Jorge Villamizar performs his single “Ninguna.”

BMI’s Anne Cecere, Casey Robison, Marissa Lopez and Tracie Verlinde; Jorge Villamizar; BMI’s Claudia Billen, Delia Orjuela, Angelica Mejia, Erica Ramon, Ray Yee, Barbara Cane and Maria Elena Perez.

Photos by Marlene Meraz

In 2000, they signed with Warner Music Latina, and delivered a self-titled release that won fans from Latin America to Spain, garnered two Latin Grammy nominations and earned the band gold status — albeit in Colombia. Still, it was an auspicious introduction; the single "Tabaco y Chanel" hit #1 on Latin radio and a tour opening for Spanish superstar Alejandro Sanz showcased them to the world.

It set the stage for the group's next album, Caraluna, which takes its title from a phrase invented by the band to mean "the face of the moon." The blockbuster album earned the threesome two awards at the 2003 Latin Grammys, "Best Tropical Song" for "Mi Primer Millon," their humorous account of trying to make it in the music industry (performed live on the show) and "Best Pop Album by a Group." Additionally, at this year's 45th Annual Grammy ceremony at Madison Square Garden, Caraluna walked away with "Best Latin Pop Album."

Cross-pollinating bossa nova, tango and flamenco with flavors of Caribbean, cumbia and ska, Caraluna reflects Bacilos' widescreen influences, while one song, "Elena," also features lyrics in English. A headlining tour concurrent with this release has taken Bacilos from New York to Bogota; Los Angeles to Buenos Aires, establishing the band as a premier concert attraction. Additionally, primary songwriter Villamizar has distinguished himself as a writer for other artists, with cuts by Alejandra Guzman and Fernando Osorio.

Despite the group's successes, they express no interest in becoming a glossy pop band. Their hit "Me Primer Millon" may feature strings and brass, but Bacilos continues to honor their origins with real songs, acoustic instruments and unadorned harmonies, an organic approach in an ever so techno world.

For their growing legion of fans, it's a sound that is absolutely contagious.

En Español

BMI presented its 11th Annual Latin Awards on March 16 with top honors going to songwriter/producer Estéfano, his publishing company World Deep Music Publishing Corporation and the Conjunto Primavera hit "Perdóname Mi Amor" written by Ramón González Mora. The black-tie ceremony, hosted by BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston, Executive Vice President Del Bryant, and Assistant Vice President of Latin Music Diane J. Almodovar, honored the top writers and publishers of the most performed Latin songs on U.S. radio and television at the Ritz Carlton San Juan Hotel, Spa and Casino. This is the first time the performing rights organization has held its Latin Awards in Puerto Rico.

Click here for more photos from the Latin Awards

Click here for the Complete Latin Awards Song List

Pictured on stage are BMI Executive Vice President Del Bryant, Ramón Gonzáles Mora, BMI President & CEO Frances Preston, Estéfano, BMI Assistant Vice President Diane Almodovar, and BMI Senior Vice President Phil Graham.

Songwriter/producer Estéfano, who has earned the prestigious title for the last three years in a row, was named BMI Latin Songwriter of the Year once again by placing the most songs on the list of 50, including "Es Por Amor" by Alexandre Pires, "Herida Mortal" and "Vuela Muy Alto" both by Jerry Rivera, "Márchate" by Gisselle and "No Me Enseñaste" by Thalía. He also shared the Songwriter of the Year crown with Marco Antonio Pérez, Mario Quintero, Kike Santander and Shakira at the 2000 awards ceremony.

Estéfano

Ramón González Mora

Rafael Hernandez

Also in the spotlight was Estéfano's World Deep Music Publishing Corporation, named Publisher of the Year with all five of his award-winning songs. This distinguished honor is given to the publisher with the highest percentage of ownership of songs on the most performed list.

Juanes

Kike Santander

Teodoro Bello Jaimes

"Perdóname Mi Amor" ("Forgive Me My Love"), written by Ramón González Mora and published by Seg-Son Music, Inc., earned the Song of the Year trophy as the most performed song on the Latin list. A hit for norteño group Conjunto Primavera, the Latin Grammy-nominated song is one of González Mora's many compositions that brought the veteran band stardom some 20 years into their career. This is González Mora's second Song of the Year win; he also wrote another Conjunto Primavera hit, "Morir De Amor," which earned him the title at BMI's 2001 Latin Awards.

