Latin Music’s Brightest Stars Honored @ 2003 Billboard Latin Music Awards.

The stars arrived in style and made their way through the red carpet, kicking-off this year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards at the Miami Arena in downtown Miami. Taking top honors, with three Billboard Awards each, was Puerto Rican singer, composer Chayanne and Mexican actress and singer Pilar Montenegro. Chayanne was honored for his track “Y Tu Te Vas” which won in the categories of Hot Latin Track of the Year and Latin Pop Airplay Track of the Year and for “Grandes Exitos” in the Latin Greatest Hits Album of the Year category. Montenegro received her awards for her song “Quitame Ese Hombre” in the categories of Latin Pop Airplay Track of the Year, Female and its “Norteña” version for Regional Mexican Airplay Track of the Year, Female Solo Artist and Regional Mexican Airplay Track of the Year, New Artist. Ricky Martin, Thalia, Eros Ramazzotti and Gilberto Santa Rosa were among the stars headlining this year’s awards ceremony.

Olga Tañon, Luis Fonsi, Tito Nieves, Albita, Elvis Crespo, Julio and Los Bacilos among many others were on hand to announce and present the Billboard award in other major categories to some of Latin music’s top recording artists, including: Juanes for Latin Pop Album of the Year, Male (“Un Dia Normal”); Thalia for Latin Pop Album of the Year; Female (“Thalia”); Regional Mexican group Los Temerarios honored for Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year (“Una Lagrima No Basta”); Las Ketchup taking home two Billboard awards for Latin Pop Album of the Year, New Artist and Tropical/Salsa Airplay Track of the Year, New Artist (“Asereje”) and Luis Miguel for Latin Tour of the Year.

Also honored this evening was Armando Manzanero with Billboards’ “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his extraordinary career, outstanding long-term artistic merit and for expanding the boundaries, promotion, and knowledge of Latin music. The “Spirit of Hope” award went to El General. Born Edgardo Arias Franco, El general was honored for his uncommon dedication to Humanitarian causes. Lastly, Telemundo’s “Viewer’s Choice” award went to Thalía, while the “Star Award” was presented to Ricky Martin.

The star-studded event was hosted by up-and-coming Hollywood actress Roselyn Sanchez who starred in the recently released romantic comedy movie “Chasing Papi”; renowned actor, singer, songwriter Carlos Ponce, previous host of Telemundo’s reality TV show, “Protagonistas de la Música,” and actor Miguel Varoni who is well-known for his role in the popular Latin soap opera “Pedro El Escamoso.”

The Billboard Latin Music Awards 2003 grand gala, featuring top Latin artist performances by Ricky Martin, Chayanne, Thalia, Eros Ramazzotti, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Pilar Montenegro, Grupo Limite, India, Lupillo Rivera, A.B. Quintanilla III & Kumbia Kings, Los Tucanes de Tijuana, Alexandre Pires and David Bisbal, will air this Sunday, May 11th beginning at 7PM ET/PT on TELEMUNDO. The national broadcast will begin with a pre-show of the red carpet arrivals, followed by the Awards and ending with an explosive after party.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards honor the most popular albums, songs, and performers in Latin music, as determined by the actual sales and radio airplay data that informs Billboard’s weekly charts during a one-year period from the issue dated February 16, 2002 through this year’s February 8 issue.