Latin Grammy Nominations Lead by J. L. Guerra and Alejandro Sanz

The nominees for the 2010 Latin Grammy Awards, which will be broadcasted live from Las Vegas on the Univision Network, were announced at a press conference held on September 7 in Hollywood California, U.S.A. Juan Luis Guerra and Alejandro Sans are some of the few names competing for the top positions. Among the select few who are leading the top nominations are: past nominee Jorge Drexler and Mario Domm, the songwriter and lead singer of the pop group Camila.

Alejandro Sanz and Jorge Drexler are both hoping to win the “Record of the Year” award, while Camila – Mario Domm's group – is in the race for the “Album of the Year” award for “Dejarte de Amar” (“To Stop Loving You”) from Sony Records, along with the Spaniard “Bebe” for his song “Y” (“And”) from EMI Records, Miguel Bose for his song “Cardio” by Warner, Alejandro Sanz for “Paraiso Express” (also from Warner) and Juan Luis Guerra for “A Son de Guerra” from EMI.

The following is a video clip of Juan Luis Guerra's “Bachata En Fukuoka” from his nominated album “A Son de Guerra”

The other nominees added to the list for “Record of the year are Sanz with “Desde Cuando” (“From When”), Camila with “Mientes” (“You're Lying”), Brazilian Maria Bethania with “Tua” (“Yours”), Buika with “Se Me Hizo Facil” (“It Became Easy”) and Drexler with “Una Cancion” (“A Song”).

Camilla's Domm and co-writer Mónica Vélez' have been nominated for the “Song of the Year” award for their single “Mientes”, just like Ruben Blades for “Las Calles” (“The Streets”), Sanz & Tommy Torres for “Desde Cuando” (“Since When”), Drexler for “Una Cancion Me Trajo Hasta Aquí (A Song Brought Me Here”) and Enrique Iglesias & Descemer Bueno who wrote “Cuando Me Enamoro” (“When I Fall In Love”) together and featured Juan Luis Guerra.

This year, the category “Best New Artist” bypassed the big new act surprise stories of 2010 in favor of lesser known music acts. One of the best known artists among them is Alex Cuba – a singer songwriter who writes with great artists such as Nelly Furtado - María Gadú, Estrella, Mexican band Jotdog  and Koko.

Other artists getting multiple nominations include Daddy Yankee, Camila, Tommy Torres , Lee Levin , and producer/songwriter Dan Warner with three nominations each. Ruben Blades, Bebe, Andres Calamaro, Buika, Gustavo Cerati, Dori Caymmi, Cuba, Estrella, El Cuarteto De Nos, Maria Gadu, Jotdog, Gilberto Gil, Mala Rodriguez, and Vico C. all picked up two nominations each.

Other nominees for one Latin grammy are Cuba, Camila, Gilberto Santa Rosa, singer/songwriter Kany Garcia and newcomer Prince Royce, who did not get a “Best New Artist” nomination, but whose successful debut album “Top Spot” by Sony was nominated in the category “Best Contemporary Tropical Album”. It is ironical that the most competed category is the “Best Ranchero Album” award, whose contenders are Alejandro Fernandez with "Dos Mundos Tradición" (“Two Worlds Tradition”) by Fonovisa/Universal Music Latino, Alejandro's father Vicente Fernandez with "Necesito de Ti" (“I Deed You”) by Sony, Pedro Fernandez (no relation), with "Amarte a la Antigua" (“Love You Old Skool Style”) by Fonovisa, Jenni Rivera with "La Gran Señora" (“The Great Lady”) by Fonovisa and Mexican superstar Juan Gabriel with "Juan Gabriel" also produced and distributed by Fonovisa.

The full list of nominees can be found at latingrammy.com.