Latin Recording Academy Unveils 2024 Special Awards Recipients

The Latin Recording Academy announced the 2024 recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Albita, Lolita Flores, Alejandro Lerner, Los Ángeles Azules, Draco Rosa and Lulu Santos will be honored at a private event as part of Latin Grammy Week in November.

“It is with great pride that we honor these musical legends—who continue redefining our Latin music and heritage—and we look forward to celebrating them as part of our Latin GRAMMY® 25th anniversary festivities in November,” Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy, said in a statement.

The honor is given to performers who “made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to Latin music and its communities.” The Latin Recording Academy will also be recognizing those who made significant contributions outside of performing with a Trustees Award, which will be given to Ángel ‘Cucco’ Peña and Chucho Rincón.

Albita is a Latin Grammy-winning singer-songwriter who championed Cuban music and excelled on Broadway by performing in musicals such as The Mambo Kings, Carmen La Cubana and Havana.

Flores has worked in various media for decades and found great success with her second album 1976 album Amor, Amor. She became a pop star in the 1980s and later became an award-winning actress and television presenter.

Lerner is an Argentine singer-songwriter and keyboardist who has worked with major stars like Luis Miguel, Celine Dion, Carole King, Barry Gibb, Alan Parsons, Paul Anka and Carlos Santana. His talent made him the most covered Latin artist of his generation, and he continues to work in the recording studio and tour across the Americas.

Hailing from Mexico City, Los Ángeles Azules is an orchestral band that cemented itself as one of the top Mexican cumbia acts with “Como Te Voy A Olvidar.” The band is also known for their openness to new sounds and willingness to collaborate, working with artists like Caifanes’ Saúl Hernández, Natalia Lafourcade and Carlos Santana.

Rosa went from boy band star to rock en español pioneer. The Long-Islander was part of Menudo and then dropped two albums, Frío and Vagabundo, that were fundamental to the ’90s rock scene.

Santos is a gifted guitarist, composer and singer from Brazil who developed a unique rock sound with oblique melodies and new wave influences. He later incorporated other genres into sound, like funk and R&B, and has continued to experiment with music by releasing extended plays, including 2024’s Atemporal.

Peña is a sought-after Puerto Rican composer, producer and orchestrator who has worked with Latin superstars like Celia Cruz, March Anthony, Willie Colón and Gilberto Santa Rosa. His influence goes beyond music, having worked in film, advertising and television specials, making him an active ambassador of Latin music.

Rincón is a Latin Grammy-winning producer, composer and label executive from Mexico who has produced over 300 albums and worked with artists like Alejandro Fernández, Chavela Vargas and La Sonora Santanera. He has

The honorees will be honored on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, as part of the Latin Grammy Week, and Alex Hadad will serve as executive producer.