BK Latin Legends & Risings Stars Tour.

Burger King Corporation launched a nationwide tour during Hispanic Heritage Month of screenings of its documentary “We Sing En Español…And English Too” at Miami’s New World School of the Arts, celebrating the musical contributions of Latin artists. The Burger King Corporation sponsored documentary is a comprehensive compilation of original interviews and archival footage of both legendary and up-and-coming artists who have contributed to Latin music traditions in America.

2002 Latin Grammy Award winner Jorge Moreno and nominee Nicole were on hand to introduce the Burger King program and take part in an interactive panel discussion following the screening. “As a Cuban-American in Miami, I grew up surrounded by Latin music,” Moreno said, “so being a part of Burger King Corporation’s video and in-school screenings is a way I can share my passion for the music legends that had such a profound influence on me.”

“With Latin music artists now appearing alongside pop and hip-hop artists on the charts, teens are interested in learning about the music’s origins,” explains Nicole. “While I was growing up in Chile, I fell in love with American pop and soul music. Now, I’m so excited that Burger King Corporation is letting me return the favor by sharing Latin music’s greatest artists with American youth.”

“We at Burger King Corporation recognize that there is a need for an educational program that pays tribute to Latin culture in the U.S. in a meaningful way,” said Andy Bonaparte, senior director of advertising and ethnic marketing, Burger King Corporation. “Studies have shown that students gravitate toward the arts, not only as a means for understanding their culture, but also for becoming more involved in school. This program is a great example of that kind of effort.”

As part of the nationwide program, the documentary has been distributed to more than 800 public schools. The in-school program also contains a teacher guide to help generate classroom discussion. During the launch event, Bonaparte presented New World Provost Stephen Sumner with an endowment to provide ongoing educational opportunities to talented students.

“Burger King Corporation it is right on track,” Sumner said. Studies have proven that music education has an impact in all aspects of student performance.” He added that a 2002 study by the Arts Education Partnership has shown that students exposed to the arts, perform better in reading, writing and math, than students exposed only to academic subjects.

“It’s great that Burger King Corporation is supporting music education in high schools, especially in cities like Miami where there is such a strong Latin influence,” Sumner said. Studies have also indicated that minority and at-risk students involved in music programs tend to identify with role models in that discipline and experience increased self-confidence. “This video will serve as a resource for our students to learn about Latin heritage.”

The Miami launch is the first of a five-city tour that includes New York, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles. In addition to Moreno and Nicole, local artists in each city will be on-hand to participate in the screenings and discuss the role of music in Latino culture in the U.S.