Veteran performer José José has been selected as the Latin Recording Academy’s 2005 person of the year. The honor will be conveyed during at a gala Nov. 1 celebration in Los Angeles, two days prior to the sixth annual Latin Grammy Awards.
“José José, known around the world as the Prince of Song, personifies integrity, tradition and graciousness,” Latin Recording Academy President Gabriel Abaroa says. “He’s delighted fans around the world for more than 40 years and he still works and performs as if it were the first day of his career.”
Born José Romulo Sosa Ortíz in 1948, the romantic balladeer artist began singing at a young age. He scored his first hit, “Nave Del Olvido,” in 1969, around the time he rechristened himself José José, as a tribute to his late father, with whom he shared a first name.
In 2003, BMG U.S. Latin marked his 40th anniversary with “El Principe Con Trio Vol. 3,” a three-CD series of some of his favorite hits, recorded in the trio style that launched his career.
That year, José José told Billboard that despite musical trends, romantic music is a constant. “When couples want to talk, they don’t play rock — they play romantic music,” he said. “It’s a kind of code that doesn’t change. Plus, everything that’s written continues to be based on the happiness of a couple.”
In other news, Bebe, Intocable, La Ley and Laura Pausini are confirmed as the first performers for the Latin Grammy Awards ceremony, which will be held at the Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium and broadcast live on Univision. Additionally, actors Guy Ecker, Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria, Sofia Milos and Sofia Vergara will serve as presenters during the event.
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