Emilio Estefan, Jr.

Lester Mendez

Mario Quintero

A special musical tribute to the late Rafael Hernandez was presented by Cucco Peña featuring renowned artists Andy Montañez, Rafy Escudero, and Chucho Avellanet who performed a medley of Hernandez's most treasured songs. Considered one of the most important composers of Puerto Rican popular music in the 20th century, Hernandez, who died in 1965, left a legacy of more than 3,000 musical compositions, including such classics as "Lamento Borincano," "Silencio," and "Ausencia." Guests were also treated to a taste of traditional Puerto Rican music with performances by Rondalla Típica Orocoveña and Rikaplena.

Jorge Villamizar

Marco A. Godoy

In addition to Estéfano, other multiple award-winning songwriters included Juanes and Kike Santander with three songs each, as well as Teodoro Bello Jaimes (SACM), Emilio Estefan, Jr., Lester Mendez, Mario Quintero and Jorge Villamizar with two songs each on the most performed list. Publishers earning two or more Citations of Achievement were Apollinaire Music; Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.; Disa Latin Publishing LLC; EMI Music Publishing; Foreign Imported Productions and Publishing, Inc.; Kike Santander Music LLC/Santander Songs; Más Flamingo Music; Mexican Music Copyright, Inc.; peermusic; SER-CA Publishing, Inc.; Songs of Camaleon; Tigres del Norte Ediciones Musicales; Universal Music Publishing Group; and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Another of the evening's highlights included the announcement of the winner of the BMI Foundation/peermusic Latin Scholarship. Hailing from Caracas, Venezuela, 21-year-old Berklee College of Music freshman Marco A. Godoy was named the scholarship's first winner for his instrumental piece entitled "My Latin Feel." Established by the BMI Foundation and funded by the generosity of the peermusic companies, the new $5,000 scholarship will be awarded annually through a competition for original Latin songs and instrumental compositions.

BMI singer/songwriter Juanes was the big winner at this year's 4th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, held last night (9/3) at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. The Colombian-born Latin rock singer, who already has four Latin Grammys, added five of the coveted statuettes to his collection, winning every award for which he was nominated. His Gold-certified album, Un Día Normal (A Normal Day), which has been on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart for a record 67 weeks (currently #10), earned him awards for Album of the Year and Best Rock Solo Vocal Album, while his songs "Es Por Ti" ("It's For You") won Record and Song of the Year, and "Mala Gente" ("Bad People") was named Best Rock Song.

Juanes

Gustavo Santaolalla

Anibal Kerpel

BMI Latin rock producer Gustavo Santaolalla, also nominated for five awards this year, captured three wins including Album of the Year for producing Juanes' Un Día Normal and Record of the Year for production on the album's chart-topping single, "Es Por Ti." The Surco Records co-founder also won in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category for Bajofondo Tango Club, a unique collection of Latin tango/dance/electronica songs by various artists.

Paquito D'Rivera

Jorge Villamizar

Molotov

Other BMI stars who took home multiple awards included producer Anibal Kerpel, who earned two Latin Grammys for Album and Record of the Year, and Cuban jazzman Paquito D'Rivera, who won for Best Classical Album for Historia Del Soldado (History of the Soldier) and Best Latin Jazz Album for Brazilian Dreams. Latin alternative pop band Bacilos also captured two wins: one for Best Pop Album by a Duo or Group with Vocal for Caraluna, and the other to the band's lead singer and main songwriter, Jorge Villamizar, who earned a Best Tropical Song trophy for the album's hit, "Mi Primer Millón" ("My First Million"). Mexican rap-metal band Molotov, who received four nominations, took home the Best Music Video Latin Grammy for their controversial song, "Frijolero" ("Bean Picker").

