ASCAP Vanguard Award
Presented To Black:Guayaba

In recognition of the impact of musical genres which help shape the future of Latin music

In a short amount of time, Black:Guayaba – formed by Gustavo González (vocalist), Javier Morales (guitar), Carlos Ortíz (bass), Carlos Colón (keyboards) and Gabriel Calero (drums) – has earned a solid fan base and has been recognized for their unique style and genre-affecting sound. They originally began playing at local pubs and private events before preparing original material for their first album. They released Lo Demás es Plástico in 2005, which was produced by Bob St. John, who had previously worked with Ricky Martin, Duran Duran and Collective Soul, among others. The album spawned several hit singles, such as "Lejos," "Atrapado," and "Despacio." It was that success which gave them the opportunity of being the opening act for bands Enanitos Verdes and Journey during their concerts in Puerto Rico. They had their first concert at the Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center in March 2006, the same year they were nominated for a Latin Grammy and a Grammy. In 2007, the band released their second album titled, No Hay Espacio, featuring the single "Sin Tu Amor." In February 2008 they won their first Grammy in the category of Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album.

Black:Guayaba is the first Latin music group to be recognized with the ASCAP Vanguard Award. Other notable recipients include The All-American Rejects, The Beastie Boys, Beck and Bjork.