ASCAP's Alexandra Lioutikoff, ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Rudy Pérez, ASCAP Founders Award Winner Rubén Blades and ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento

ASCAP's Alexandra Lioutikoff, Song of the Year Award Winner Marco Antonio Solís and ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento

2005 EL PREMIO ASCAP AWARDS

Rudy Pérez Named Songwriter of the Year; Rubén Blades Receives ASCAP Founders Award; Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing Share Publisher of the Year Honors

As New York City experienced its first truly warm day of spring, ASCAP created some heat of its own as it celebrated its 13th annual El Premio ASCAP Awards at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan on April 5. The star-studded gala, hosted by People en Español's Joselly Castrodad and CBS-2 News anchor Mario Bosquez, honored the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most performed songs in Latin Music in 2004.

Among the honorees, performers and notables attending the black tie celebration were Claudia Acuña, Obie Bermudez, Big Mato, Rubén Blades, Claudia Brant, El General, GemStar, Sergio George, Monchy & Alexandra, Nina Sky, NORE, Eduardo Osorio, Jennifer Peña, Rudy Pérez, Marco Antonio Solís, Spanish Harlem Orchestra directed by Maestro Oscar Hernandez and Alicia Villareal.

ASCAP received special recognition from Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of the City of New York, who declared Tuesday, April 5, 2005 in the City of New York as "ASCAP Latin Music Awards Day." In a proclamation presented to the Society, Mayor Bloomberg cited "The Latin Music Awards are an opportunity for the music community to honor past achievement and nurture unrealized potential. New York City, home to countless Latin music fans, thanks ASCAP for its continuing commitment to musical excellence, and congratulates Rubén Blades and the rest of tonight’s winners on their great success."

Rudy Pérez was presented with the Songwriter of the Year award for his ten award-winning songs. As a testament to his writing strength and endurance, Pérez has won this honor three times before, including last year. Billboard chart-topping artist Jennifer Peña performed as part of ASCAP's special tribute to Pérez.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the ASCAP Founders Award to Rubén Blades by ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento with pop idol Obie Bermudez, who also performed a song dedicated to Blades. Grammy Award-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Oscar Hernandez, closed the night with a special musical tribute honoring Blades.

ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento and ASCAP Senior Vice President, Membership Group/Latin Alexandra Lioutikoff presented the Publisher of the Year award to Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing who shared the honors with a total of 30 winning songs each.