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Miami, FL – November 9, 2026 – Dominican musician, composer, arranger, and producer Chichí Peralta received the 2026 Latin GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, one of the special honors presented by The Latin Recording Academy® to performers whose creative contributions have left a lasting mark on Latin music. The recognition was presented during the Special Awards ceremony held in Las Vegas as part of the 27th Annual Latin GRAMMY Week.
With more than four decades dedicated to music, Peralta has built a career defined by musical exploration and a deep connection to his Dominican roots. Through his artistic approach, which he calls World Latin Music, he has blended Afro-Caribbean rhythms with influences from Africa, Asia, and other musical traditions, developing a distinctive sound that has brought his country’s cultural identity to international stages.
During his acceptance speech, the artist recalled his earliest encounters with music, when, at just four years old, he crafted a tambora drum using his mother’s cooking oil containers. Following that childhood mischief, his father, Eugenio Peralta Sterling, took him to Mercado Modelo and bought him his first tambora, encouraging him with a simple word: “Play!” That gesture marked the beginning of a lifelong passion for music. Peralta also reflected on the curiosity and creativity that have guided his career, emphasizing the importance of preserving cultural identity while exploring new musical possibilities.
“I have always believed that music has no borders, but it does have roots. And the deeper our roots, the farther our imagination can travel,” Peralta said, capturing a philosophy that has shaped much of his work.
That vision is reflected in productions that explore unconventional musical connections, from the fusion of merengue with Senegal’s mbalax in “El Meneíto” to the incorporation of the Armenian duduk in “El Cofrecito” and the Japanese influences featured in “Amor Samurái.” His artistic exploration also led him to record two of his productions with the prestigious London Symphony Orchestra at London’s iconic Abbey Road Studios.
In one of the most personal moments of his speech, Peralta expressed his gratitude to his parents, the musicians who have accompanied him throughout his career, and especially his wife, Ermis, and their children. “My greatest production has been our family… and my finest arrangements, our children,” the artist shared, offering a heartfelt reflection on the central role his family plays in his life.
As the leader of Chichí Peralta & Son Familia, the artist has achieved international recognition with songs such as “Procura” and “Amor narcótico.” His career includes a Latin GRAMMY win in 2001 for …De vuelta al barrio in the Best Merengue Performance category, as well as a 2006 nomination for Más que suficiente in the Best Contemporary Tropical Album category.
As he celebrates this prestigious recognition of his career, Chichí Peralta is also looking ahead to the release of Endorfina, his sixth studio album, scheduled for 2027.
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