Rubén Blades, who was named the Latin Grammy’s 2021 Person of the Year, performed “Paula C” at the awards show.
Residente presented Blades with the award on stage and thanked him for his musical trajectory, calling him his mentor and “maestro” (teacher).
Blades, the winner of eight Latin Grammy Awards and nine Grammy Awards, is being recognized for his altruistic efforts and for his fight for social justice, the Academy said.
Blades’ first hit as a songwriter was “El Cantante,” performed by Héctor Lavoe. One of the first musical productions in which Blades collaborated, “Siembra” by Willie Colon, entered the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007.
Other artists that have been named Person of the Year are also in the room, including Juanes, Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan.