Juan Luis Guerra tops Latin Grammy Awards

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra swept the Latin Grammy Awards on Thursday, taking home five musical honors including album of the year, record of the year and song of the year.

Guerra's album, "La Llave De Mi Corazon," and its playful, upbeat title track also won the singer and his band, 440, trophies for best merengue album and tropical song.

Praise for "La Llave," also extended to its production, as the album garnered the award for best engineered album.

"I want to dedicate this award to the Dominican Republic," said Guerra of his homeland upon being named the Latin Recording Academy's person of the year, recognizing career and personal achievements. Guerra talked about Tropical Storm Noel, which recently thrashed the Caribbean nation and killed several dozen.

Among the artists he beat out in his record of the year win were Ricky Martin and other superstars: Beyonce and Shakira, and Bose and Paulina Rubio.

Martin and Calle 13 each picked up two trophies.

Fellow Puerto Rican group Calle 13, which also started the evening with four nominations, picked up the trophy for urban music album for its politically charged "Residente o Visitante," beating out Daddy Yankee, Orishas and Ivy Queen.

"We are super thrilled, nervous, this has been a lot of pressure," singer Rene Perez said onstage.