter now has the luxury of sifting through job offers from a bevy of high-profile artists. It is however, his work with the Oneness project that brings this gifted artist full circle. This organization's goal centers on the theme of racial unity, and artists who are joining to produce an album for the Oneness organization include Carlos Santana, Ricky Martin, Brian McKnight, Chaka Khan, Montell Jordan and Porter himself.

BMI presented Grammy award-winning Latin Rock producer, songwriter, performer and Surco Records President Gustavo Santaolalla with a BMI Crystal on Thursday, February 1, 2001. The special award was presented to Santaolalla for his musical contributions to the Latin Alternative/Rock en Espanol genre. The cocktail reception, held at the Rumba Room in Universal City Walk at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, included such VIP guests as Argentinean rock artist Erica Garcia and songwriter/producer K.C. Porter (Carlos Santana, Fabulosos Cadillacs).

Gustavo Santaolalla with the BMI crystal award.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and living in Los Angeles, Santaolalla worked his way through the business as a performer with Argentinean folk/rock groups Arco Iris and Soluna before turning to producing with business partner Anibal Kerpel. Together, the two formed Surco Records and have been responsible for some of the most influential Latin Rock music to date, including Molotov, Cafe Tacuba, Caifanes, Maldita Vecindad, Divididos, Bersuit, La Vela Puerca, Puya, Arbol, El Otro Yo, Fiebre, Dracma and Juanes. A three-time Grammy nominee, Santaolalla took home a Grammy last year at the First Annual Latin Grammys for Best Alternative Rock Album with Cafe Tacuba's CD Reves/Yo Soy. He just recently finished production on Erica Garcia's forthcoming record.

Surco records' Anibal Kerpel, Gustavo Santaolalla and  BMI's Diane J. Almodovar.

LA Weekly called him "an icon in Latin Rock, a producer of the caliber of a Phil Spector, perhaps a Daniel Lanois"

Diane J. Almodovar, VP, Latin Music, BMI; Gustavo Santaolalla;  Erica Garcia, Surco records recording artist; and Delia  Orjuela, Director, Latin Music, BMI.

Rolling Stone described him as "capable of uniting Latin American folk with the latest rock and transforming old utopias into bold realities"

In addition to taking home the most nominations, Estefan will be feted by LARAS, the Latin arm of the Recording Academy that organizes the Grammys, as "Person of the Year" on September 11 during the Latin Grammy Nominee Celebration and Silent Auction.

BMI's Latin Grammy Nominees 2000

6 NOMINATIONS
Emilio Estefan, Jr.

5 NOMINATIONS
Shakira

4 NOMINATIONS
Juan Luis Guerra
Luis Miguel

3 NOMINATIONS
Gloria Estefan
Caetano Veloso
Santana
Sebasti�n Krys
Sa?l Hern�ndez (SACM)

2 NOMINATIONS
Robert Blades
Paquito D'Rivera
Javier Garza
Jaguares
Jennifer López
Tim Mitchell
Freddy Piñero, Jr.
K.C. Porter
Cory Rooney
Kike Santander
Carlos Santos
Juan Vicente Zambrano

1 NOMINATION
Arkángel R-15
Banda El Recodo
Banda Maguey
Cachao
Café Tacuba
Michel Camilo
Ricardo Ceratto (SGAE)
Angie Chirino
Bootsy Collins
Conjunto Primavera
Ry Cooder
Elvis Crespo
Jarabe De Palo
Oscar D�León
Djavan
Charles Dye
Brenda Feliciano
David Lee Garza y Los Musicales
Humberto Gatica
Gilberto Gil
Grupo Atrapado
Intocable
Ivan Lins
Stefani Montiel
Aldo Nova (SOCAN)
Fernando Osorio
A.B. Quintanilla Y Los Kumbia Kings
Cornelio Reyno Jr. Acompañado Por Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos Del Norte
Jason Roberts
Robi "Draco" Rosa
Gustavo Santaolalla
Lalo Schifrin
Só Pra Contrariar (SICAM)
Nestor Torres
Los Tigres Del Norte
Los Tucanes De Tijuana
Tom Tucker

FIVE SHARE SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR TITLE

WARNER MUSIC PUBLISHING EARNS SECOND PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR AWARD

AWARDS PRESENTED IN 2000 TO THE MOST PERFORMED LATIN SONGS OF 1999

LOS ANGELES, May 1, 2000 - Performing rights organization BMI presented its 7th Annual Latin Awards tonight with top honors going to "Livin' La Vida Loca," songwriters Estefano, Marco Antonio Pérez, Mario Quintero, Kike Santander and Shakira, and Warner Music Publishing. The black-tie ceremony, hosted by BMI President/CEO Frances W. Preston and Assistant Vice President of Latin Music Diane Almodovar, honored top writers and publishers of the most performed Latin songs on American radio and television at a 300-person gala dinner at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles.

Click here to see photos from the event...

Robi "Draco" Rosa Feature (1/00) Robi "Draco" Rosa: Man of Many Talents

Kike Santander Feature (4/00) The Doors Keep Opening for Kike Santander

"Livin' La Vida Loca," the Ricky Martin smash co-written by Robi "Draco" Rosa and published by A Phantom Vox Corp. and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., earned Song of the Year accolades as the most performed song in the BMI Latin catalogue. The catchy dance hit spent an amazing 26 weeks on Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks chart and 20 weeks on the Hot 100 Singles chart, and helped ignite the Latin music explosion that continues to take the pop world by storm.

Estefano

Marco Antonio Pérez

An unprecedented five songwriters tied for the Songwriter of the Year crown with three songs each on the most performed list. They include last year's Songwriter of the Year and Writer of the Song of the Year Kike Santander ("Decir Adi�s," "Te Vas," "Tu Amor"), Estefano ("Ciega, Sordomuda," "Dejar�a Todo," "T?"), Marco Antonio Pérez ("A M� Qué Me Qued�," "Hurac�n," "Perdedor"), Los Tucanes de Tijuana's Mario Quintero ("Amor Plant�nico," "Desde Que Te Amo," "Hotel Coraz�n") and Latin Rock sensation Shakira ("Ciega, Sordomuda," "Inevitable," "T?").

Shakira

Mario Quintero

Warner Music Publishing (Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. and Rightsong Music, Inc.) received its second Publisher of the Year award with eight songs on the most performed list that also included Song of the Year "Livin' La Vida Loca."

Other multiple award songwriters included Robi "Draco" Rosa, co-writer of the Song of the Year, Miguel Mendoza and Alejandro Sanz (SGAE) with two songs each. Publishers who took home two or more Citations of Achievement were F I P P International / Foreign Imported Productions and Publishing, Inc. and Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing LLC / Sony/ATV Songs LLC (6 each); peermusic and SER-CA Publishing, Inc. (5 each); EMI Music Publishing (EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. and Ego Musical SA [SGAE]) (4); M�s Flamingo Music and Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc. (3 each); and A Phantom Vox Corp. and World Deep Music Publishing Corporation (2 each).

BMI is an American performing rights organization that represents more than 250,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music. It was founded in 1940 as a non-profit-making corporation to open the door to performing rights representation for songwriters and composers of all types of music, including Spanish-language music. Through its music performance and reciprocal agreements with sister organizations around the world, it grants businesses and media access to its repertoire of more than 4.5 million songs and compositions.

Award Winning Songs