Altsounds - LEGENDARY CUBAN VOCALIST OMARA PORTUONDO RECEIVES LATIN GRAMMY NOMINEE

Omara Portuondo, the world renowned vocalist, has received a Latin Grammy nomination in the category of Best Contemporary Tropical Album for her 2008 recording, Gracias (World Village / Montuno). Omara will appear as a presenter at The Latin Grammy Awards. The ceremony will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on November 5 and broadcast on the Univision Network. A member of the celebrated Buena Vista Social Club®, Omara is one of the first Cuban artists in six years to obtain a visa to perform in the U.S.

On Gracias, The New York Times noted that the years were no match for Omara's enduring vocal prowess: "Her voice...is rich, shapely, dynamic and still sultry."

The travel visa granted to Omara, and her recent critically acclaimed performances in Los Angeles and San Francisco, are an example of the Obama Administration's efforts to improve political and cultural relations between the U.S. and Cuba, which have been strained for more than four decades.

"José Martí, our great Cuban poet, once said that 'music is the soul of the people,'" says Omara. "Music is at the heart of every culture, something to be shared among all people, regardless of borders and politics. It has always been a universal language for people who might not otherwise understand each other. Perhaps, through these performances, I could be a goodwill ambassador between these two countries."

Born in Havana in 1930, Portuondo became a dancer at the famous Tropicana cabaret when she was still a teenager. In addition to dancing alongside her sister Haydee, the two girls also sang with a group called Los Loquibambla, a combo that specialized in a Cubanized version of the bossa nova with touches of American jazz.

Propelled by her success with Buena Vista, Omara entered the 21st century as an international sensation, with tours and festival dates that criss-crossed the globe. Her awards and accolades in that time have been numerous, including a 2004 Grammy nomination for Flor de Amor in the Best Traditional Tropical Record category. Billboard also recognized Flor de Amor with a 2005 Latin Music Award for Best Tropical Album of the Year. Her 2008 collaborative album, Omara Portuondo & Maria Bethânia, scored a Brazilian Music Award in the category of Special Projects.

In addition, she has committed her talents to assist the efforts of several humanitarian organizations. In 2004, she became the first Cuban artist to receive the designation of international ambassador by the International Red Cross. Omara has also established the Fundación de Amigos de Omara, a Cancun-based organization that provides support for women facing social and economic adversity in developing countries.