The Spanish singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat was named the 2014 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year. The achievement will be celebrated on Nov. 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Serrat began performing as a teenager and was discovered in 1965 from singing on the Spanish radio show "Radioscope." The Barcelona-born musician propelled to stardom as one of the leading Nova Cancó movement within Spain's Catalonian area.

"As a profound and brilliant songwriter, a true poet in Spanish and Catalan and a sensational performer, Joan Manuel Serrat's lyrical style and magnificent talent make him a treasured and timeless musical figure," Gabriel Abaroa Jr., CEO of the Latin Recording Academy, said. "Through his talent, artistry, passion, and dedication to his craft, his work has spoken to music fans all over. It is a privilege to recognize a man with such an illustrious and socially conscious career, and we look forward to celebrating his creativity and legacy."

Serrat is not without controversy, however. He is known for being politically outspoken, once resisting dictator Francisco Franco's orders to sing a song in Spanish instead of Catalan in the late 60s. He was banned for five years from performing on Spanish media. Serrat even spent time in a self-imposed exile in Mexico for several years until Franco's death in 1975.

"Joan Manuel has become a true symbol for freedom, coherence, quality, and perfect use of our language, and a reference that we all have in reaching our goals," Grammy-winning artist Shakira said of the prolific singer.

Previous Person of the Year winners include Gloria Estefan, Miguel Bosé, Gilberto Gill, Carlos Santana and Shakira. The Person of the Year awards will be broadcast the day before the Latin Grammys on Nov. 20 on the Univision Network at 8 p.m. ET.