BMI's 2003 Latin Grammy Winners

FIVE AWARDS
Juanes
Record of the Year
Album of the Year
Song of the Year
Best Rock Solo Vocal Album
Best Rock Song

THREE AWARDS
Gustavo Santaolalla
Record of the Year
Album of the Year
Best Pop Instrumental Album

TWO AWARDS
Anibal Kerpel
Record of the Year
Album of the Year

Paquito D'Rivera
Best Latin Jazz Album
Best Classical Album

ONE AWARD
Atrapado
Best Grupero Album

Bacilos
Best Pop Album by a Duo or Group

Jimmy González y El Grupo Mazz
Best Tejano Album

Molotov
Best Music Video

Orishas (SACEM)
Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album

Caetano Veloso
Best Música Popular Brasileira Album

Jorge Villamizar
Best Tropical Song

Juanes

Gustavo Santaolalla

Shakira

Earning four nominations each were BMI producer Anibal Kerpel and BMI Latin rock group Molotov for Record of the Year, Best Rock Album by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Best Record Song and Best Music Video, while BMI Latin alternative pop band Bacilos captured three nods. The band's lead singer, BMI songwriter Jorge Villamizar, also earned three mentions.

Thalia

Bacilos

Two-time Latin Grammy Award-winning Colombian songwriter/artist Shakira earned a nomination for Best Rock Song for "Te Aviso, Te Anuncio," while Mexican songwriter/artist Thalía received a nod for Best Female Pop Vocal Album. Other BMI artists receiving nominations included A.B. Quintanilla III, India, Elvis Crespo, Kike Santander, Conjunto Primavera, Paquito D'Rivera, Eddie Palmieri, Los Tucanes De Tijuana, Gilberto Gil and Sebastian Krys.

The Latin Grammy's are awarded by members of the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which was created by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) in 1997. The awards ceremony is scheduled for September 3 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami; CBS will air the awards live from 9-11 p.m.

BMI's 2003 Latin Grammy Awards Nominees:

5 Nominations
Juanes
Gustavo Santaolalla

4 Nominations
Anibal Kerpel
Molotov

3 Nominations
Miguel Huidobro
Bacilos
Jorge Villamizar
Carlinhos Brown (SACEM)

2 Nominations
Alex Acuña
Elvis Crespo
Paquito D'Rivera
Jimmy Gonzalez Y el Grupo Mazz
India
Luis F. Ochoa
Alexandre Pires
A.B. Quintanilla III
Caetano Veloso

1 Nomination
Alejandro Allen
Atrapado
Banda El Recodo
Gato Barbieri
Conjunto Primavera
Ray Contreras
Ry Cooder
Oscar D'Leon
Iker Gastraminsa
Gilberto Gil
Ramon Gonzalez Mora
Jimmy Greco
Noe Hernandez
Los Hijos Del Sol
Jaguares
Jaime Y Los Chamacos
Sebastian Krys
Alfonso Lizarraga
Joel Lizarraga
Lester Mendez
Luis Miguel
Eddie Palmieri
Pesado
Jay Perez
Freddy Piñero, Jr.
Rabanes (SGAE)
Ruben Ramos & The Revolution
Shakira
Kike Santander
Thalía
Los Terribles Del Norte
Nestor Torres
Los Tucanes De Tijuana]]> 2003-07-29T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/233600 Artists, Bacilos, Fernando, Osorio, Fernando, Villamizar, Jorge, Musical Styles, Latin, Musicworld, Hitmaker Jorge Villamizar is a Colombian songwriter who has lived in Miami since 1992. He joined the Warner/Chappell writing team in 1997 and his songs are being recorded by numerous Latin pop artists. Alejandra Guzman's (BMG) last CD is named after one of Villamizar's compositions, "Algo Natural."

Villamizar also co-wrote Fernando Osorio's (WEA) just-released debut single, "Vivir". "Writing with Fernando was very special for me," says Villamizar. "I grew up listening to his work, and the fact that he is using a song we created together as his first single definitely makes my day."

Villamizar's band, Bacilos, is one of the "must see" live shows of the Miami live-music scene. At their Marlin Hotel shows, you can feel the internationalization of Latin music. Blending with the crowd is easy; languages vary on stage and on the dance floor, and it becomes hard to tell who is from Brazil and who is from Michigan.

It was in one of these shows that Bacilos was discovered by WEA, which is preparing to release their first album, Madera. This recording is a perfect introduction to Villamizar's unique songwriting style, which smoothly blends his Latin roots with world beats and pop.

"Y2K is definitely my year; it's just starting and I've already got lots of good things going for me, especially getting signed and launching my first album. Things have been tough, in the past, but now the effort is paying off . . ."