Santana To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

By Alicia Cruz
Senior writer
Theblackurbantimes

El Maestro, Carlos Santana, Born in Autlán de Navarro, Mexico on July 20, 1947 has been entertaining the music world with his guitar and collaborative hits beginning in the 60s. Santana learned to play the guitar at the tender age of eight and he's been giving us all he's got since then.

Santana's career began in Tijuana where he honed his skills in Tijuana strip clubs. Inspired by artists such as B. B. King, Ray Charles, John Lee Hooker and Little Richard, Santana went on to become one of the best selling musicians in the 1970s bringing us hits like "Oye Como Va, Samba Pa Ti", "Let It Shine" and my all-time favorite, "Stormy." In 2000, after a 14 year hiatus from the music scene, Santana returned to the scene with collaboration hit "Maria Maria." At tonight's Billboard Latin Music Awards ceremony at the Bank United Center in Coral Gables, Florida, el Maestro de Música will be presented the lifetime achievement award. Other award winners include Spirit of Hope recipient Daddy Yankee and Hall of Fame inductee Pablo Raul Alarcon Sr. Panamanian reggaeton papi chulo, Flex (nee Félix Danilo Gómez ) leads the pack with 13 nominations, including Latin album of the year, hot Latin song of the year and tropical airplay song of the year.
Latino crossover (hombre muy guapo) artist Enrique Iglesias is up for 10 awards and Mexican singer Jenni Rivera has been nominated for seven along with compatriota Mexicano singer Vicente Fernandez.
The Billboard Latin Music Awards honor the most popular albums, songs and performers in Latin music as determined by sales and radio airplay data during a one-year period.
The lovely and talented, Gloria Estefan (La Cubana), Shakira (Mi Paisana) and Ruben Blades have also been nominated in other categories.