ASCAP Latin Heritage Award
Honoring Franco De Vita for his important contributions to Latin music
Franco De Vita's songs have a perennial presence in Latin American music. His story-like lyrics and interpretations conquer the universal condition of the self-battling-the-self in love, in dreams and in life.
De Vita is one of three children born in Latin America to Italian immigrants. His family returned to Italy when he was three and they moved back to Venezuela when he was 13. Radio and family life were intertwined. His bi-continental upbringing gave him the opportunity to absorb a wide range of music that influenced his musical style. At an early age he found he had to write, "not because it comes easy to me, but rather because I need to live."
His first solo album titled
Franco De Vita spun off three Spanish-language hits: "Somos Tres," "No Hay Cielo" and "Un Buen Perdedor." In 1990 he released
Fantasia which produced the legendary hit, "Solo Importas Tu," the theme song to the internationally acclaimed Spanish-language soap opera,
La Dama De Rosa. With the Sony label De Vita released
Al Norte Del Sur, a critical and commercial smash that cemented his reputation as a purveyor of socially conscious and adult-oriented pop, particularly through the tunes "Te Amo" and "Louis." The album
Extranjero featured the song, "No Basta," which spent four weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Latin charts and won an MTV Video Music Award.
Stop, a production where he collaborated with the pop group Sin Bandera, also reached the Top 10 on the U.S. Latin charts and in Latin America. De Vita has numerous successful albums that have captivated audiences throughout such as:
En Vivo Marzo 16 (1992);
Voces A Mi Alrededor in 1993; the acoustic-flavored
Fuera De Este Mundo (1996); the world-beat inspired
Nada Es Igual (1999);
Segundas Partes Tambien Son Buenas (2002); an expanded edition of
Stop titled
Stop + Algo Mas (2005); and
Mil y Una Historias En Vivo, a two-disc live album that also featured four studio tracks, including a collaboration with Alejandro Fernandez and Diego El Cigala with a DVD version released simultaneously.
Franco De Vita shares his success as a supporter of young talent like Jeremias and Roque Valero. "I help because their work is great, because music has to continue. They have talent, and for me it would be a great loss if we don't help their voices be heard." Franco is also involved with Amnesty International where he actively works for the rights of abused women. His memorable song, "Un Extraño en Mi Bañera," stands as symbol of his sensitivity for causes beyond himself.
Franco De Vita's body of work is a unique musical style of exposing love and life's many faces. Indisputably, Franco De Vita is an emblem of lyrical romance in Latin America music and one of the largest selling musical artists ever to emerge from Venezuela.
De Vita has won several ASCAP awards, including hits performed by Ricky Martin and Chayanne, and tonight ASCAP is proud to honor Franco De Vita with the ASCAP Latin Heritage Award for his important contributions to Latin music. The Society salutes his many accomplishments and looks forward to many more years of influential musicianship from this profoundly moving songwriter.
TOP
