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

Gorillaz
Photo: Gorillaz.com

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, but you might want to pay attention to the music he's making — especially if he's Blur frontman Damon Albarn or workaholic hip-hop producer Dan the Automator.

The duo's Gorillaz project — which includes such contributors as Miho Hatori from Cibo Matto, Talking Head Tina Weymouth, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien and Buena Vista Social Club's Ibrahim Ferrer — will finally be hitting U.S. stores June 5.

A band only in the loosest definition of the word, Gorillaz is a high-concept collective of artists and musicians working behind the artwork of Jamie Hewlett, creator of the iconoclastic Tank Girl comic series (see "Gorillaz Project Partners The Automator With Damon Albarn").

Albarn, the Automator and their Gorillaz have been causing a stir on both sides of the pond. Upon its U.K. release two weeks ago, the group's self-titled debut bowed at #7 on the British albums chart, while the single "Clint Eastwood" climbed into the #5 spot. In the United States, their video for the single has been in rotation on both MTV and MTV2.

Gorillaz have just been confirmed for England's massive Creamfields festival, to be staged in Liverpool on August 25, according to a spokesperson from the band's label, Virgin.

Just how does a cartoon-based band go about performing live? Easy. The flesh-and-blood bandmembers stand behind a curtain, Wizard-of-Oz-style, while Hewlett's animation is projected onto the makeshift screen. This setup keeps the Gorillaz "shrouded in mystery," the spokesperson said.

Though there isn't a one-to-one ratio between the contributing artists and their animated counterparts, Albarn serves as unofficial head gorilla "2D," the spokesperson said. The rest of the monkey bunch includes bassist "Murdoc," drummer "Russel" and "Noodle" on guitar.

While she couldn't confirm any specific dates, the spokesperson did say Gorillaz have plans to tour both the U.K. and the States.

The track listing for Gorillaz, according to Virgin:

• Re-Hash
• 5/4
• Tomorrow Comes Today
• New Genious (Brother)
• Clint Eastwood
• Man Research (Clapper)
• Punk
• Sound Check (Gravity)
• Double Bass
• Rock the House
• 19-2000
• Latin Simone (featuring Ibrahim Ferrer)
• Starshine
• Slow Country
• M1 A1

• Gorillaz
• Blur
• Dan The Automator
• Cibo Matto
• Ibrahim Ferrer