Full Sail Stories

The 14th Latin Grammy Awards are being held tonight in Las Vegas, and we’ve spent time this week covering a few of the Full Sail alumni who are credited on nominated projects, as well as previous award winners like graduate/recording artist David “Sie7e” Rodriguez.

Our grads have a long history of involvement in the Latin music world, and this evening will see two up for their own statues in the top category of Record of the Year. Dave Clauss worked on the Draco Rosa/Ricky Martin collaboration “Mas y Mas,” while Full Sail Hall of Fame inductee Sebastian Krys was recording engineer on the Alejandro Sanz hit “Mi Marciana.” Both of the full length records those tracks are featured on are nominated for Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album.

“Mi Marciana” also has a nod in the Song of the Year category, and a win would mean an additional statue for Sebastian. The song will be competing with “La Que Me Gusta” from Los Amigos Invisibles. This hit included the combined efforts of three Recording Arts graduates as engineers – Eduardo Larez (1996), Rafael Rondon (1991), and Michael Starita (1997).

Vicentico’s latest record Vicentico 5 and its single “Creo Que Me Enamore” are up for Best Pop/Rock Album and Best Rock Song, respectively. Both feature the talents of 1987 Recording Arts graduate Cesar Sogbe, who recently spoke with us about his involvement on this year’s Latin Grammy nominees, which also includes Natalia LaFourcade’s Mujer Divina: Homenaje A Agustin Lara, which is in contention for Best Engineered Album.

Best Pop/Rock Album competitor, Black Guayaba’s La Conexion Edicion Especial, also had alum Andres Saavedra (Recording Arts, 2002) assisting with arrangements, chorus, and mixing.

The ceremony will also honor Best Long Form Music Video, with Hecho Con Sabor a Puerto Rico among the nominees. The project features a number of top Latin artists and included the musical efforts of grads John Blais (Recording Arts, 2008) as engineer and Manuel Jimenez (Recording Arts, 2003) as composer. Blais was previously nominated for a Latin Grammy Award in 2011 for his work with Calle 13.

This is only a handful of the alumni who were involved with this year’s nominees, and you can read the full list of projects, artists, and categories below. Fans can also keep up with the winners when the 14th Latin Grammy Awards are broadcast live tonight at 8 p.m. EST on Univision.

Record of the Year

“Mas y Mas” – Draco Rosa featuring Ricky Martin
Dave Clauss (Recording Arts, 2006; Engineer)

“Mi Marciana” – Alejandro Sanz
Sebastian Krys (Recording Arts, 1991; Recording Engineer)

Album of the Year

Vida – Draco Rosa
Dave Clauss (Recording Arts, 2006; Recording Engineer)

La Musica No Se Toca – Alejandro Sanz
Sebastian Krys (Recording Arts, 1991; Recording Engineer)

Song of the Year

“La Que Me Gusta” – Los Amigos Invisibles
Eduardo Larez (Recording Arts, 1996; Engineer)
Rafael Rondon (Recording Arts, 1991; Engineer)
Michael Starita (Recording Arts, 1997; Engineer)

“Mi Marciana” – Alejandro Sanz
Sebastian Krys (Recording Arts, 1991; Mix Engineer)

Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album

Vida – Draco Rosa
Dave Clauss (Recording Arts, 2006; Recording Engineer)

La Musica No Se Toca – Alejandro Sanz
Sebastian Krys (Recording Arts, 1991; Recording Engineer)

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Viajero Frecuente – Ricado Montaner
Sam Allison (Recording Arts, 2005; Assistant)

Best Urban Performance

“Pegaito Suavecito” – Elvis Crespo featuring Fito Blanko
Jorge Mosquera (Recording Arts, 2002; Composer)

Best Urban Music Album

Musa – Ivy Queen
Mario de Jesus (Recording Arts, 1994; Composer)

Best Pop/Rock Album

La Conexion Edicion Especial – Black Guayaba
Andres Saavedra (Recording Arts, 2002; Arrangements, Chorus, Mixing)

Vicentico 5 – Vicentico
Cesar Sogbe (Recording Arts, 1987; Mixing)

Best Rock Song

“Creo Que Me Enamore” – Vicentico
Cesar Sogbe (Recording Arts, 1987; Mixing)

Best Salsa Album

Sergio George Presents Salsa Giants – Various Artists
Pablo Croce (Recording Arts, 1994; Director)

Best Contemporary Tropical Album

Leslie Grace – Leslie Grace
Esbin Ramirez (Recording Arts, 2009; Engineer)

Best Tropical Fusion Album

Pegate – Grupo Treo
Felipe Tichauer (Recording Arts, 1999; Arrangement, Mastering, Mixing)

Best Ranchero Album

Viva La Vida – Vikki Carr
Dana Yamaki (Recording Arts, 2009; Tape Research)

Best Instrumental Album

Latin American Classics – Theodore Kuchar Conducting the Orquesta Sinfonica de Venezuela
Rafael Rondon (Recording Arts, 1991; Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Recording Editor)

Best Recording Package

Repeat After Me – Los Amigos Invisibles
Eduardo Larez (Recording Arts, 1996; Engineer)
Rafael Rondon (Recording Arts, 1991; Engineer)
Michael Starita (Recording Arts, 1997; Engineer)

Best Engineered Album

Mujer Divina: Homenaje a Agustin Lara – Natalia Lafourcade
Cesar Sogbe (Recording Arts, 1987; Mixer)

Best Long Form Music Video

Hecho Con Sabor a Puerto Rico – Various Artists
John Blais (Recording Arts, 2008; Engineer)
Manuel Jimenez (Recording Arts, 2003; Composer)