Omara Portuondo wins Latin Grammy in Traditional Tropical category

The Diva of the Buena Vista Social Club, Cuban performer Omara Portuondo, won the Latin Grammy 2023 in the category of Best Traditional Tropical Album for her album "Vida", produced by Guatemalan Gaby Moreno.

Portuondo was awarded a few hours ago during the Premier of the Latin Recording Academy Awards, a ceremony that took place in this Spanish city.

This category was the one that included the most artists from the island as nominees and had in competition the albums “Tierra, Songs by Cuban women”, by Estrella Acosta, “Y seguir pa’lante”, by El Septeto Santiaguero, “Danzoneando”, by the Failde Orchestra.

In addition, “En tiempo de Son… Tribute to the songs of Jorge Luis Piloto”, authored by the Septeto Acarey, founded by Cuban Reynier Pérez.

This award for the album “Vida” was received by Moreno, who was happy to be nominated as a producer for the first time.

I am very excited about this award we just won. For Omara Portuondo with her album “Vida” which I had the honor of producing; “It is the first time that I have won an award as a producer and I feel a great honor,” said the Guatemalan performer, who formed a duet in 2011 with her countryman Ricardo Arjona with the song “Fuiste tú”.

During his award speech, the artist thanked “the queen, teacher Omara Portuondo for being a great inspiration to so many of us who are here with Rossio, her granddaughter,” she emphasized.

Moreno extended her gratitude to Omara’s entire family, especially to the diva who inspired her and also wanted to celebrate Cuban music.

Portuondo has the record of being the oldest winning first artist of the Latin Grammys, being awarded when she was 79 years old.

According to her records, she is the oldest to achieve this award in the category of Best Contemporary Tropical Album, when she won in 2009 for her album “Thanks”.

In that same year she received the Academy Award for Musical Excellence during the twentieth edition of the Latin Grammys.

The legendary Cuban singer celebrated her 93rd birthday in October during her tour of the United States.