Mana honored as Latin Grammys' Person of the Year

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Mexican rock band Mana was honored as the Latin Recording Academy’s 2018 Person of the Year in a star-studded concert on Wednesday, the eve of the Latin Grammy Awards ceremony.

Lead vocalist Fher Olvera, drummer Alex Gonzalez, guitarist Sergio Vallin and bass player Juan Calleros were recognized during the event in Las Vegas for the band's achievements and contributions to the Latin community and support of environmental protection and human rights causes.

"The band Mana started from way, way down," Olvera told The Associated Press earlier this year. "Everything that happens in our lives as artists is a huge surprise ... so to get to this point where we're going to be ‘Person of the Year' of such an important award ceremony is a big achievement. We were very inspired with the news.”

Honoree Mana, a Mexican rock band, arrive for the 2018 Latin Recording Academy Person of The Year Gala in Las Vegas, US, November 14, 2018. /VCG Photo

Mana has won six Latin Grammys and four Grammys and has released more than 48 No. 1 hits worldwide.

Its repertoire includes classics like "Vivir Sin Aire," "Cuando los Angeles Lloran" and "Rayando el Sol."

Mana has highlighted environmental, social, political and human rights issues for more than 30 years through its songs, concerts and, more recently, social media.

Mana performs onstage during the 2018 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Gala, Las Vegas, US, November 14, 2018.

The band established the nonprofit Fundacion Ecologica Selva Negra in 1996. It works to preserve endangered species, offers educational programs on the environment and organizes community development projects.

Mana has also promoted the Latino vote in the US and has denounced what it deems as social injustices in countries such as Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia.

The Latin Grammy Awards will be presented Thursday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The show will be broadcast live beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern on Univision.

(Top Photo: A stage background with Mana's poster on it during 2018 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Gala, Las Vegas, US, November 14, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): AP