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NEW NAMES RULE AT LATIN GRAMMYS

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Times Staff Writer

Bebe, a Spanish singer-songwriter who’s relatively unknown in the U.S., made a surprise showing Tuesday with five nominations in the sixth annual Latin Grammy Awards, making her the only performer to be recognized in all the major categories.

No other artist received more than three nominations in the awards, which were announced Tuesday at a star-filled news conference at the Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood that was attended by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Bebe garnered nominations for album of the year for her quietly forceful debut collection, “Pafuera Telaranas,” or “Out With the Cobwebs,” as well as song and record of the year for “Malo,” an understated but devastating critique of abusive men. She also was nominated in the female pop vocal and best new artist categories.

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Bebe’s showing continues the Latin Grammy tradition of eschewing familiar candidates in favor of talented new discoveries. Bebe, the daughter of Spanish folk singers, now has a chance to follow in the footsteps of fellow singer-songwriter Juanes, who was unknown outside his native Colombia four years ago when he was catapulted to stardom with seven nominations in the awards.

Juanes continued his own Latin Grammy streak Tuesday with three nominations for his hit album “Mi Sangre.” That collection was also cited among the eclectic work of Los Angeles-based producer Gustavo Santaolalla in his nomination for producer of the year. The Argentine-born Santaolalla also wrote the soundtrack to “The Motorcycle Diairies,” an adventure film about the young Che Guevara. The film also yielded a song-of the-year nod for Jorge Drexler’s Oscar-winning original song, “Al Otro Lado del Rio.”

Other artists with three nominations each were pop-salsa singer Marc Anthony, Miami-based teenage rocker JD Natasha, New York-based singer-songwriter Obie Bermudez and Mexican pop-rock singer Aleks Syntek.

The disappointment for U.S. Latin music fans may be the relatively weak showing by reggaeton star Daddy Yankee, the biggest name in the hybrid Latin hip-hop genre that represents the hottest domestic trend in Latin music since Ricky Martin and the Latin explosion of 1999.

Yankee was nominated in only one major category, record of the year, for his catchy dance hit “Gasolina,” a nomination shared by the crack reggaeton producing duo Luny Tunes. “Barrio Fino,” Yankee’s critically acclaimed album, received only a single nomination, in the urban music category.

The slight to reggaeton underscores the fact that the Latin Grammys, though U.S.-based, are not an American franchise. In the last five years, the Latin Recording Academy has conducted a concerted membership drive in the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking world. Today the organization’s international makeup is reflected in the diverse array of nominated artists from many genres and many nations.

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“I always find that democracy is very unpredictable,” said Gabriel Abaroa, president of the Latin Recording Academy. “What is clear is that members vote very much not on trends but on whatever they feel is worthy, without any external influence.”

This year, academy members are also more likely to get an awards show that reflects their musical values, not those of the U.S.

For the first time, the ceremony will not be televised by CBS. The network was frequently criticized for its attempt to promote primarily Spanish music to a mainstream English-speaking audience, a strategy that yielded duets with Anglo performers who were recruited for ratings rather than artistry.

The 2005 awards show is scheduled to air Nov. 3 from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium on the Spanish-language Univision network. The move frees the producers from the need to seek hosts and presenters who speak English and who may be familiar to U.S. television viewers. It also allows the show to grow from two to three hours, making more time for performances.

When the awards debuted at Staples Center five years ago, the lineup of performers consciously included names well known to the non-Latino public, such as Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan and Tito Puente, all from the East Coast.

At the time, Mexican artists popular on the West Coast complained that they were not fairly represented in the show, even though they account for a majority of Latin record sales in the U.S.

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This year for the first time, says Abaroa, a Mexican music act has won a nomination in a major category. Intocable, a group from Texas, is nominated for album of the year for “Diez” (“Ten”), which is also up for best norteno album.

Other Mexican music acts getting two nominations each are ranchero crooner Pepe Aguilar, Long Beach rabble-rouser Lupillo Rivera and Mexico’s mariachi king Vicente Fernandez and his son Alejandro Fernandez.

By contrast, Cuban artists have taken a back seat in the awards this year. From the beginning of the awards, Cubans were the focus of protests by anti-Castro forces opposed to their appearance at the Latin Grammy ceremony. This year, they are only modestly represented in the nominations, reflecting a cooling off of the Cuban music scene.

Voters also shortchanged the latest work by modern vallenato star Carlos Vives, one of the most popular and engaging artists from Colombia. Vives was nominated in two categories, contemporary tropical album for “El Rock de Mi Pueblo” and best tropical song for “Como Tu.”

