MIAMI: Juanes, whose album "Un Dia Normal (A Normal Day)" has enjoyed a marathon stay on the Latin charts, was showered with five Latin Grammy awards on Wednesday, including trophies for the record and album of the year.

"I never thought that this was going to happen to me," said the Colombian singer-songwriter as he picked up one of his awards. "Three years ago I was lost completely in Los Angeles."

Juanes, who had already won four Latin Grammys prior to Wednesday's ceremony, won all of the awards he was nominated for, including song and record of the year for "Es Por Ti," and best rock solo album.

"Un Dia Normal" was released in May 2002 and has spent 65 weeks on the Billboard Latin charts, a record, and yielded three successful singles.

Juanes, who was wearing a black T-shirt that read, "Se Habla Espanol," said he hoped his win would help people look at his homeland in a new light.

"I know a lot of times, people have a bad image of my country," he said. "That's why it's so important for me to be here, to represent the other side of Colombia."

While Juanes was the evening's big winner, the show's most rousing moment came at the start of the show. Celia Cruz, who just a year ago kicked off the Latin Grammys with an electrifying performance, was given a posthumous tribute, with a rousing medley of her some of her biggest hits.

"Azucar!", Cruz's trademark rallying cry, was the final shout of the tribute, performed by Marc Anthony, Gloria Estefan, India and others. The Queen of Salsa, who won an award at the Latin Grammys last year, died of a brain tumour in July.

Cruz's husband, trumpeter Pedro Knight, was watching from the audience.

"I'm speechless," he told reporters before the show.

George Lopez was the evening's host. The comedian made jokes about Latino culture and the city of Miami, where the event was held, throughout the evening.

The ceremony included energetic performances from Thalia and Bacilos, but also incorporated non-Latin artists; Juanes performed with the hip-hop group the Black Eyed Peas, while Brazilian singer Alexandre Pires sang with "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson.

The fusion of US and Latin American pop cultures also included presenters such as singer Natalie Cole, actors Jessia Alba and Adam Rodriguez, and even tennis champion Venus Williams, who towered over Latin Grammy nominee Natalia Lafourcade while presenting an award.

A pregnant Olga Tanon screamed onstage when she won best pop vocal album by a female for "Sobrevivir." It was her second Latin Grammy.

"My English is very bad, for this reason I have to talk in Spanish," she said apologetically before giving her acceptance speech in Spanish.

Backstage, Tanon said: "I swear I was surprised. Anything could have happened. The competition was very strong but I always have faith. I'm super happy."

Other winners included Spanish singer David Bisbal, who burst on the scene with his album "Corazon Latino" after winning the Spanish equivalent of the hit US television show "American Idol."

"Thanks to all the fans in so many countries who supported me. Thanks to my family and friends. Ole!" said Bisbal.

Claiming two awards was composer-arranger Paquito D'Rivera, for best classical and best Latin jazz albums.

Producer-songwriter Sergio George, who led all nominees with six, won a Latin Grammy for teaming with Bacilos singer-songwriter Jorge Villamizar to write the Miami-based group's catchy cumbia-rock single "Mi Primer Millon."

The Brazilian collective Tribalistas, who closed the awards show, won for best contemporary Brazilian pop album. They thanked the audience in English, Portuguese and Spanish.

"Thank you very much. Obrigado. Muchas gracias," said the trio of Marisa Monte, Carlinhos Brown and Arnaldo Antunes.

Although they did not obtain visas to attend the show, the Cuban actors Orishas and Ibrahim Ferrer were honoured in the pre-ceremony. Socially conscious rappers Orishas won for best hip-hop album, and Ferrer, best known as a member of the Buena Vista Social Club, won for best traditional tropical album.

Bebu Silvetti, the early disco pioneer who worked in various genres, was honoured posthumously as producer of the year. Silvetti, 59, died in July of complications from pneumonia.

Agencies via Xinhua

(China Daily 09/05/2003 page1)