September 08, 2010

By By Leila Cobo, Miami

Latin Grammy darlings Alejandro Sanz and Juan Luis Guerra, along with past nominee Jorge Drexler, led the nominations for the 11th edition of the awards with four nods each, tying Mario Domm, the lead singer and songwriter of pop group Camila.

The nominees for the 2010 Latin Grammys, which will air live Nov. 11 from Las Vegas on the Univision Network, were announced at a press conference today (Sept. 7) in Hollywood, Calif. As is customary, a handful of names are vying for the top honors.

Drexler and Sanz are both up for record of the year, while Domm's group, Camila, is a contender for album of the year for "Dejarte de Amar" (Sony), along with Spaniard Bebe for "Y. " (EMI), Miguel Bos? for "Cardio" (Warner), Alejandro Sanz for "Para?so Express" (Warner) and Juan Luis Guerra for "A Son de Guerra" (EMI).

Camila's Domm is vying for song of the year for "Mientes," which he co-wrote with M?nica V?lez. Also in the running is Drexler for "Una Canci?n Me Trajo Hasta Aqu?," Ruben Blades for "Las Calles," Sanz and Tommy Torres for "Desde Cuando," and Enrique Iglesias, who with co-writer Descemer Bueno penned "Cuando Me Enamoro," featuring Guerra.

The record of the year nominees are Drexler with "Una Canci?n," Buika with "Se Me Hizo F?cil," Brazilian Maria Bethania with "Tua," Camila with "Mientes" and Sanz with "Desde Cuando."

The ever-interesting best new artist category bypassed the big new act success stories of the year -- and there were many -- in favor of lesser-known acts. Among them, the best-known is singer/songwriter Alex Cuba (who writes with Nelly Furtado, among others), Estrella, Mar?a Gad?, Koko and Mexican band Jotdog.

Other multiple nominees include Camila, Daddy Yankee, Lee Levin, Tommy Torres, and producer/songwriter Dan Warner with three nods each. Bebe, Ruben Blades, Buika, Andres Calamaro, Dori Caymmi, Gustavo Cerati, Cuba, El Cuarteto De Nos, Estrella, Maria Gadu, Gilberto Gil, Jotdog, Mala Rodriguez, and Vico C. all picked up two nods each.

Artists on hand for the nominations announcement included Camila, Cuba, singer/songwriter Kany Garcia, Gilberto Santa Rosa and newcomer Prince Royce, who didn't get a Best new artist nod but whose successful self-titled debut (Top Spot/Sony) was nominated in the best contemporary tropical album category.

In a twist, perhaps the most competed category is the Best Ranchero Album, whose contenders are Alejandro Fernandez with "Dos Mundos Tradici?n" (Fonovisa/Universal Music Latino), his father Vicente Fernandez with "Necesito de Ti" (Sony), Pedro Fernandez (no relation), with "Amarte a la Antigua" (Fonovisa), Jenni Rivera with "La Gran Se?ora" (Fonovisa) and Juan Gabriel with "Juan Gabriel" (Fonovisa).

For a full list of nominees, please visit www.latingrammy.com.

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