Calle 13 takes home 4 Latin Grammys

LAS VEGAS — Only a few minutes into the Latin Grammys awards show, Puerto Rican duo Calle 13 already led the competition with four gold gramophones Thursday night in Las Vegas.

The reggaeton group snapped up both best urban album for the politically charged "Los de Atras Vienen Conmigo" and best alternative song, for "No Hay Nadie Como Tu," their lyrically complex collaboration with Mexico City rockers Cafe Tacvba.

The half brothers, Rene Perez, who is known as "Residente," and Eduardo Cabra, or "Visitante," posed for cameras on the carpet with their mother and Panamanian salsa legend Ruben Blades, who collaborated with them on "La Perla," an ode to a seaside slum in San Juan.

While women in sequined gowns rubbed shoulders with Mexican regional groups in identical suits and cowboy hats on the carpet, Residente ran past the bleachers high-fiving the fans and signed autographs.

Most of the 49 awards in a variety of categories befitting the diverse musical traditions of the Americas, including best albums in Christian, grupero and Brazilian sertaneja music, were handed out during a pre-show ceremony.

"To all the people who make music in this moment of independent music, to hell with record labels! This is the moment for those of us who make real music," Residente said after receiving the award for best alternative song.

Later, during the live telecast, the outspoken rapper dedicated the Latin Grammy for record of the year to government workers who lost their jobs in Puerto Rico.

The Latin Recording Academy honored Mexico's prolific singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel with its person of the year award.

"For Mexico!" said the "Divo of Juarez" as he kissed his statuette.

Mexican rock band Jaguares won for best rock album by a duo or group for "45" and lead singer Saul Hernandez won best rock song for "Entre tus Jardines."

Hernandez composed the song for his wife, he said, because "men aren't always right."

Mercedes Sosa, who died in October, won in the folklore category for her album of duets, "Cantora 1." Her longtime pianist and musical director, Popi Spatocco, accepted the award on her behalf.

Chucho and Bebo Valdes, father and son from Cuba, won best jazz album for "Juntos para Siempre."