Pitbull will be the first recipient of the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s Global Ambassador Award which will be presented during the 48th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner. According to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Global Ambassador Award is a new award given to “celebrate a songwriter-artist whose music has true worldwide appeal, crossing genre, cultural and national boundaries.”
The award will not necessarily by given out on an annual basis and instead will be presented only when merited.
“Pitbull’s success, creativity, tireless musical collaboration and his wide-ranging social activism make him the ideal songwriter-performer to initiate the SHOF Global Ambassador Award,” stated SHOF co-chairs Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff and President/CEO Linda Moran.
Pitbull joins a list of honorees set to accept awards during the June 15th ceremony that includes Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Berry Gordy, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Robert Lamm & James Pankow p/k/a “Chicago,” Max Martin, and Shawn “JAY Z” Carter.
Pitbull Biography, Courtesy of the Songwriters Hall of Fame:
From Mr. 305 to Mr. Worldwide, Armando Christian Perez, aka Pitbull, rose from the streets of Miami to exemplify the American Dream and achieve international success. His relentless work ethic transformed him into a Grammy®-winning global superstar and business entrepreneur. Along the way, he’s has been the subject and host of prestigious cable and network specials. His music has appeared in Men In Black III and The Penguins of Madagascar, and he even had a starring voice-over role in the animated 3D movie Epic.
Landing No. 1 hits in over 15 countries, 9 billion YouTube/VEVO views, 70 million single sales and 6 million album sales, Pitbull does not stop. Making global music, Pitbull flaunts a style that’s indisputably his own. Releasing his full-length debut, M.I.A.M.I. in 2004, followed by the success of 2006’s El Mariel and 2007’s The Boatlift. In tribute to his father, he delivered his first Spanish-language album, Armando, in 2010. That same year he was featured in the the Haiti benefit song “Somos El Mundo,” a Spanish version of “We Are the World” that included a huge group of Latin artists led by Emilio and Gloria Estefan.
He grinded it out on the road and touched down everywhere from the Far East and South America to Europe and all across the U.S. His success continued as he went on to release additional chart-topping platinum hits, including “Timber” [featuring Ke$ha], “Fireball” [featuring John Ryan] and more. Pitbull has also collaborated with other superstars including Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Christina Aguilera, Lil Jon, Janet Jackson, Usher, Pharrell Williams, T-Pain, Ne-Yo and others. In 2014 his song “We Are One (Ole Ola)” was the official theme of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Pitbull will release his 10th full-length album, Climate Change, this Friday March 17.
Pitbull also continues to forge a presence in the business world. Among his many projects, His Honey I’m Home production company has partnered with Endemol Shine North America for three New Year’s Eve Revolution live TV shows on FOX, and Pitbull’s Globalization (Ch. 4) on Sirius XM features some of the most prominent DJs from around the world.
Honored by his accolades and awards, Pitbull is especially proud that he has received a key to the city of his beloved Miami, has a wax figure on display at Madame Tussaud’s Orlando, and received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Pitbull gives back to his community through various charities including SLAM!, Save The Music Foundation, World Vision, City of Hope, and more.
On “Freedom,” another track on Climate Change, he sums everything up: “Went from a poor kid to a well-known all-around-the-globe world-class citizen, man I paid all my dues and earned my stripes took all the wrong in my life and I made it right.” That’s the dream, and Pitbull’s showing everybody it’s possible. Dale!
