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Bruno Mars, Grammys 2018. Photograph saved from National Post. 
Bruno Mars, Grammys 2018. Photograph saved from National Post. 

Latinos Won Big At Grammys 2018

Surprisingly, it wasn't just Bruno Mars taking home glitzy golden gramophones last night at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. 

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White roses, Hillary Clinton, #TimesUp, Kesha, and even a special tribute for DACA Dreamers by Cuban and Mexican-American singer Camila Cabello (albeit a controversial one with poor phrasing). No, Camila, while Dreamers are making remarkable contributions to our country, and Latino immigrants have made our country stronger, they did not build it. That praise is reserved for the exploited, free labor of Black slaves, who built this country centuries ago, but I digress... It still was moving and got the pro-immigration point across: 
There were plenty of memorable moments at the Grammys last night, but the amount of Latino representation on-stage and in the award categories was especially impressive. Many Latino musicians and Latin acts were victors, while some nominees won rightly in our hearts. And, recently, one of these Grammy winners graced an AL DÍA News cover... Can you guess who? Check out the full list (and accompanying YouTube videos), here: 
Album of the Year

24K Magic by Bruno Mars. Bruno Mars is a Hawaiian native of Puerto Rican and Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Okay, there probably was a little too much Bruno for my taste and many deserving artists- including some Latinos! -were snubbed, but, either way, Mars, and his infectious funky jams are worthy of much acclaim.Image result for 24k magic cover art  

Record of the Year
"24K Magic" by Bruno Mars won, while "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber lost. 
Song of the Year
Again, a song by Bruno Mars made the cut while "Despacito" did not.  
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
"Despacito" lost to "Feel it Still" by Portugal. The Man. Though "Despacito" did not make as many wins as critics projected it would, it is still impressive that the record was given so many nomination nods in a slew of award categories. 
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

Antonio Sánchez, the Mexican immigrant who infuses electro-rock with politics in Bad Hombre, lost to Prototype by Jeff Lorber Fusion.

Best R&B Performance

Bruno Mars scored another win with “That’s What I Like," but Daniel Caesar and Kali Uchis (a Colombian-American) did get recognized for "Get Out." 

Best R&B Song

“That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars. 

Best R&B Album
24K Magic by Bruno Mars.
Best Rap Performance & Best Rap Song

In both of these categories, Dominican-Trinidadian rapper and personality Cardi B lost to Kendrick Lamar's "Humble." Let's give credit where credit is due, though: Cardi B is the first person of Dominican descent to make it to Billboard's Hot 100, and she's only just risen to prominence for her music in the past two years. 

Best Jazz Vocal Album

Cécile McLorin Salvant may have won for this category, but Raul Midón's Bad Ass and Blind was in consideration. Midón graduated from the prestigious Frost School of Music in Miami, Florida in 1990. 

Best Latin Jazz Album

Jazz Tango by Pablo Ziegler Trio

Best Latin Pop Album

El Dorado by Shakira. 

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album

Residente by Residente

Best Regional Mexican Music Album

Arriero Somos Versiones Acústicas by Aida Cuevas.

Best Tropical Latin Album

Salsa Big Band by Rubén Blades, accompanied by Roberto Delgado and Orchestra. 

Best World Music Album

Woah, out of five possible nomination slots, three were given to Latino musicians! Memoria de los Sentidos by Vicente Amigo, Para Mi by Buika, and Rosa Dos Ventos by Anat Cohen & Trio Brasileiro lost to Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

I guess people still like La La Land? Lin-Manuel Miranda's impressive work on the Moana soundtrack was at least recognized. 

Best Song Written for Visual Media

“How Far I’ll Go," written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and sung by Auli'i Cravalho

Best Instrumental Composition

"Three Revolutions" by Arturo O'Farrill & Chucho Valdés.  

Best Recording Package

El Orisha De La Rosa by Magín Díaz and Claudio Roncoli & Cactus Taller tied with Pure Comedy by Father John Misty and Sasha Barr, Ed Steed, & Josh Tillman

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

24K Magic by Bruno Mars. 

Best Classical Compendium

Higdon: Viola Concerto by Jennifer Higdon, Roberto Díaz, Giancarlo Guerrero, & Nashville Symphony. I just interviewed Roberto Díaz, the CEO & President of The Curtis Institute of Music, and his humility clearly knows no bounds- he never mentioned the Grammy nomination! All of us at AL DÍA warmly extend our congratulations to Mr. Díaz and his colleagues. 

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