[dropcap]C[/dropcap]olombian artists won eight golden gramophones on Thursday at the 2015 Latin Grammys presented in Las Vegas.
Bogotá band Monsieur Periné made a splash in their first appearance at the Grammys, winning Best New Artist. Medellin-born J. Balvin took Best Urban Song for “Ay Vamos.”
Monsieur Periné and Bomba Estereo were snubbed for Album of the Year and Record of the Year.
“We know that we will be competing with big musical figures from around the world at the Grammys, but it’s gratifying for us,” said Monsieur Periné guitarist Nicolás Junca in an earlier interview with the Associate Press. “We’re so happy and proud of the work we’ve done throughout the entire process.”
Even without a win, Thursday’s show culminated a successful 2015 for Bomba Estereo, the Bogotá-based electro-tropical-psychadelic-cumbia band whose song “Fiesta” was nominated for Record of the Year.
Bomba Estereo performed live with Will Smith, who emerged from a decade-long musical hiatus in October to accompany the Colombian group on a remix of “Fiesta.” Smith is himself a Grammy award-winner.
“Fiesta” commemorates the Carnaval de Barranquilla with a champeta-inspired rhythm and aggressive electronic sound. Will Smith contacted the group about collaborating after hearing the song during a trip to Colombia.
“This opportunity to work with Will was beyond anything we have dreamed of,” said Bomba Estereo co-founder Simón Mejia in a statement.
It was perhaps the highest-profile moment yet for the Bogotá band, who have been nominated for Grammy awards in the past but have never won.
Their album “Amanecer” was also up for Best Alternative Album, but lost to Natalia Lafourcade’s “Hasta la Raíz.”
Colombia fared better before the show started. Some of the awards were announced before the televised portion of the show began.
Colombia’s ChocQuibTown took home the Best Fusion Tropical Album Grammy for “El Mismo.” It was the second Grammy win for the group. Their breakout hit “De Donde Vengo Yo” won Best Alternative Song in 2010.
Other Colombian winners announced before the show include Juanes, who won Best Long-form Music Video, and Bogotá-based band Diamente Eléctrico, winning Best Rock Album.
Thursday’s show was the 16th year that the Latin Grammys have been presented.
