Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year

Each year the Latin Recording Academy names one outstanding artist as the 'Person of the Year.' This year's honoree is Gloria Estefan, a true Latin music icon. Estefan is the ninth such honoree since LARAS started producing and promoting the Latin Grammy Awards in 2000.

Nine years, nine great artists.

Gloria Estefan 2008

I can't think of anyone that deserves to be honored by the Latin Recording Academy more than Miami's Gloria Estefan. A force within the music industry for more than three decades, with 90 million records sold, Estefan is one of Latin music's most enduring icons.

In addition to her status as an international superstar and multiple Grammy/Latin Grammy award winner, Estefan will also be honored for her philanthropic, professional and cultural accomplishments.

Gloria Estefan is the first woman honored with this prestigious award which comes on the heels of her currently nominated album 90 Millas.

Juan Luis Guerra 2007

For a quarter of a century, Juan Luis Guerra has been bringing the music of his native Dominican Republic to the notice of an international audience by blending his cultural roots with visionary musicianship and a unique, personal and lyrical poetry.

In 2007, Guerra released his phenomenally successful La Llave De Mi Corazon, which went on to win six Latin Grammy Awards including Album of the Year.

Ricky Martin 2006

There are Latin music superstars and then there's Puerto Rico's Ricky Martin. Getting his start with the original boy band Menudo, Martin went on to become a Latin music superstar and cross-over wonder with hits like "Livin La Vida Loca" and "Shake Your Bon-Bon."

But Martin didn't stop to steep himself in glory. Instead he formed The Ricky Martin Foundation, turning the spotlight on the tragic plight of the world's children and the persistent problem of child exploitation and slavery.

Martin's last award-winning album, Ricky Martin: MTV Unplugged, was released in 2006 and won two Latin Grammy awards in 2007.

Jose Jose 2005

Mexico's Jose Jose is known as the "Prince of Song." His unique and skilled vocals helped him achieve exceptional fame and popularity as a singer of romantic ballads. During the 1970s and 1980s, he appeared on numerous television shows and went on to play the lead roles in movies like Sueno de Amor and Buscando Una Sonarisa.

From 1969 - 2001, Jose Jose recorded 35 albums, many of which went gold or platinum. He has sold more than 40 million albums and been nominated for six Grammy awards and has his own star on Hollywood's 'Walk of Fame.'

Over the years, Jose Jose has suffered from a series of health issues that have affected his ability to sing, but his popularity remains untarnished.

Carlos Santana 2004

Carlos Santana was born in Autlan de Navarro, Mexico, and in 1961, moved to San Francisco where he formed the Santana Blues Band. The group was a giant in the Bay Area music scene of the 1960s, and played to packed houses across the country, appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and performed at the 1969 Woodstock Festival.

Santana has sold more than 90 million albums, is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, won 10 Grammy awards and three Latin Grammys, and has a long history of social activism and contributions to humanitarian causes through his Milagro Foundation.

Carlos Santana appeared as #15 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list in 2003.

Gilberto Gil 2003

Brazilian music was forever changed in the late 1960s when Gilberto Gil and frequent partner Caetano Veloso took the Brazilian pop world by storm and fathered a new style of music that was later named 'tropicalia.' Gil's career has spanned four decades and included fervent advocacy of Brazil's 'Green Party' and several years as Brazil's Minister of Culture.

Gil gave up that role in 2008 to devote more time to his music, and Brazilian music fans can only sit back and await the next chapter in what is sure to be further innovation and great music.

Vincente Fernandez 2002

Mexico's vibrant musical scene has produced any number of musical superstars, but none has been as enduring and beloved as ranchera king Vicente Fernandez. Over four decades later, Fernandez can still bring in the crowds, filling large venues night after night with enthusiastic, singing fans of all ages.

Julio Iglesias 2001

Spain's Julio Iglesias is the Guinness World Record holder for having sold the most albums in the most languages of any musical artist, bringing him more than 2600 Platinum and Gold records and landing him on Maxim's list of 'Living Sex Legends.'

As is traditional, a gala tribute dinner was held for Iglesias the night before the scheduled second annual Latin Grammy awards program was due to be broadcast on Sept. 11, 2001. Iglesias got his well-deserved night, but the awards program was canceled in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy.

Emilio Estefan Jr 2000

Emilio Estefan, Jr. was one of the major motivators towards the creation of the Latin Recording Academy, so it's only right that he was also the first recipient of the newly formed academy's 'Person of the Year' award.

Born in Havana, his family moved to Miami where he started the Miami Latin Boys (he played accordion), which later became the Miami Sound Machine and - not inconsequentially - married his lead singer, Gloria Estefan. Emilio then went on to become a hugely successful producer and arranger, working with some of the biggest names in Latin music.

Emilio Estefan has been nominated for 28 Grammy awards (and counting) and has won 14 of them.