15 “It’s been a labour of love…” admits Amaranta, whose obvious single-minded determination has been the motor behind it. “…and a roller-coaster with many ups and downs, but it’s also addictive. The year we started, in 2012, it was simply an impulse we had. We just knew we had to do it. And then, as soon as we did the first, it took on a life of its own. The first ceremony was small but the atmosphere was amazing, and it was clear to us that this was something special. The need for it was obvious and it just hurtled forward…like being on a high-speed train; terrifying and exhilarating, and impossible to stop!” It was the Colombian percusJosé Luis, a DJ and muthe original idea to crethe contributions of so “It’s ing properly recog-
sionist Roberto Plá who inspired sic promoter, to come up with ate the Awards. He felt that many Latinos were not belike nized, as he explains:
being on a
“I knew how hard it was for Latin artists high-speed train; to get recognition and make a living terrifying and here… and some of them, like Roberto exhilarating, Plá, have had a huge influence on both and impossible British and Latin musicians…[yet] people didn’t really know about him… to stop!” and he wasn’t getting the recognition he deserved in my opinion. Roberto Plá helped so many English musicians, who went on to become commercially successful, for example ‘Snowboy’ used to be Roberto Pla’s student. The same in the dance world; for example, ‘Strictly’, the most popular show on British TV, has amazing Latin dancers, like Yanet Fuentes, working behind the scenes. Jorge Spiteri was another; he influenced many UK musicians such as the young Guy Barker, Pete Thoms, and Dave Defries in the 70s and 80s. And Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa, the first Latinos to play in the Premier League, paved the way for many other Latin American stars. This was the original intention of the LUKAS, to recognise talent that nobody else was recognising… although of course it has morphed into something else.” Amaranta and José Luis decided it was time to recognise the impact of Latin culture, which has been growing steadily over the last 30 or 40 years. In this way, the LUKAS have been a precursor. It is to date Europe’s only awards ceremony to celebrate Latino culture in all its diversity and manifestations: music, dance, theatre, film, arts, and sport. Awards include Alternative Act, Brazilian Act, Classical, Jazz or Folk Act, Vocalist, Urban Act, Tropical and Brazilian Dance Performers, Visual Artist, Film, Footballer, and many more, not forgetting
David Gilmore and Phil Manzanera