Latin Grammys 2022: Uruguay's Jorge Drexler Wins Big; Cuba's Angela Alvarez Makes History by Winning at Age 95

The 2022 Latin Grammys wrapped up with winners both predictable and surprising, like Uruguay's Jorge Drexler taking home six awards and honoring 95-year-old Cuban singer Angela Alvarez.

During the 23rd Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas on Thursday, Jorge Drexler, who was nominated for seven Latin Grammys, beat fan-favorite Bad Bunny, who was the biggest nominee with 10 mentions.

The Uruguayan musician took home six awards, including the best song for his piece "Tocarte," while the Puerto Rican rapper won five Latin Grammys, which included the best urban music album for "Un Verano Sin Ti." Bad Bunny was not present at the ceremony.

La Prensa Latina reported that Rosalia, who grabbed the album of the year award for "Motamami," thought the prize would go to Drexler.

The Spanish singer got emotional when she accepted the award and said: "It is the album for which I had to fight the hardest." Rosalia had eight nominations and concluded the night with four awards.

As he accepted the song of the year award, Drexler said: "You have no idea how unexpected all this is for me." CBS News reported that the Uruguayan musician dedicated his award "to all those who make urban music in Spanish."

Drexler performed "Tocarte" live with British singer Elvis Costello during the Latin Grammy Award ceremony at the Mandalay Bay Michelob Ultra Arena.

Meanwhile, the most unexpected honor of the night went to Angela Alvarez, who was named the best new artist. The 95-year-old Cuban singer started her singing career in old age with the help of her grandson, Carlos Álvarez, who produced her self-titled debut album.

USA Today reported that Alvarez is the oldest musician to be nominated in the best new artist category at the Latin Grammy Awards, which proves it is never too late to follow your dreams. She shared the award with Mexico's Silvana Estrada. It was the first-ever tie in the history of the Latin Grammy Awards.

Who Is Latin Grammys' Big Winner Uruguay's Musician Jorge Drexler?

Jorge Drexler was born in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1964. He is a son of a German Jew who fled the Holocaust in 1939. Drexler had a surprising career before he made it big in the Latin music industry.

According to Seattle Times, he was an otolaryngologist or a medical doctor that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of the ear, nose, and throat. Drexler made two albums while still in practice. According to New York Times, he started writing songs seriously when he was 25.

The songwriter released his first album, "La Luz Que Sabe Robar" ("The Light That Knows How to Steal") in Uruguay in 1992 and then he moved to Spain in 1995 to continue making albums.

As a singer, he has won multiple Latin Grammy awards and an Oscar for his music in the movie "The Motorcycle Diaries." Drexler is the first Uruguayan to win an Oscar in history.

The Uruguayan had also worked with some of the best. He wrote Spanish-language versions of singles by Colombian singer Shakira and won five ASCAP Latin Awards for his work writing.

Cuba's Angela Alvarez Forbidden From Being a Musician as Child, Wins a Latin Grammy

Cuban singer Angela Alvarez grew up surrounded by music and learned to play piano as a young girl. According to Los Angeles Times, Alvarez started writing songs when she was 14.

However, she never pursued a professional music career since her father forbade it. She was only allowed to perform for her family, My Modern Met reported.

Alvarez immigrated to the U.S. in 1962 after the Cuban Revolution. Eventually, she got married, and blessed with four children and nine grandchildren.

Alvarez said it was her later husband who encouraged her to keep singing and writing. However, it was her grandson, a music producer, who helped her achieve her dream of becoming a recording artist.

Carlos Alvarez said when he learned that his grandma had written more than 50 songs throughout her life, he knew something had to be done.

Carlos told CNN: "She took out all these notebooks, and when she started playing the songs for me, I realized then that she was a frustrated artist." That was the moment that Carlos decided to fulfill his Nana's dream, which of course, resulted in the Latin Grammy Awards win.

When she took the stage to accept the award, Angela Alvarez said: "I want to dedicate this award to God and my homeland Cuba, which I will never forget. I felt very, very proud to be able to tell my story, to touch people who have probably gone through the same or more... There are people who give up, but I did not give up. I always fought."

"To those who have not fulfilled their dream, although life is difficult, there is always a way out, and with faith and love you can achieve it. I promise you, it's never too late," she added, which was met by a standing ovation from the audience.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Angela Alvarez - Un Canto A Mi Cuba - From Don Dan Music Channel