Mayor Villaraigosa kicked off the nomination announcements with the best new artist category, in which women were well represented. Besides Bebe and Natasha, the field includes Diana Navarro and Ilona, a singer-songwriter who began her career performing on buses in her native Colombia.

In addition to Bebe and Intocable, the album of the year field includes Bermudez for “Todo el Ano” (“All Year”), Brazilian Ivan Lins for “Cantando Historias” (“Singing Stories”) and Argentine Diego Torres for “MTV Unplugged.”

Rounding out the nominations for record of the year are “Amor del Bueno” (“Good Loving”) by Mexico’s Reyli, “Duele el Amor” (“Love Hurts”) by Syntek con Ana Torroja and “Tu No Tienes Alma” (“You Have No Soul”) by Spain’s perennial Grammy winner Alejandro Sanz.

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The awards are determined by the 4,000 voting members of the Latin Recording Academy. Records that are at least 50% in Spanish or Portuguese and were released between April 1, 2004, and March 31, 2005, are eligible.

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

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Latin Grammys

Where: Shrine Auditorium,

665 W. Jefferson Blvd., L.A.; (213) 749-5123

When: 8 p.m. Nov. 3

Broadcast: Live on Univision

Running time: 3 hours

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List of nominees

GENERAL FIELD

Record of the year

“Malo,” Bebe (Carlos Jean, producer; Jose Luis Crespo & Raul Quilez, engineers-mixers); “Gasolina,” Daddy Yankee (Luny Tunes, producers; Echo, Hyde & Luny Tunes, engineers-mixers); “Amor del Bueno,” Reyli (Mario Domm & Reyli, producers; Gabriel Castanon, Luis Cortez, Mario Domm, Humberto Gatica, Luis Gil & Alex Rodriguez, engineers-mixers); “Tu No Tienes Alma,” Alejandro Sanz (Lulo Perez & Alejandro Sanz, producers; Carlos Alvarez, Rafa Sardina & Oscar Vinader, engineers-mixers); “Duele el Amor,” Aleks Syntek con Ana Torroja (Aleks Syntek, producer; Armando Avila, Aureo Baqueiro, Miguel Castro, Luis Gil, Juan Carlos Moguel, Carlos Murgia & Aleks Syntek, engineers-mixers)

Album of the year

“Pafuera Telaranas,” Bebe (Carlos Jean, producer; Jose Luis Crespo & Raul Quilez, engineers-mixers; Jose Luis Crespo, mastering engineer); “Todo el Ano,” Obie Bermudez (Sebastian Krys & Joel Someillan, producers; Mike Couzzi, Javier Garza, Sebastian Krys & Joel Someillan, engineers-mixers; Antonio Baglio, mastering engineer); “Diez,” Intocable (Pepe Aguilar, Carlos Cabral Jr., Jason Cano, Alex Espinoza, Chuy Flores, Kinky, Jorge Lares Amaro, Rene Martinez, Ricardo Munoz & Sacha Triujeque, producers; Isaias G. Asbun, Seth Horan Atkins, Carlos Castro, Gilberto Elguezabal, Chuy Flores, Rene Garza, Norberto Islas, Jorge Lares Amaro, Justin Leah, Marco Ramirez, Jack Saenz III & Sacha Triujeque, engineers-mixers; Don Tyler, mastering engineer); “Cantando Historias,” Ivan Lins (Moogie Canazio, producer; Moogie Canazio, engineer-mixer; Moogie Canazio & Luiz Tornaghi, mastering engineers); “MTV Unplugged,” Diego Torres (Diego Torres & Afo Verde, producers; Gustavo Borner, engineer-mixer; Gustavo Borner, mastering engineer)

Song of the year

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“Al Otro Lado del Rio,” Jorge Drexler, songwriter (Jorge Drexler); “Duele el Amor,” Aleks Syntek, songwriter (Aleks Syntek con Ana Torroja); “Malo,” Bebe, songwriter (Bebe); “Todo el Ano,” Obie Bermudez & Elsten C. Torres, songwriters (Obie Bermudez); “Tu no Tienes Alma,” Alejandro Sanz, songwriter (Alejandro Sanz)

Best new artist

Bebe; Ilona; JD Natasha; Diana Navarro; Reik

POP

Best female pop vocal album

“Pafuera Telaranas,” Bebe; “Andrea Echeverri,” Andrea Echeverri; “La Fuerza del Destino,” Fey; “Escucha,” Laura Pausini; “El Otro Lado de Mi,” Soraya

