HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARDS 1995 (TV)
Summary
This program features the ninth annual Hispanic Heritage Awards, presented on September 12, 1995 at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C. and hosted by journalist and talk show host Cristina Saralegui. The evening opens with a musical performance by the Manu Montero Dance Company and the Campanas de America mariachi band, after which Saralegui offers opening remarks and introduces United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Henry G. Cisneros, who introduces a recorded video message from President Bill Clinton, in which Clinton comments on his commitment to diversifying the government and appointing Latinos to high-ranking positions. Next, reporter Geraldo Rivera presents the Education award to Minerva Bernardino, known for her work in women's rights and in the creation of the Charter of the United Nations, which she signed in 1945 and for which she demanded gender-balanced phrasing about "equal" rights. Bernardino delivers her acceptance speech in Spanish to honor her Dominican heritage.
Next, ballet dancer Fernando Bujones performs a piece entitled "Inspiration," after which playwright and actor Luis Valdez presents the Literature award to José Antonio Burciaga, whose "Chicanismo" writing seeks to explore the "taboo" themes of Hispanic-American cultures. Actor Edward James Olmos then takes the stage to introduce a tribute to actor Raúl Juliá, who passed away on October 24, 1994. Soprano Angelina Reaux-Colom and pianist Pablo Zinger perform "Preciosa," Juliá's favorite song, written by Rafael Hernández Marín and honoring Juliá's home country of Puerto Rico. A series of clips, including comments from "Arms and the Man" co-star Kevin Kline, details Juliá's varied acting career and his charitable work combating world hunger, and his widow Merel Poloway, along with their sons Benjamín and Raúl Jr., accept the award on his behalf.
The Barrio Boyzz perform "Eres Mi Verdad," after which United States Secretary of Transportation Federico Peña presents the Leadership award to Dr. Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic female to go into space. She explains that she chose to ignore others' doubts about her math and science abilities and became an astronaut in 1991, and a young girl, Jennifer, takes the stage and explains that, inspired by Ochoa's accomplishments, she intends to become a doctor. The final award, in the category of Arts, goes to musician Israel "Cachao" Lopez, credited as a co-creator of mambo music and known primarily for his talents on the double bass. Actor Andy Garcia, with whom Cachao has recently made an album, comments on his influence and talent, and saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera and others perform a musical tribute to Cachao. In his speech, Cachao comments on the importance of fostering children's interest in arts and music. Clips featuring pre-recorded comments from past years' honorees, including Gloria Estefan, Rita Moreno, Julio Iglesias and Liz Torres, are interspersed throughout the evening. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC (Florida)
- DATE: 1995 3:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:52:59
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:77938
- GENRE: Award presentations
- SUBJECT HEADING: Award presentations
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV, 1995
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - AT&T telephone services
- TV - Commercials - Dr. Pepper soft drinks
- TV - Commercials - United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Equal Housing Opportunity program
CREDITS
- Ronald Gordon … Executive Producer
- Eduardo Zavala … Executive Producer
- Elaine DagenBela … Executive Producer, Writer
- Shellée Haynesworth … Producer, Writer
- David Cabán … Associate Producer
- Waymer Johnson … Director
- Celeste Crenshaw … Writer, Narrator, Translator
- Rafael Hernández Marín … Music by
- Campanas de America … Music Group
- Maru Montero Dance Company … Dance Company
- Cristina Saralegui … Host
- Miguel Rivera … Narrator
- Pedro José Greer Jr. … Announcer
- Fernando Bujones … Performer
- Pablo Zinger … Performer
- Angelina Reaux-Colom … Performer
- The Barrio Boyzz … Performer
- Paquito D'Rivera … Performer
- Merel Poloway … Guest
- Raúl Sigmund Juliá … Guest
- Benjamín Rafael Juliá … Guest
- Minerva Bernardino … Honoree
- José Antonio Burciaga … Honoree
- Raúl Juliá … Honoree
- Ellen Ochoa … Honoree
- Israel "Cachao" Lopez … Honoree
- Henry G. Cisneros … Presenter
- Geraldo Rivera … Presenter
- Luis Valdez … Presenter
- Edward James Olmos … Presenter
- Federico Peña … Presenter
- Victor Morales … Translator
- Bill Clinton
- Gloria Estefan
- Andy Garcia
- Julio Iglesias
- Kevin Kline
- Rita Moreno
- Liz Torres