Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra and his band 4.40 won album of the year and record of the year at the 25th annual Latin Grammy awards on Thursday, on a night when the biggest names of decades past eclipsed some younger stars. Guerra, 67, who has been playing with 4.
40 for four decades, won album of the year for “Radio Güira,” which also took home best merengue/bachata album. The single “Mambo 23” won record of the year, another sign of endurance for Guerra, an international star since the breakout hit album “Bachata Rosa” of 1990. Guerra and the 4.
40 also took home best tropical song with “Mambo 23.” For record of the year, they won out over younger competitors such as Anitta, who was nominated for her megahit “Mil Veces” (A Thousand Times), superstar Bad Bunny for “Monaco” and Karol G for “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” (My Ex Was Right), a single off the winner for best urban music album. Meanwhile, 60-year-old Uruguayan Jorge Drexler captured song of the year for “Derrumbe” (Collapse), adding a Latin Grammy to his shelf along with his 2005 original song Oscar for “Al Otro Lado del Río” (On the Other Side of the River) from the 2004 movie “The Motorcycle Diaries.
” Colombian singer-songwriter Ela Taubert, 24, took home the award for best new artist, after performing a bilingual version of her song “¿Cómo Pasó?” (How Did it Happen) with Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers. The academy recognized Carlos Vives, 63, as Person of the Yea.