Guerra is Latin Academy's person of the year

As far as honors go, the 2007 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year may be a mouthful, but Juan Luis Guerra can probably carry the tune. The singer/songwriter, known for a wide variety of musical and artistic styles, will receive the honor at the 8th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Nov. 7.

Guerra's hails from the Dominican Republic but takes inspiration from sounds around the globe, particularly the Beatles. The singer credits the Fab 5 with influencing both his sound and his commitment to philanthropy. After completing his studies in composition at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Guerra returned to the Dominican Republic where he and a group of musicians formed Juan Luis Guerra y 440, won a GRAMMY Award, and created the Jan Luis Guerra y 440 Foundation in 1991. The organization focuses on the needs of local residents, from orphans and children's hospitals to addiction recovery services.

The tribute dinner precedes the 8th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards on Thursday, Nov. 8. For more information about Juan Luis Guerra and The Latin Recording Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.