Singer Alejandro Sanz adds to his Latin Grammy haul with another dominating night

<br>LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Carlos Vives was the big story before the Latin Grammys, but Alejandro Sanz was the one everyone was talking about afterward. <br><br>Sanz swept the major categories at Wednesday

Wednesday, September 18th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Carlos Vives was the big story before the Latin Grammys, but Alejandro Sanz was the one everyone was talking about afterward.

Sanz swept the major categories at Wednesday night's ceremony, taking album, song, and record of the year honors. The Spanish singer, who was nominated for four awards, won album of the year for ``MTV Unplugged'' and record and song of the year for ``Y Solo Se Me Ocurre Amarte.''

Vives, who came into the competition with a leading six nominations, went home with two awards. The Colombian singer was honored for best contemporary tropical album for ``Dejame Entrar,'' which also earned him a Grammy in February, and best tropical song _ a songwriters' award that he shared for the album's title track.

Sanz's haul now includes seven Latin Grammys in two years. Last year, Sanz's song and album ``El Alma Al Aire'' earned him four Latin Grammys _ record, album and song of the year, plus best male pop vocal album.

``It embarrasses me principally because all of the artists who are here deserve it as much as I do,'' he said backstage in Spanish. Then he added in English, hesitantly, ``Two years in a row is too much.''

Mexico's Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos del Norte were honored in both categories in which they were nominated, best norteno album for ``El Numero Cien'' and best regional Mexican song for ``Del Otro Lado Del Porton.''

Much of the attention before the ceremony centered on Cuba. Its 22 nominees, including jazz pianist Chucho Valdes, couldn't get entry visas in time to attend. As a result, Valdes wasn't there to accept his award for best pop instrumental album for ``Canciones Ineditas'' _ his first Grammy after decades in the business.

As the show began on CBS, veteran singer Celia Cruz won the first award announced _ best salsa album, for ``La Negra Tiene Tumbao.'' It took her a while to reach the stage in a tight red dress, but once she did, she promptly shouted for the audience, which gave her a standing ovation, to sit down.

``Excuse my English because it's not very good looking. What I want to say is thank you to all of you,'' she told the audience in English before launching into a high-spirited Spanish acceptance speech.

It was a bilingual ceremony for the most part, with presenters and winners alike switching from English to Spanish.

``Excuse me, but I gotta talk to my people in Spanish,'' Shakira said before switching languages for her acceptance speech. The Colombian superstar won best video for ``Suerte,'' the Spanish version of her huge English hit, ``Whenever, Wherever.''

During the show's entertainment, Carlos Santana, winner of nine Grammys and three Latin Grammys, shared the stage with the rock band P.O.D., while Shakira performed in low-cut blue jeans and a midriff-baring pink top. But a highlight was Mexican singer Thalia, wearing a tiny, low-cut dress and surrounded by soaring flames.

One of the evening's sentimental favorites was Vicente Fernandez of Mexico, who took home the Latin Grammy for best ranchera album for ``Mas Con El Numero Uno.'' It was the first Grammy of any kind for Fernandez, who has recorded 55 albums and is known as the ``king of ranchera music.''

The Latin recording industry honored him Tuesday night as its person of the year. On Wednesday, he performed with his son, dressed in an enormous sombrero and carrying a gun in a holster.

Although this was the third annual Latin Grammy Awards it was only the second Latin Grammy show. Last year's event, scheduled for Sept. 11, was canceled because of the terrorist attacks and winners received their trophies later.

That show had originally been scheduled for Miami but was moved to Los Angeles, site of the first show, after a dispute over where anti-Castro demonstrators could protest.

``This year, we come together at the Kodak Theatre, in Los Angeles, with a new sense of commitment to continuing our way of life,'' said actor Jimmy Smits as he and co-host singer Gloria Estefan began the show with a brief tribute to the attack victims.

``We honor those we lost and those that helped us get back on our feet,'' said Estefan. ``We love you, New York.''