Latin music world honors Brazilian ballad king Carlos

The Latin music world turned out Wednesday to celebrate Roberto Carlos, the Brazilian ballad singer who is one of the region's most successful artists.

The 74-year-old nicknamed the "King of Latin Music" was named Person of the Year at the Latin Grammys, a day before the Spanish- and Portuguese-language music industry's biggest award night.

"I'm very moved. This is without doubt a very special moment in my life," Carlos, who sported an electric-blue sequined tie for the occasion in Las Vegas, told AFP.

"I'm very proud of everything I've achieved," he said, overcome by emotion.

Carlos' career crossed Brazil's borders in the 1970s as he won a following for pop tunes, often ballads about love, that he sung in Spanish, English, French and Italian, along with his native Portuguese.

He has sold more than 120 million records in Latin America, topping The Beatles and Elvis Presley in the region.

Asked his secret at keeping fans for so many years, Carlos said with a sly smile: "I don't know if there is one. And if there is, I have to find it out."

Dozens of artists joined in the celebration, many of them wearing the singer's signature color white in his honor.

Photo Caption: Brazilian singer and composer Roberto Carlos