Best male pop vocal album

“Amar Sin Mentiras,” Marc Anthony; “Todo el Ano,” Obie Bermudez; “Stop,” Franco de Vita; “A Corazon Abierto,” Alejandro Fernandez; “Razon de Sobra,” Marco Antonio Solis

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Best pop album by a duo

or group with vocal

“Pajaros en la Cabeza,” Amaral; “Desde Mi Barrio,” Andy & Lucas; “Sinverguenza,” Bacilos; “Elefante,” Elefante; “Postales,” Presuntos Implicados

URBAN

Best urban music album

“Barrio Fino,” Daddy Yankee; “The Last Don -- Live,” Don Omar; “The Kings of the Beats,” Luny Tunes; “El Kilo,” Orishas; “Desahogo,” Vico C

ROCK

Best rock solo vocal album

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“El Viaje a Ninguna Parte,” Bunbury; “Imperfecta-Imperfect,” JD Natasha; “Mi Sangre,” Juanes; “Mi Vida con Ellas,” Fito Paez; “Mestizo,” Revolver

Best rock album by a Duo

or Group With Vocal

“En Vivo,” Enanitos Verdes; “Un Metro Cuadrado,” Jarabe de Palo; “Musica Pa’l Pueblo,” Locos por Juana; “Con Todo Respeto,” Molotov; “Estelar,” Volumen Cero

Best alternative music album

“En el Cielo de Tu Boca,” Circo; “Sweet & Sour, Hot y Spicy,” Ely Guerra; “The Venezuelan Zinga Son Vol. 1,” Los Amigos Invisibles; “Street Signs,” Ozomatli; “Ecolecua,” Rabanes

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Best rock song

“Bienvenido al Anochecer,” Beto Cuevas, songwriter (La Ley); “Lagrimas,” Martin Chan & JD Natasha, songwriters (JD Natasha); “Nada Valgo Sin tu Amor,” Juanes, songwriter (Juanes); “Polaroid de Ordinaria Locura,” Fito Paez, songwriter (Fito Paez); “Un Accidente,” J. L. Abreu & Egui Santiago, songwriters (Circo)

Best salsa album

“Valio la Pena,” Marc Anthony; “Asi Soy...,” Oscar D’Leon; “Aqui Estamos y... ¡De Verdad!,” El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico; “Autentico,” Gilberto Santa Rosa; “Across 110th Street,” Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Best merengue album

“Saborealo,” Elvis Crespo; “En Vivo 2004,” Los Toros Band; “Celebra Conmigo,” Kinito Mendez; “Generaciones,” Ramon Orlando; “Resistire,” Tono Rosario

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Best contemporary tropical album

“Bacha,” Bacha; “Chapeando,” Juan Formell y Los Van Van; “Hasta el Fin,” Monchy & Alexandra; “Sin Miedo,” Michael Stuart; “Cuba le Canta a Serrat,” various artists (Vivian Armenteros Rodriguez & Joan Surribas, producers); “El Rock de Mi Pueblo,” Carlos Vives

Best traditional tropical album

“¡Ahora Si!,” Cachao; “Nostalgia,” Manny Manuel; “Buena Vista Social Club Presents: Manuel Guajiro Mirabal,” Manuel “El Guajiro” Mirabal; “Flor de Amor,” Omara Portuondo; “Tradicion,” Tropicana All Stars

Best tropical song

“Ahora Si,” Cachao, songwriter (Cachao); “Bandolero,” Jose Luis Morin A. & Olga Tanon, songwriters (Olga Tanon); “Como Tu,” Carlos I. Medina & Carlos Vives, songwriters (Carlos Vives); “Las Avispas,” Juan Luis Guerra, songwriter (Juan Luis Guerra 4 40); “Valio la Pena,” Marc Anthony & Estefano, songwriters (Marc Anthony)

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SINGER-SONGWRITER

Best singer-songwriter album

“Vaidade,” Djavan; “Bolsillos,” Pedro Guerra; “City Zen,” Kevin Johansen; “Resucitar,” Gian Marco; “Los Rayos,” Vicentico

REGIONAL MEXICAN

Best ranchero album

“No Soy de Nadie,” Pepe Aguilar; “Alma Ranchera,” Rocio Durcal; “Vicente Fernandez y Sus Corridos Consentidos,” Vicente Fernandez; “Tradicional,” Ana Gabriel; “Mexico en la Piel,” Luis Miguel

