Juanes
Photo: Universal

On a night when late flashy salsa queen Celia Cruz was honored with an all-star tribute, it was singer/songwriter Juanes who sparked the most fireworks at the fourth annual Latin Grammy awards.

During the show Wednesday night at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, the one-named Colombian sensation swept the major categories, winning in all five in which he was nominated.

Juanes took the big three: Record, Album and Song of the Year ("Es Por Ti"), as well as Best Rock Song ("Mala Gente") and Best Rock Solo Vocal album for Un Dia Normal, his second solo album. Already a four-time Latin Grammy winner before the program, Juanes, 31, became one of the most celebrated artists in the show's short history.

The program opened with a tribute to Cruz, who died in July at age 77 (see "Queen Of Salsa" Celia Cruz Dead"). The medley featured Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony shouting Cruz's signature phrase, "azucar!," and singing a number of her most famous songs alongside such Latin legends as Willie Colón, Johnny Pacheco, Arturo Sandoval and Oscar D'Leon. Just last year, Cruz opened the show with one of her typically over-the-top performances before winning an award for Best Salsa Album.

Miami's Bacilos won Best Tropical Song for their humorous account of trying to make it, "Mi Primer Millon," which they performed on the broadcast. Band leader Sergio George came into the awards with six nominations, but was overshadowed by Juanes, though Bacilos also scored the Best Pop Album by a group for Caraluna.

Spain's curly-haired David Bisbal, who came to prominence last year after winning Spain's answer to "American Idol," "Operation Triumph," was named Best New Artist for his album Corazón Latino. Rockers Molotov won the Best Video Award for their clip "Frijolero," and Cuban guitarist and Buena Vista Social Club member Ibrahim Ferrer won the award for Best Traditional Tropical Album for Buenos Hermanos.

Though such crossover artists as Thalia, Shakira and Luis Miguel went home empty-handed, Enrique Iglesias represented, winning Best Male Pop Vocal Album for his Spanish-language effort, Quizás.

In addition to performances from Thalia, Molotov and Ricky Martin, the show aimed for a broader audience by pairing Latin stars with more mainstream acts, such as Juanes and the Black Eyed Peas and "American Idol" singer Kelly Clarkson with Brazil's Alexandre Pires.

For the second year in a row, the inclusion of Cuban artists in the show was shrouded in controversy. Though Miami — hosting the Latin Grammys for the first time — has a large Cuban population and 12 Cuban artists were nominated, a small contingent of protesters gathered outside the venue to demonstrate both against and for the nomination of artists from the communist country.

According to reports, none of the Cuban acts was able to obtain visas in time to attend the show. Cuban hip-hop band Orishas, who won the Best Rap/Hip Hop Album award for Emigrante and who now live in Europe, did not attend the show as a sign of solidarity with their fellow Cuban musicians.

Miami was to host the second edition of the show in 2001, but the event was moved to Los Angeles after anti-Castro demonstrators threatened to protest the show; it was ultimately canceled due to the 9-11 terror attacks (see "Latin Grammy Winners Will Get Trophies But No Ceremony").

For a look back at previous big Grammy winners, red carpet photos and much more, visit our Grammy News Archive.

• Juanes
• Celia Cruz
• Bacilos
• David Bisbal
• Molotov

Celia Cruz
Photo: Rmm Records

Celia Cruz, the flamboyant "Queen of Salsa," died on Wednesday at her home in New Jersey after a battle with brain cancer.

One of the seminal figures in Cuban music history, with a career that spanned five decades, the 77-year-old Cruz was celebrated for her high energy, colorful sartorial style and wigs, as well as her efforts to modernize salsa music and bring it to a wider world audience.

With more than 70 albums to her credit, Cruz continued to be an innovator and to search for fresh avenues to explore salsa late into her career. She collaborated with everyone from Wyclef Jean, Gloria Estefan, Patti LaBelle and Dionne Warwick to Talking Heads leader David Byrne, as well as befriending such modern Latin stars as Marc Anthony and Paulina Rubio, with the latter currently co-starring with Cruz in a Dr. Pepper commercial. Cruz also sang alongside Anthony at the 2002 VH1 Divas tribute to Aretha Franklin.

Born in Santo Suarez in Havana as one of 14 children, Cruz studied to be a teacher, but got her break in music when a relative entered her into a radio talent contest, in which she won first prize, a cake. She later enrolled in the National Conservatory of Cuba and became a national star as part of the group La Sonora Matancera. When that group defected following the rise of Fidel Castro in 1959, Cruz moved to New York in 1960 and began touring and recording with the late "Mambo King," Tito Puente. She eventually went solo and recorded albums with a string of salsa legends such as Ray Barretto and Johnny Pacheco. Among her most popular songs were such hits as "Yerberito Moreno," "Que le Den Candela" and "Quimbara."

A flashy, vibrant performer, Cruz was legendary for her onstage energy, as well as her shouted trademark catchphrase, "Azucar!" the Spanish word for "sugar."

Frequent collaborator and friend Marc Anthony issued a statement that read, "We are witnessing the end of an era. She is simply irreplaceable and it's just an honor to know that she was a part of my life." The Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences said of Cruz, "One of Latin music's most respected and most revered vocalists, Celia Cruz was an icon of salsa, tropical and Latin jazz music. The legendary Queen of Salsa brought the world to its dancing feet with her visceral vocals, infectious energy, and vibrant smile."

Ricky Martin also expressed his grief at Cruz's passing, saying in a statement, "Her music not only touched my soul, but it influenced generations of singers and songwriters. Her vibrant sprit and positive energy can never be duplicated. We will always miss her."

Cruz was celebrated often during her career, earning an honorary degree from Yale University, a lifetime achievement award from the Smithsonian Institution, as well as the highest honor bestowed by the United States on an artist, the National Medal of Arts, presented to her by President Clinton in 1994. Streets across the world, from New York to Miami, Mexico and Costa Rica, were named for her and she was nominated for more than a dozen Grammys, winning five.

Sadly, despite being an international star and ambassador for Cuban music, Cruz's albums were banned by Castro in her native country due to lingering bitterness over her defection.

Though she underwent brain surgery in December, Cruz — who frequently toured 11 months of the year — continued to work until recently and completed an album, Regalo De Alma, that is slated for release in August. Her most recent album, La Negra Tiene Tumbao, won a 2002 Latin Grammy for Best Salsa Album.

• Celia Cruz