Veteran star Juan Luis Guerra sweeps top Latin Grammy awards

Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra and his band 4.40 won Album of the Year and Record of the Year at Thursday's 25th annual Latin Grammy Awards when the most prominent 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 the 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 4.40 also took home the Best Tropical song with "Mambo 23."

Juan Luis Guerra accepts the Best Album of the Year award for "Radio Guira" at the 25th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in Miami, Florida, U.S., November 14, 2024. Reuters

For the 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."

Ela Taubert poses with the Best New Artist award at the 25th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in Miami, Florida, U.S., November 14, 2024. Reuters

Colombian singer-songwriter Ela Taubert, 24, won 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 Year, celebrating how the Colombian revived traditional vallenato music when he burst on the scene with his 1993 album "Clásicos De La Provincia" (Classics of the Province).

Jon Bon Jovi and Pitbull perform at the 25th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in Miami, Florida, U.S., November 14, 2024. Reuters

Vives infused the Caribbean genre, distinguished by its generous use of the accordion, with a rock sound. He went on to win 18 Latin Grammys among his 47 nominations. In a nod to Vives' style, American rocker Jon Bon Jovi presented him the award.

"We're all connected at the roots," Vives told the ceremony in a message of unity across nations and musical styles. A string of nominees performed live in Miami's Kaseya Center, while classic acts showed they still had a loyal following.

In one number, Venezuelan salsa star Oscar D'Leon, 81, got the whole crowd on its feet. Marc Anthony and La India immediately followed him with a rousing version of their hit 1994 duet "Vivir Lo Nuestro" (Living Ours).