Shakira will become the youngest artist ever to receive the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year honor when she picks up the award at a tribute dinner and star-studded concert on November 9, 2011. Shakira joins a roster of entertainers that includes Plácido Domingo, Carlos Santana Gloria Estefan, Gilberto Gil, Julio Iglesias, and Ricky Martin, all of whom have earned the prestigious award.
The Latin Recording Academy announced Shakira as the 2011 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year today stating the seven-time Latin Grammy winner was chosen due to her “renowned artistic and philanthropic contributions.”
A portion of the proceeds from the event, which will take place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, will be donated to Shakira’s Pies Descalzos Foundation as well as The Latin Recording Academy’s Latin GRAMMY in the Schools educational efforts.
“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,” stated Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy in the press release announcing Shakira as Person of the Year. “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,” commented Shakira about this one-of-a-kind distinction.
More on Shakira [Courtesy of The Latin Recording Academy]:
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. In 1996, Shakira released Pies Descalzos, featuring the hit singles “Estoy Aqui” and “Se Quiere…Se Mata” both topping the Billboard Latin Pop Airplay chart. Her next album, Dónde Están Los Ladrones?proved an even bigger success. Following was the release of her first live album in 2000, Shakira: MTV Unplugged, which spawned her first GRAMMY Award® for Best Latin Pop Album. At the inaugural Latin GRAMMY Awards ceremony in 2000, Shakira received her first two Latin GRAMMY Awards. Without skipping a beat, she released her first crossover album, Laundry Service, in 2001, which became the most successful album of her career to date. Her next, Fijacíon Oral Vol. 1, in 2005, featured the hit single “La Tortura” with singer/songwriter and musician Alejandro Sanz. The album and single earned her four Latin GRAMMY Awards. Shortly thereafter, she released Oral Fixation Vol. 2, which included the worldwide hit “Hips Don’t Lie” in collaboration with musician/producer Wyclef Jean. In 2009, she released She Wolf and quickly following on the heels of that project she released Sale e Sol in 2010. In addition to her busy recording schedule, Shakira has taken the world by storm with many successful global concert tours.
Shakira’s numerous philanthropic efforts began at age 18when 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 Español announced Shakira as the “Humanitarian of the Year” as part of its Las Estrellas del Año (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.
Source: The Latin Recording Academy – Sept 27, 2011
