Pit5 Music News Cache

By Mary Milliken Fri Nov 9, 1:17 AM ET

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - The tropical romance of Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra, the edgy urban sounds of Puerto Rico's Calle 13 and sensual Latin vibe of Ricky Martin garnered this year's top Latin Grammys on Thursday.

Guerra took home six Latin Grammys, including album of the year, record of the year and song of the year for "La Llave De Mi Corazon," the name of his hit single and album.

Guerra, who took the music of the Dominican Republic to the world stage nearly 20 years ago with "Ojala Que Llueva Cafe," was also chosen as "person of the year" by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

A devout Christian, Guerra dedicated his Grammys to his wife for whom he writes his romantic melodies.

The provocative Calle 13 won two Grammys for best urban song with "Pal Norte" and best music album for "Residente O Visitante," which mixes the duo's reggaeton roots with excursions into other Latin genres like cumbia and bossa nova.

Martin, the most famous of Puerto Rico's music exports, won two Grammys, the best male pop vocal album and the long-form music video for his "MTV Unplugged."

Italy's Laura Pausini, singing in Spanish, won best female vocal pop album for "Yo Canto."

Mexico's young, urban pop scene also fared well at the awards, the eighth Latin Grammy ceremony.

The songwriting brother-sister duo from Mexico City, Jesse & Joy, took best new artists this year with their upbeat songs from their debut album "Esta Es Mi Vida."

"We are influenced a lot by the music of the 1970s and we are a little pop-rock and a little folk," said Jesse, 24, who plays piano and guitar, while 21-year-old Joy sings lead vocals.

La Quinta Estacion, a Mexico-based group formed by Spaniards, won best pop group album with "El Mundo Se Equivoca."

Brazilian veteran singer and composer Caetano Veloso took the prize for top singer-songwriter album with "Ce" and best Brazilian song for "Nao Me Arrependo."

The Latin Grammy awards have been held since their inception in the United States, where Hispanics account for 15 percent of the population and are the fastest-growing demographic group.

Hispanics of all ages gathered in the Las Vegas venue to catch glimpses of some of the biggest stars from their native countries. Las Vegas is about one-fourth Hispanic.

Reuters