Three-time current Latin GRAMMY nominee, seven-time Latin GRAMMY winner, two-time GRAMMY winner, and international superstar and philanthropist Shakira will be the 2011 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year, it was announced yesterday by The Latin Recording Academy.
Shakira, who is currently nominated for three Latin GRAMMY Awards, including Album Of The Year, will be honored for her renowned artistic and philanthropic contributions at a tribute dinner and star-studded concert on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Songs from Shakira’s still growing catalog will be performed by notable artists and friends of the honoree. A major portion of the net proceeds from the gala will benefit Shakira’s Pies Descalzos Foundation as well as The Latin Recording Academy’s Latin GRAMMY in the Schools educational efforts. The celebration will precede the 12th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and will be broadcast live on the Univision Network on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central.
“I am elated on behalf of The Latin Recording Academy and its Board of Trustees that the much admired Shakira — whose incredible talent and artistic integrity are equaled only by her commitment and dedication to philanthropy and selflessly helping those in need — has been elected the 2011 Latin Recording Academy’s Peron of the Year,” said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “We are honored to pay homage to this dynamic, socially conscious woman whose illustrious career has touched so many people around the world, both musically and personally.”
“It is truly an honor to be in the company of some of the greatest artists and legends of Latin Music,” said Shakira about this one-of-a-kind distinction.
Born in Colombia, Shakira showed early talent in school as a live performer, demonstrating her vocal ability already combining rock, Latin and Mediterranean influences with her own original twist on belly dancing. As a singer/songwriter, dancer, producer and musician, she emerged on the international music scene in the early ’90s.
Shakira’s numerous philanthropic efforts began at age 18 when she founded the Pies Descalzos Foundation, a charity providing special schools for underprivileged children throughout Colombia. She is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, chosen for her involvement in global issues and her deep commitment to helping children. As an advocate for universal education, she served as Honorary Chairperson for the Global Campaign for Education, generating awareness for the U.S. Education for All Act in 2007. She has performed at many benefit concerts, and at the 2007 Clinton Global Initiative, Shakira received a commitment of $40 million from the Spanish government to help the victims of natural disasters. An additional $5 million was to be donated to four Latin American countries, to be spent on education and health. In its December 2008/January 2009 issue, People En Espanol announced Shakira as the “Humanitarian of the Year” as part of its Las Estrellas del Ano (Stars of the Year) awards. On her 32nd birthday, Shakira opened a new $6 million school in her hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia, which she sponsored along with her Pies Descalzos Foundation.
Shakira will have the distinction of becoming the youngest artist to receive the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year honoree. She joins a list of artists that includes Placido Domingo, Carlos Santana Gloria Estefan, Gilberto Gil, Julio Iglesias, and Ricky Martin, among others.
For information on purchasing tickets or tables to the 2011 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year tribute to Shakira, please contact The Latin Recording Academy ticketing office at 310.314.8281 or ticketing@grammy.com.
