The Puerto Rican musician and composer Eduardo Cabra “Visitante” and the Cuban group Gente de Zona were recognized in New York during the gala of the Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), which after four years of absence returned today to this city.
“Visitante”, former member of the successful band Calle 13, received the Vanguardia Award for its impact on new musical genres and its development, which have defined the future of music, in an event in which the “Despacito” mega-award was recognized as ” Song of the Year “.
Cabra, also arranger and producer, who was received amidst applause and many of the public standing, said he feels “a lot of responsibility” after receiving this first ASCAP, in an event where a video about his career was presented, including his participation with his brother René Pérez in the now defunct Calle 13 group, which carried 27 Latin and Anglo-Saxon Grammy awards.
“I think that as musicians and composers we have a responsibility to music, to people, to be honest, I try to be as honest as possible (with the whole process of creating a theme) and to reach that honesty we have to come to an point of being vulnerable, that we hurt things, that we rejoice, “he said upon receiving recognition.
Among his new projects is an album in May, “Trendi Tropic” of electronic music merged with the Afro-Caribbean.
While the acclaimed duo of urban music, Alexander Delgado and Randy Malcolm, from Gente de Zona, who closed the show, received the Golden Note for the “extraordinary achievements” in their careers.
Arriving at the event, in a hotel in the tourist area of ​​Times Square, they told Efe to be “happy” for the second prize they receive from ASCAP in a night dedicated to recognizing Latin music and its composers, in the categories of Regional Mexican, Tropical, Pop, Television and Urban.
According to ASCAP, Gente de Zona – no one can forget the catchy song “Bailando” with Enrique Iglesias and singer-songwriter Descemer Bueno – are pioneers of the Cubatón, “movement that is now one of the dominant forces in the global music scene, merging the traditional rhythms of Cuba with reggaeton and Caribbean rhythms “.
Well, another of the winners tonight, told Efe that music “is fundamental” to unite Latinos, especially in this moment that lives in this country, when more should be united to together “fight for the dreams” that they They brought it here.
The awards for Composer of the Year and Composer / Artist of the Year went to Joss Favela, in the Mexican Regional category, and Puerto Rican Farruko, in the Urbano genre, who received it for the first time.
It is the third ASCAP award for Favela, which interpreted several themes. Another young Mexican composer awarded tonight was Ulices Chaidez for “Because I fell in love.”
Colombia was present. Fonseca picked up an award for his song “I came to look for you” and according to the artist, these awards are “very special because they recognize that magical moment that composers do not understand where it comes from, if there is something to recognize in a song it is mysticism. it’s magic wherever you put it. ”
While his compatriot Maluma, whose presence caused great stir, won two prizes in Pop and Urban with “Blackmail” and “Happy the Four”.
Puerto Rican Andres Castro and Panamanian Ommar Alfano, two veteran and award-winning composers, added another tonight to that list that also included Romeo Santos and JoaquÃn DÃaz, Claudia Brant, Randy and Jowell, Tommy Torres, J. Alvarez, Antonio Barullo , Arcángel and Gerardo Ortiz, among others.
