INVITE ONLY FINALISTS SHINE DURING BILLBOARD EN CONCIERTO SERIES BY LEILA COBO CAPORASO ENTERTAINMENT "Latin's Leading Ladies" panel during the Billboard KanyGarcia Latin Conference, is part of a new generation of pop is part For the fourth consecutive year, Billboard SHOWCASE, APRIL 23, 10 P.M. of a new singers. A highly skilled songwriter with a strong voice, generation has teamed with Telemundo Station The Caporaso Entertainment showcase will take place the Puerto Rican artist tackles everything from love to of Latin pop Groupand entertainmentcompany at Brickell Irish Pub (1451 S. Miami Ave.) at 10 p.m. on social issues in her songs. singers. Cardenas Marketing Network to present its an- April 23. Here are the artists set to perform: nual Billboard en Concierto concert series, lead- Costa Rican singer/songwriter Debi Nova has partici- ing up to the Billboard Latin Music Awards. Singer/songwriter Lena Burke made a name for her- pated in seven Grammy -nominated projects. She has The acclaimed seven -city, invitation -only mu- self as a backing vocalist for some of the biggest music been performing her own music since she was 14 and sic series-presented by State Farm in Associa- stars, but now she's blazing her own path. A two-timesigned her first songwriting contract at 17. Since then, tion with Pepsi and Net 10- has featured four Latin Grammy Award winner, Burke has been influ-she has collaborated with artists including the Black concerts by chart -toppers 3BaIIMTY beginning enced by pop, rock and the traditional Cuban music of Eyed Peas, Ricky Martin and Mark Ronson. April 2 in Houston (House of Blues), followed by her native country. Dallas (House of Blues), Los Angeles (House of Mariana Vega, whose first album was produced by Se- Blues) and San Francisco (the Fillmore). Since singer/songwriter Jorge Luis Chacin's Latin bastian Krys, has had a successful career in her native Tito "El Bambino" closed out the series with Grammy nominations, his place in the music world has Venezuela and beyond. Her influences include Spanish shows in Chicago (House of Blues), Miami (the changed. The Venezuelan -born artist has had songs re- ballads, Latin music and British pop. Fillmore) and New York (Best Buy Theater). corded by the likes of Ricardo Arjona, Gilberto Santa It was a particularly fitting setting for Tito, Rosa and Prince Royce. BILLBOARD BASH, APRIL 24, 3:30 P.M. who along with fellow Puerto Rican Don Omar holds the record as the top finalist for the Bill- Rapper Magic Juan, the son of Dominican parents, was The Billboard Bash will heat things up at the Cam- board Latin Music Awards. (In 2010 he had 18 born and raised in New York. After winning music con- eo Nightclub (1445 Washington Ave., Miami Beach) nods, the same as Don Omar this year.) Signed tests in his youth, the entertainer has never looked back beginning at 8:30 p.m. on April 24 (see story, page to Siente/Universal Music Latin Entertainment, as he's traveled the world to showcase his work. LM24). Hosted by mun2's Emeraude Toubia, Guad Tito will perform his hit single "Por Que Les Mi- Venegas, Yarel Ramos and La Bronca, the party entes?," a duet with Marc Anthony, at the Bill- Puerto Rican band La Quilombera fuses rock and folk will include performances by Billboard Latin Music board Latin Music Awards on April 25. from the Caribbean and South America. Mix in urban Awards finalists like regional Mexican singer America Tito says, "I've always said this: The Billboard and contemporary sounds and the band's repertoire Sierra, rap duo Akwid and reggaet6n artists Plan B awards mean a lot because as part of [reg- makes for a riveting musical experience. and Grupo Treo. In addition, here are the rising artists gaet6n duo] Hector & Tito at the beginning of who will perform: my career, we were the first urban act to win a Marger can hold her own when it comes to com- Billboard Latin Music Award. In fact, one of the manding compositions usually reserved for iconic Currently working on its third album, Almas Band was pictures I have in my studio is with that album, voices like Etta James, Aretha Franklin and Whitney formed in 1999 by twin brothers Jose and Jorge Colon. La Reconquista, that represents that Billboard Houston, "who was my inspiration to become an art- Well-known in Puerto Rico, the siblings are now taking award to me." ist: says the singer, known for her ability to performtheir brand of music-a mesh of funk, rock and reggae- For Billboard en Concierto, Tito has show- in multiple genres. to the rest of the world. cased the versatility that has made him a top Billboard act beyond the reggaet6n he first was Argentine pop singer Ale Ortega released his first al-Known for such songs as "Por Eso Te Destroce el known for. bum in 2008, and soon after his songs were heard on Corazon" (That's Why IDestroyed Your Heart), Banda "I'm an artist of the people, someone who can radio stations in Holland, Spain and Latin America. He la Leyenda is gaining momentum in Mexico. The band give a broad range of what listeners want to has also shared the stage with such well-known artists members have been friends since childhood. hear," he says. "I've been able to do that with my as Spanish crooner Alejandro Sanz. music mix, which is tropical, urban and also has Banda Yurirense, formed in 1985, takes its name from merengue and pop." Producer/songwriter Lulo Perez, born in Cuba, is an the members' hometown of Yurirense, Guanajuanto. To- Billboard en Concierto broke ground in 2010 arranger and multi -instrumentalist who has written day the regional Mexican band is enjoying a growing fan by being the first live concert series that featured tracks for Ricky Martin and Alexandre Pires. Perez also base and live following. performances by finalists from a major Latin mu- co -produced the Grammy -winning album No Es Lo Mis- sic awards show. The series was designed spe- mo with singer/songwriter Alejandro Sanz. Sophia Alvarez, simply known as Sophi, is releasing cifically with fans in mind. Tickets are free, but music through Emilio Estefan's Crescent Moon Records fans secure access to the shows by participat- ASCAP LATIN SHOWCASE, APRIL 24, with an eye toward the U.S. anglo and Latin markets. ing in promotions held by event sponsors and by 6:30 tuning in to Telemundo stations and checking Singer/songwriter Viajero (Traveler) was born in local station websites. The ASCAP Latin showcase, taking place at Yuca (501 Nicaragua and believes that the best way to grow The initialseries in 2010 featured perfor- Lincoln Road, Miami Beach) at 6:30 p.m. on April 24, as a person is to travel the globe. "Living something mances by Xtreme and Jencarlos Canela, while will showcase Lena Burke and the following artists: of a nomadic life has enriched my artistic career," 2011 featured Mexican pop trio Camila. In 2012, says the artist, whose music combines pop and Lat- the series featured performances by Mexican Kany Garcia, who is scheduled to participate in the in trove. 0 trio Reik and diva Gloria Trevi.0 L1.122 BILLBOARD I APRIL 27, 2013.