Mana honoured as Latin Grammys’ Person of the Year
LAS VEGAS — Mexican rock band Mana became the first group ever to be honoured as the Latin Recording Academy’s Person of the Year Wednesday, when its four members were recognized during a star-studded tribute concert for their creative accomplishments and philanthropic efforts.
Lead vocalist Fher Olvera, drummer Alex González, guitarist Sergio Vallín and bass player Juan Calleros received a crystal trophy before artists, industry leaders and others in an event the day before the Latin Grammy Awards ceremony in Las Vegas.
“Mana is a band that has given its all always — heart and soul,” Olvera said on stage before recalling the band’s humble beginnings and the years in which they all slept in a van. “We were working a lot, a lot, a lot until we reached what we have been sowing… . We never thought, for example, that we were going to play in Israel or that we were going to be playing two years ago in the White House.”
More than a dozen Latin artists honoured the band with renditions of its greatest hits. Gilberto Santa Rosa sang a salsa version of “Bendita tu Luz,” Pablo Alborán performed a pop rendition of “Rayando el Sol,” and Pepe Aguilar accompanied by the Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández interpreted “Mariposa Traicionera.”