Best banda album

“En Vivo,” Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizarraga; “Los Numero Uno del Pasito Duranguense,” Conjunto Atardecer; “Pensando en Ti,” K-Paz de la Sierra; “Locos de Amor,” Los Horoscopos de Durango; “Con Mis Propias Manos,” Lupillo Rivera

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Best grupero album

“Loca de Amar,” Ana Barbara; “Sin Riendas,” Bronco / El Gigante de America; “Para el Pueblo,” Oscar De La Rosa y La Mafia; “Olvidarte Nunca,” Guardianes del Amor; “Sigo Pensando en Ti,” Volumen X

Best Tejano album

“Polkas, Gritos y Acordeones,” David Lee Garza, Joel Guzman & Sunny Sauceda; “Solo Contigo,” David Lee Garza y Los Musicales; “Para Mi Gente,” Jimmy Gonzalez y Grupo Mazz; “Milagro,” La Tropa F; “Vive,” Bobby Pulido

Best norteno album

“Hoy Como Ayer,” Conjunto Primavera; “Diez,” Intocable; “Atrevete,” Los Palominos; “Directo al Corazon,” Los Tigres del Norte; “El Zurdo de Oro,” Michael Salgado

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Best regional Mexican song

“Aire,” Josue Contreras & Johnny Lee Rosas, songwriters (Intocable); “Corazon Dormido,” Freddie Martinez Sr., songwriter (Jimmy Gonzalez y Grupo Mazz); “Me Vuelvo Loco,” Edel Ramirez, songwriter (Los Palominos); “Na Na Na (Dulce Nina),” Luigi Giraldo, Cruz “ck” Martinez & A.B. Quintanilla III, songwriters (A.B. Quintanilla III Presents Kumbia Kings)

Best instrumental album

“Nuevos Caminos,” Manuel Alejandro; “Ed Calle Plays Santana,” Ed Calle; “Tiple Jazz,” Pedro Guzman; “Paseo,” Gonzalo Rubalcaba & New Cuban Quartet; “Coral,” David Sanchez

TRADITIONAL

Best folk album

“Misa Criolla -- Navidad Nuestra de Ariel Ramirez,” Camerata Coral y Grupo Tepeu; “One Blood Una Sangre,” Lila Downs; “Noche Amiga Mia,” Los Nocheros; “Para Ellos,” John Santos y El Coro Folklorico Kindembo; “Homenaje a Luis Miranda ‘El Pico de Oro’,” Varios Artistas (Quique Domenech, producer).

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Best tango album

“Hybrid Tango,” Hybrid Tango; “De Tango Somos,” Nicolas Ledesma Cuarteto; “Buenos Aires, Viaje / Buenos Aires Journey,” Adriana Nano; “Solo Para Dos,” Trelles & Cirigliano; “Bajo Cero,” Pablo Ziegler, Quique Sinesi & Walter Castro

Best flamenco album

“Mi ADN Flamenco,” Diego Carrasco; “Confi de Fua,” Jose Merce; “Andando el Tiempo,” Gerardo Nunez con Paolo Fresu, Perico Sambeat y Mariano Diaz; “No Hay Quinto Malo,” Nina Pastori; “Aguadulce,” Tomatito

JAZZ

Best latin jazz album

“Mi Tambor,” Paoli Mejias; “The Body Acoustic,” Bob Mintzer, Giovanni Hidalgo, Andy Gonzalez, David Chesky & Randy Brecker; “Piano / Drums / Bass,” Negroni’s Trio; “Poncho at Montreux,” Poncho Sanchez; “Bebo de Cuba -- Suite Cubana -- el Solar de Bebo -- Cuadernos de Nueva York,” Bebo Valdes

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CHRISTIAN

Best Christian album

(Spanish language)

“Viento Mas Fuego,” Marco Barrientos; “Para Ti,” Juan Luis Guerra 4 40; “Luz en Mi Vida,” Pablo Olivares; “Dia de Independencia,” Rojo; “Tiempo de Navidad,” Marcos Witt

Best Christian album

(Portuguese language)

“Som de Adoradores -- Ao Vivo,” Aline Barros; “Terremoto -- Ao Vivo,” Eyshila; “Para Orar e Adorar 3 -- Ouco Deus Me Chamar,” Ludmila Ferber; “Deixa o Teu Rio Me Levar -- ao Vivo,” Soraya Moraes; “Para o Mundo Ouvir,” Rose Nascimento; “Alem do Que os Olhos Podem Ver,” Oficina G3; “Cantando, Dancando e Louvando!,” Alexandre Soul

