Home / Arts and Entertainment / Latin Music Legend Raphael Feted at Glitzy Las Vegas Gala
Latin Music Legend Raphael Feted at Glitzy Las Vegas Gala
13 Nov
Summary
- Raphael, 82-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter, honored as Latin Recording Academy's 2025 Person of the Year
- Tribute concert featured performances by Enrique Bunbury, Carín León, Fito Paez, and other Latin music stars
- Raphael, diagnosed with primary brain lymphoma last year, vows to continue performing
On November 12, 2025, the Mandalay Convention Center in Las Vegas played host to a glitzy gala honoring legendary Spanish singer-songwriter Raphael as The Latin Recording Academy's 2025 Person of the Year. The invite-only event, which wrapped up around midnight, featured a three-course dinner, a two-hour tribute to Raphael's illustrious career, and performances by a lineup of Latin music stars.
The evening kicked off with Enrique Bunbury's soft rock rendition of Raphael's 1966 hit "Yo Soy Aquel," followed by a duet between Carín León and Raphael on "Ahora." Throughout the night, other artists like Fito Paez, Rozalen, Pepe Aguilar, and Myriam Hernandez took the stage to pay tribute to the 82-year-old icon. The highlight came when David Bisbal delivered a passionate performance of Raphael's timeless ballad "Como Yo Te Amo," at one point sitting across from the honoree to sing directly to him.
Despite being diagnosed with primary brain lymphoma last year, Raphael expressed his determination to continue performing, telling the audience, "I hope to return for many more years." The evening concluded with a lively performance of Raphael's 1992 hit "Escándalo" by tropical stars Willy Chirino, Eddy Herrera, and Victor Manuelle.
