Mana has highlighted environmental, social, political and human rights issues for more than 30 years through its songs, concerts and now social media.<\/b>
\nLAS VEGAS \u2014 Mexican rock band Mana became the first group ever to be honored as the Latin Recording Academy\u2019s Person of the Year Wednesday, when its four members were recognized during a star-studded tribute concert for their creative accomplishments and philanthropic efforts.
Lead vocalist Fher Olvera, drummer Alex Gonz\u00e1lez, guitarist Sergio Vall\u00edn and bass player Juan Calleros received a crystal trophy before artists, industry leaders and others in an event the day before the Latin Grammy Awards ceremony in Las Vegas.
\u201cMana is a band that has given its all always \u2014 heart and soul,\u201d Olvera said on stage before recalling the band\u2019s humble beginnings and the years in which they all slept in a van. \u201cWe were working a lot, a lot, a lot until we reached what we have been sowing\u2026. We never thought, for example, that we were going to play in Israel or that we were going to be playing two years ago in the White House.\u201d
More than a dozen Latin artists honored the band with renditions of its greatest hits. Gilberto Santa Rosa sang a salsa version of \u201cBendita tu Luz,\u201d Pablo Albor\u00e1n performed a pop rendition of \u201cRayando el Sol,\u201d and Pepe Aguilar accompanied by the Mariachi Sol de M\u00e9xico de Jos\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez interpreted \u201cMariposa Traicionera.\u201d
The academy bestowed the honor on the band for its achievements and contributions to the Latin community and support of environmental protection and human rights causes.
Mana has highlighted environmental, social, political and human rights issues for more than 30 years through its songs, concerts and, more recently, social media. It has also promoted the Latino vote in the U. S. and has denounced what it deems as social injustices in countries such as Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia.
Honoree Fher Olvera of Mana performs onstage at the Latin Recording Academy\u2019s 2018 Person of the Year gala honoring Mana at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on November 14,2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.| Roger Kisby\/Getty Images
Olvera on Monday visited a temporary shelter in the Mexican state of Jalisco where members of a caravan of Central Americans attempting to reach the U. S. border were resting. He offered them words of encouragement and sang \u201cRayando el Sol\u201d y \u201cEl Muelle de San Blas.\u201d
\u201cI went to see them. We\u2019ve been supporting the immigrants here in the United States for more than 20 years,\u201d Olvera said. \u201cAt the end of the day, we are brothers, we are human beings\u2026 We shouldn\u2019t be afraid of them\u2026 I told them be careful. I saw babies, I saw children. It was sad, but they have a lot of hope.\u201d
Gonz\u00e1lez added that the immigrants wouldn\u2019t be on this journey \u201cif there wasn\u2019t so much corruption in the countries they\u2019re coming from.\u201d
\u201cNobody wants to leave their country,\u201d Gonz\u00e1lez said on the red carpet. \u201cThese people are running away from a lot of very drastic situations. It\u2019s a humanitarian crisis, but we have to help these people one way or another. Yes, it\u2019s illegal to enter a country, but as Fher says, brothers and sisters, humanitarian crisis, we have to help them.\u201d
The band established the nonprofit Fundaci\u00f3n Ecol\u00f3gica Selva Negra in 1996. It works to preserve endangered species, offers educational programs on the environment and organizes community development projects.
Mana has won six Latin Grammys and four Grammys and has released more than 48 No. 1 hits worldwide. The group has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The band wrapped up the night with \u201cLabios Compartidos\u201d and \u201cClavado en un Bar.\u201d
\u201cPeople like you are the ones who make it possible for this industry to keep moving,\u201d Aguilar told the band. \u201cThank you for your professionalism.\u201d
Previous recipients of the honor include Shakira, Ricky Martin, Carlos Santana, Miguel Bose and Pl\u00e1cido Domingo.
The Latin Grammy Awards will be presented Thursday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The show will be broadcast live beginning at 7 p.m. on Univision.<\/p>\n

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