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BRAZILIAN

Best Brazilian contemporary pop album

“El Milagro de Candeal,” Carlinhos Brown; “MTV ao Vivo,” Rita Lee; “Incite,” Lenine; “Estudando o Pagode -- Na Opereta Segregamulher e Amor,” Tom Ze

Best Brazilian rock album

“Barao Vermelho,” Barao Vermelho; “Tamo Ai Na Atividade,” Charlie Brown Jr.; “Leela,” Leela; “Tianastacia ao Vivo,” Tianastacia

Best samba / pagode album

“Ao Vivo 3,” Jorge Aragao; “A Madrinha do Samba / Ao Vivo Convida,” Beth Carvalho; “Brasilatinidade,” Martinho da Vila; “Brasao de Orfeu,” Wilson das Neves; “Partido ao Cubo,” Nei Lopes; “A Vera,” Zeca Pagodinho

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Best MPB (musica popular

Brasileira) album

“Eletracustico,” Gilberto Gil; “Joao Gilberto in Tokyo,” Joao Gilberto; “Com o Pe no Forro,” Toninho Horta; “Banda Maluca,” Joyce; “Cantando Historias,” Ivan Lins

Best romantic music album

“Pra Sempre ao Vivo no Pacaembu,” Roberto Carlos; “Donos do Brasil,” Raimundo Fagner; “Leonardo Canta Grandes Sucessos,” Leonardo; “Alma Sertaneja,” Roberta Miranda; “Alto Falante,” Alexandre Pires

Best Brazilian roots / regional album

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“Gaitapontocom,” Renato Borghetti; “Recado a Sao Paulo,” Caju & Castanha; “Cada Um Belisca Um Pouco,” Dominguinhos, Sivuca & Oswaldinho; “Os Maiores Sucessos de Sao Joao,” Forrocacana; “O Canto da Sereia,” Gil; “Baiao de Dois,” Elba Ramalho e Dominguinhos; “MTV ao Vivo,” Ivete Sangalo

Best Brazilian song

(Portuguese language)

“Cancao Transparente,” Francis Hime & Olivia Hime, songwriters (Olivia Hime); “Ninguem Faz Ideia,” Lenine & Ivan Santos, songwriters (Lenine); “Ponte Aerea,” Jose Miguel Wisnik, songwriter (Eveline Hecker); “Sao Sebastiao,” Totonho Villeroy, songwriter (Totonho Villeroy)

CHILDREN’S

Best Latin children’s album

“La Fiesta Continua!!!,” Christell; “Floricienta y Su Banda,” Floricienta; “Ke Zafados,” Ke Zafados; “Poder Payasonico,” Los Payasonicos; “Lina Luna,” Lina Luna; “Aventura y Amor,” Mision S.O.S.

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CLASSICAL

Best classical album

“Fantasia Brasileira,” Orquestra de Camara Rio Strings; David Chew & Andre Oliveira, producers; “Glazunov Symphony Nº 5 / The Seasons,” Jose Serebrier; Tim Oldham, producer; “Homo Ludens,” Leo Brouwer; Leo Brouwer & Isabelle Hernandez, producers; “Riberas,” Cuarteto de Cuerdas Buenos Aires & Paquito D’Rivera; Andrea Merenzon, producer; “Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez / Villa Lobos: Concerto for Guitar / Ponce: Concierto del Sur,” Sharon Isbin; Tobias Lehmann, producer

PRODUCTION

Best engineered album

“Diez,” Chuy Flores & Jack Saenz III, engineers (Intocable); “Fuego,” Seth Atkins, Javier Garza, Cruz “ck” Martinez & Robert “Bobbo” Martinez, engineers (A.B. Quintanilla III Presents Kumbia Kings); “MTV Unplugged,” Gustavo Borner, engineer (Diego Torres); “Street Signs,” Robert Carranza, Serban Ghenea & Anton Pukshansky, engineers (Ozomatli); “Velvetina,” Antonio Cortes, engineer (Miguel Bose).

Producer of the year

Paco de Lucia; Sergio George; Sebastian Krys; Gustavo Santaolalla; Afo Verde

MUSIC VIDEO

Best music video (one song only)

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“Volverte a Ver,” Juanes (Gustavo Garzon, video director; Cecilia Sagredo, video producer); “Mirate,” La Ley (Gustavo Garzon, video director; Sweet Dreams, video producer); “Amateur,” Molotov (Rogelio Sikander, video director; The Maestros, video producer); “A Veces Fui,” Aleks Syntek (Esteban Madrazo, video director; Mediamates, video producer); “Los Caminos de la Vida,” Vicentico (Pucho Mentasti, video director; Pucho Mentasti, video producer)

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