2023-11-16 22:55:10
Photo: Jorge Luis Borges
Text: Editorial Cuba Noticias 360
The renowned Cuban singer Omara Portuondo has won the 2023 Latin Grammy award in the category of Best Traditional Tropical Album with her album ‘Vida’, produced by the Guatemalan singer Gaby Moreno.
The Diva of the Buena Vista Social Club was awarded just an hour ago during the Premier of the Latin Recording Academy Awards that are currently being presented in the Spanish city of Seville.
This category was the one that had the most artists from the island as nominees. The albums ‘Tierra, Songs by Cuban Women’, by Estrella Acosta, were competing; ‘And I’m still pa’lante’, by El Septeto Santiaguero; ‘Danzoneando (Live From Matanzas)’, by the Failde Orchestra; and ‘En tiempo de Son… Tribute to the songs of Jorge Luis Piloto’, authored by the Septeto Acarey founded by the Cuban Reynier Pérez.
The award for ‘Vida’ was received by Moreno, who was happy to be nominated for the first time as a producer: “I am super excited about this award that we just won. For Omara Portuondo with her album ‘Vida’ that I had the honor of producing, it is the first time that I have won as a producer and I feel a great honor.”
During her speech at the gala, the Guatemalan artist thanked “our queen, teacher Omara Portuondo for being a great inspiration to so many of us and here we are with Rossio, her granddaughter.”
In addition, he extended his gratitude “to Omara Portuondo’s entire family, especially to Omara, to that queen, to that teacher who inspires me so much and I also want to celebrate Cuban music.”
Omara Portuondo holds the record for being the oldest winning first artist at the Latin Grammys, having been awarded when she was 79 years old.
According to records, the Cuban has been the oldest to win in the category of Best Contemporary Tropical Album, winning the award in 2009 for her album ‘Thanks’.
In that same year, Portuondo received the Academy Award for Musical Excellence, during the twentieth edition of the Latin Grammys.
The legendary Cuban singer celebrated her 93rd birthday this October in the middle of her US tour. “I want to thank all the people who have sent me congratulations on my birthday, they have been very kind to have this detail. I am turning 93 years old and life continues to allow me to sing,” she said at the end of one of her concerts in Seattle.
Just this month the list of nominees for the 2024 Grammy Awards was announced. The nominations from the US National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, this year, are headed by female artists and in them two Cubans have qualified for the race for the award.
Precisely, Omara Portuondo repeats with her album “Vida”, and is joined by Cimafunk for the concert “Todo Colores”, together with Ibrahim Maalouf and Tank and the Bangas. It will not be until February 4, 2024 that the winners will be announced at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, a place that is hosting one of the most important events in the music industry for the 21st time.
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