Sergio George, Juanes, Bacilos among Latin Grammy nominees

MIAMI (AP) _ Sergio George, who wrote Bacilos' ``Mi Primer Millon,'' led the Latin Grammy nominations with six on Tuesday, while Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes received five. <br><br>George

Tuesday, July 22nd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MIAMI (AP) _ Sergio George, who wrote Bacilos' ``Mi Primer Millon,'' led the Latin Grammy nominations with six on Tuesday, while Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes received five.

George was nominated for record of the year, song of the year and other honors for the Bacilos' hit song, as well as album of the year for producing Bacilos' ``Caraluna.''

Bacilos, the Miami-based rock group, received three nominations, including best pop album by a duo or group with vocal.

Juanes, already a four-time Latin Grammy winner, earned nominations including record and song of the year for ``Es Por Ti'' and best rock solo album for ``Un Dia Normal,'' among other nominations.

Other multiple nominees included Gustavo Santaolalla, who also had five, and Natalia Lafourcade and Anibal Kerpel, who each had four.

Organizers also announced that a special tribute to the ``Queen of Salsa,'' Celia Cruz, will be held at the Sept. 3 awards ceremony. Cruz died last week, and a burial service was being held Tuesday in New York; 75,000 attended a Miami memorial service Saturday.

This will be the first year the Latin Grammys are held in Miami. They were granted to the city in 2001 but three weeks before the show, organizers moved the ceremony to Los Angeles after Cuban exile groups threatened to protest the event because performers from Cuba would have performed. However, the show, slated for Sept. 11, was never held.

The awards have been based in Los Angeles for each of their three years.

In March, the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences announced a move from Los Angeles to Miami, although it will remain a part of the larger Santa Monica, Calif.-based National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences.