Illya Kuryaki & The Valderramas, the funky rap-rock duo comprised of Dante Spinetta and Emmanuel Horvilleur, were the big winners at the Premios Gardel in Buenos Aires last night (August 21). They won five awards, more than any other artist, for their album, “Chances,” released in 2012 in Argentina. The CD was released last month in the U.S. on Sony Music Latin. Illya Kuryaki & The Valderramas took home five awards, including Best Rock Album and Best Video, for their song “Ula Ula”, which was used in a recent Target campaign.
The Premios Gardel, organized by CAPIF, (Argentine Chamber of Audio and Video Recordings) and named after iconic tango singer Carlos Gardel , are Argentina’s most important music awards and that country’s answer to the Grammys.
At the awards show, held at the Opera Theater on Corrientes Street in downtown Buenos Aires, the duo performed an emotional tribute to Luis Alberto Spinetta, father of both Dante and Argentine rock , who died in 2012.
Pop singer/songwriter Abel Pintos won the night’s top prize, the Gardel de Oro (Gold Gardel). Pintos also won song of the year for “Sueño Dorado.”
Forty-two awards were presented last night at the show hosted by actor Mex Urtizberea and singer Déborah de Corral. Winners also included Marcela Morelo, Ciro, Los Tekis, Rosario Ortega, Ale Sergi y Marcelo Moura, and Amelita Baltar. Singer Susana Rinaldi Received a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Additional reporting by Florencia Mauro in Buenos Aires.