Guerra and his band, 440, won the trophy for record of the year and tropical song for the playful, upbeat “La Llave De Mi Corazon.” The album of the same name also garnered the award for best merengue album.

“I want to dedicate this award to the Dominican Republic,” said Guerra of his homeland upon being named the Latin Recording Academy’s person of the year, recognizing career and personal achievements. Guerra talked about Tropical Storm Noel, which recently thrashed the Caribbean nation and killed several dozen.

Among the artists Guerra bested in his record of the year win were Martin and other superstars: Beyonce and Shakira, and Miguel Bose and Paulina Rubio.

Guerra, credited with popularizing the bachata dance rhythms outside the Dominican Republic, was also up for song of the year and album of the year.

Those who worked on Guerra’s album also picked up the award for best engineered album.

The superstar performed a medley of “Lola” and “La Bomba,” while Blue Man Group added their signature frenetic dance visuals.

Later, Reggaton star Daddy Yankee performed “Ella Me Levanto,” flanked by the scantily clad showgirls of “Folies Bergere,” each wearing colorful feather headpieces.

It was one of the show’s several mash-ups of nominees and Las Vegas Strip staples.

Martin took home the award for long form music video for “MTV Unplugged” and was up for album of the year and male pop vocal album.

Fellow Puerto Rican group Calle 13, which started the evening with four nominations, picked up the trophy for urban music album for their politically charged “Residente o Visitante,” beating out Daddy Yankee, Orishas and Ivy Queen.

“We are super thrilled, nervous, this has been a lot of pressure,” singer Rene Perez said onstage. “To all of Mexico, Colombia, from the heart – to all Latinos: From here, no one will remove us.”

One track, “Pal Norte,” on which the group highlights hardships faced by immigrants trying to enter the U.S. illegally, was up for the urban music song trophy.

Among the other winners, Italian singer Laura Pausini won the trophy in the female pop vocal album category for “Yo Canto,” while Michael Salgado won the Norteno album trophy for “En Vivo.”

Los Horoscopos De Durango picked up the banda album award, while La Quinta Estacion took home the award for pop album by a duo or group with vocal.

“We hope this will be the first of many,” said singer Natalia Jimenez, who also thanked Mexico, where the Spanish band lives. “Que viva Mexico!”

Before the nationalized televised portion of the show, when many of the Latin Recording Academy’s 49 trophies were awarded, Venezuelan vocal group Voz Veis landed two Latin Grammys – becoming the first group from their nation to be honored.

Voz Veis took home the awards for short form music video for “Ven A Mi Casa Esta Navidad,” and 일본 야마토 게임 Latin children’s album for “Como Se Llega A Belen,” a collection of Christmas songs.

“This is an important moment,” group member Santiago Castillo said after receiving the first Grammy.

Backstage, Castillo noted the group’s album had a “magical energy” from the beginning.

“It was done almost entirely a cappella,” he said.

Among the other preshow award winners was Sebastian Krys, who picked up the producer of the year trophy, and Brazilian Caetano Veloso, who won in the Brazilian song category for “Nao Me Arrependo.”

Several acts were up for more than one award, including Spain’s Miguel Bose, Colombian alt-rockers the Aterciopelados and Puerto Rican reggaeton star Daddy Yankee.

Other nominees for album of the year included pop singer Miguel Bose’s “Papito” and balladier Alejandro Sanz’s “El Tren De Los Momentos.”

The show, being held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, marked the first time Las Vegas landed the Latin Grammys. The show was held in New York last year and has previously bounced between Miami and Los Angeles.

Las Vegas’ aura as a party town has made it a popular destination for high-profile award shows in recent years. In May, country music stars converged here for the Academy of Country Music awards. Most recently, it played host to the MTV Music Video awards.

“The city has a special vibe for we, who like going (out) at night. We’re creatures of the night,” frontman Emilio Regueira Perez said. “We’ll get well-deservedly drunk.”