Juan Luis Guerra Rakes In the Latin GRAMMYs

The glamour and glitz of Las Vegas was the perfect backdrop for the 8th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards last night, where the musical talent – and not just the roulette – determined the luck of the nominees. And the biggest winner of all was Juan Luis Guerra, who on top of receiving the Person of the Year award took home five gramophones (his album did win another Latin GRAMMY, but it went to the sound engineer).

Sin City's Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino was the setting for the 2007 awards show. Puerto Rican mega-star Ricky Martin and the Blue Man Group kicked off the event with a colorful performance, which included a jaw-dropping drum and paint extravaganza to the rhythm of Martin's hits “Lola, Lola” and “La bomba.”

Another memorable performance came from reggaeton star Daddy Yankee, who sang “Ella me levantó,” accompanied by tap dancers and flashy Vegas dancers in sequined bikinis. Reggaeton diva Ivy Queen also hit the stage with style, performing “Que lloren” dressed as a geisha alongside dancers in kimonos.

In typical Latin GRAMMY fashion, artists from different genres brought their styles together on stage last night. Calle 13 (with folkloric dancers), for example, joined Afro-Cuban hip-hop trio Orishas (with the Havana Nights dance group). The musical fusion got audience members out of their seats. “We're all Latinos, we're here to stay, we're all residents,” René Pérez-Joglar, from the reggaeton duo, said of the immigration crisis before leaving the stage.

Shaila Dúrcal trembled when she sang “Amor eterno,” a tribute to her mother, deceased Spanish singer Rocío Dúrcal. Italian artists Laura Pausini (who dedicated her award for Best Female Pop Vocal Album to the recently deceased Luciano Pavarotti) and Andrea Bocelli, and Spanish singers Miguel and Bimba Bosé gave memorable duets.

And who better than Juan Luis Guerra to close the show? The poet of the pueblo graced the stage with a performance of “La travesía” from his acclaimed album La llave de mi corazón.

“There's a saying that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” said Eugenio Derbez, the show's host, along with Lucero. But the 8th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards was televised in more than 100 countries throughout the world, bringing Latin music to places way beyond Sin City.

Check out the list of winners on the next pageThese are the winners in the main categories:

– Record of the year: La llave de mi corazón (Juan Luis Guerra 440)

– Album of the year: La llave de mi corazón(Juan Luis Guerra 440)

– Song of the year: “La llave de mi corazón” (Juan Luis Guerra 440)

– Best new artist: Jesse & Joy

– Best male pop album: Yo canto (Laura Pausini)

– Best female pop album: MTV Unplugged (Ricky Martin)

– Best pop album by a group or duet: El mundo se equivoca (La 5ta Estación)

– Best urban album: Residente o visitante (Calle 13)

– Best rock album: El mundo cabe en una canción (Fito Páez)

– Best alternative album: Oye (Aterciopelados)

– Best salsa album: Arroz con habichuela (El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico)

– Best merengue album: La llave de mi corazón (Juan Luis Guerra 440)

– Best tropical song: “La llave de mi corazón” (Juan Luis Guerra 440)

– Best ranchero album: Enamorado (Pepe Aguilar)

– Best music video: “Ven a mi casa esta Navidad” (Voz Veis)

– Best feature lenght music video: MTV Unplugged(Ricky Martin)