December 19, 2023 – BMI Foundation, Inc. announced that the 21st annual peermusic Latin Music Award will be represented by Venezuelan singer-songwriter and producer Jorge Luis Chacín. Beyond the $5,000 career grant, the prize for the award will also include 1:1 artistic mentorship from Chacín.
“I am thrilled to be a part of the careers of these young songwriters,” said Chacín. “By helping this next generation of Latin Music artists, I am able to give back to the community that I love.”
The peermusic Latin Music Award was established in 2003 through the generosity of peermusic CEO Ralph Peer II. For over two decades, the program has nurtured the careers of many promising young musicians and composers including Mane de la Parra (2005) and Daniela Blau (2008). The 2023 award was presented to Miami-based songwriter Alice Macedo for her song “Te Levo Comigo,” a love song to her home country of Brazil.
A winner of several BMI Latin Music awards, Jorge Luis Chacín started out as a singer and four-string guitarist with the group Menguao, and later as a bassist with the group Carángano. For over eight years, he was a member of the iconic Venezuelan band Guaco, which highlighted his talents as a composer and producer in more than 40 songs including the hits “¿Cómo será?” “Cómo es tan bella,” “Si usted la viera'' and “Todo quedó.” Chacín received his first Latin GRAMMY nomination in 2004 in the Best Contemporary Tropical Album category with the group Bachá. In 2009, he released his first solo album, Tengo, in collaboration with the Miami Symphony Orchestra led by Vinicio Ludovic and featuring such musical greats as Dan Warner and Lee Levin. His second solo album, El color de mi locura, earned him a third Latin GRAMMY nomination as Best Contemporary Tropical Album of 2014.
Chacín’s songs have been recorded by other great artists such as Rubén Blades, Ricardo Montaner, Marc Anthony, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Carlos Vives, Diego Torres, Ricardo Arjona, Victor Manuelle, Thalia, Prince Royce, David Bisbal, CNCO, Camilo and Gente de Zona. In 2022, Chacín was nominated for seven Latin GRAMMYs in five different categories, including Song of the Year, Best Regional Mexican Song and Best Contemporary Tropical Album for El mundo está loco.
Applications for the peermusic Latin Music Award will remain open until January 15th, 2024, and are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Apply online at https://bmifoundation.org/by-application/peermusiclatinmusicaward.
