Mandalay Bay hosts Latin Grammys

The 10th annual Latin Grammy Awards ceremony broadcasts from the Mandalay Bay Events Center today, beginning at 8 p.m. on KINC-TV, Channel 15.

Leading the nominees in 49 categories is Calle 13, up for best album and best urban music album with "Los de Atrás Vienen Conmigo," for best record and best alternative song with "No Hay Nadie Como Tu" (a collaboration with Café Tacuba), and for best short-form music video with "La Perla."

Scoring three nominations each were Wisin & Yandel, José Lugo, Jorge Luis Piloto, Ivete Sangalo, Caetano Veloso, Ivan Lins and Gilberto Santa Rosa.

Ruben Blades heads up the list of performers, which also includes Calle 13, David Bisbal, Shaila Dúrcal, Luz Ríos Grupo Montez De Durango, Luis Fonsi, Laura Pausini, Espinoza Paz, La Quinta Estación and Alejandro Sanz.

The show will be co-hosted by actor/comedian Eugenio Derbez and actress/singer Lucero.

"I see a lot of interest from the Anglo audience in learning more about Hispanics and Hispanic music," says Gabriel Abaroa, president of the Miami-based Latin Recording Academy, whose 3,500 members decided the winners. "Inside the venue, you will see 50 percent of the people are not Hispanics. You see them dancing and enjoying."

The Latin Grammys ceremony, which is conducted in Spanish, was started in 1999 to specifically recognize Spanish and Portuguese-language performances. Unlike the Grammy Awards, which only recognize music released in the U.S., its focus is international.

The 2007 ceremony -- which also took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center -- brought out members of "Blue Man Group," "Folies Bergere," "Havana Night Show" and "Stomp Out Loud" for performance collaborations. Similar collaborations are expected tonight, although Abaroa would not reveal them.

Charo was slated to pre-tape a segment, but had to bow out (from both the broadcast and her show at the Riviera) when she sprained her ankle and knee at the MDA telethon in September.

Approximately 4,000 seats offered to the public sold out last month.

Contact reporter Corey Levitan at clevitan@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0456.