Azul Azul, Paulina Rubio, and Juan Gabriel top the nominees for the third annual El Premio de la Gente Ritmo Latino Music Awards, to be presented Oct. 18 at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium, Billboard Bulletin reports. The three acts are each up for four individual awards, including album of the year. Azul Azul and Rubio are also nominated for artist of the year, along with Lupillo Rivera, Chayanne, and A.B. Quintanilla y Los Kumbia Kings.
In addition to Azul Azul’s “El Sapo,” Rubio’s “Paulina,” and Gabriel’s “Abrazame Muy Fuerte,” nominees for album of the year are Luis Miguel’s “Vivo” and Christian Castro’s “Mi Vida Sin Tu Amor.” Up for song of the year are Joan Sebastian (“Secreto de Amor”), Gabriel (“Abrazame Muy Fuerte”), Banda el Recodo (“Yo Se Que Te Acordaras”), Giselle (“Jurame”), and Los Temerarios (“Eras Todo Para Mi”).
The Ritmo Latino show will include a special People’s Tribute Award for Selena. The event, which will be dedicated to the slain star’s life and music, will feature performances by Gabriel and A.B. Quintanilla y Los Kumbia Kings. The awards, sponsored by Vons grocers and Ritmo Latino music stores, are voted on by the public.
In other Latin music news, Luis Enrique, Arturo Sandoval, Rey Ruiz, Roberto Blades, and Lucia Mendez are to play a show Saturday (Aug. 18) in Miami to benefit victims of the drought in Central America. “Concierto Benefico Unidos Por Ti,” organized by Central American TV journalist Neida Sandoval, is set for the Actor’s Playhouse venue. Proceeds will go to the Friends of World Food Program’s Central American Drought Fund.