Grammys 2020: Alejandro Sanz bags Best Latin Pop Album for 'El Disco', beats Luis Fonsi and Maluma for the win
In a resounding reminder that Latin pop tunes have taken over the charts in a 'muy' big way, popular nominee Alejandro Sanz has claimed the Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album for 'El Disco', sometimes stylized as '#El Disco'.
The award was handed out at a pre-ceremony premiere party held prior to the main 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, which is being telecast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. It serves as a fitting culmination to Alejandro Sanz's journey to the very forefront of US popular culture as a musical artiste. His fellow Spaniard, Rosalia, as well as the American Marc Anthony, and Cuban Aymee Nuviola also took home Grammy Awards in the Latin categories on Sunday, January 26.
Sanz, who did not attend the ceremony, pocketed his fourth Grammy award for the record '#El Disco' which is his 12th studio album. Known for his distinctive raspy voice and flamenco-inspired ballads, Sanz has also been known to experiment with multiple genres that included pop, rock, funk, R&B, and jazz. He also hit the popular mainstream consciousness after his song with Shakira, 'La Tortura' hit No. 1 in several countries. Along with Camila Cabello, Sanz released 'Mi Persona Favorita' on March 28, 2019 as the third single off his latest album '#El Disco'.
The generous Sanz has also been honored with the 2017 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year award for his musical achievements and his immense philanthropic work with charitable organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and Save The Children.
The nominees for this year's Best Latin Pop album included musical heavyweights like:
'Vida' - Luis Fonsi
'11:11' - Maluma
'Montaner' - Ricardo Montaner
'Fantasia' - Sebastian Yatra
The Grammy for Best Latin Pop album is usually awarded for records that contain "at least 51% playing time of new Latin pop recordings." For a brief period of time, from the years 1984 to 1991, this category would allow not just Latin music albums, but also single tracks containing Latin music. But this was changed in 1992, and now the category only looks to honor Latin albums in this category.
In another breakthrough for the up-and-coming Latin genre, members of the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (LARAS) were deemed eligible to vote in the Latin field of the Grammy Award categories from the year 1998 onwards. Past winners of this Best Latin Pop Album award have included international stars like Shakira, Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, Marc Antony, and this year's winner, Sanz himself, who won his first career Grammy for 'No Es Lo Mismo' at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards in 2004.