Shakira shines in 7th Latin Grammy Awards

NEW YORK, Nov 3 (Reuters) Colombian bombshell Shakira won for song of the year and best female pop vocal album at the seventh annual Latin Grammy Awards, dominating a show celebrating music from throughout the Americas and Spain.

Shakira's album ''Fijacion Oral Vol. 1'' and the single ''La Tortura'' were also nominated for album of the year and record of the year, awards due to be presented later in the show.

''Fijacion Oral Vol. 1'' also won best engineered album, with credit going to engineers Gustavo Celis, Serban Ghanea, Mauricio Guerrero, Rob Jacobs, Kevin Killen and Dave Way and mastering engineer Vlado Meller.

The show started yesterday with a medley performed by a gyrating Shakira accompanied by Spain's Alejandro Sanz, who played guitar and sang along with her on a version of ''La Tortura'' more tame than that of the sizzling video.

The awards were hosted by Mexican soap star Lucero and Puerto Rican salsa star Victor Manuelle at New York's Madison Square Garden and televised on the Univision network. The awards honored recordings released from April 2005 through June 2006.

There were 47 prizes this year, honoring numerous music forms including Tejano, flamenco, merengue, rock, reggaeton, classical and distinct Mexican and Brazilian styles.

Reuters SHB DB1002