United States in the OTI Festival 1988

United States in the
OTI Festival 1988
OTI Festival 1988
Participating broadcasterUnivision
Country United States
Selection processXI Festival Nacional de la Canción OTI–Univision
Selection date28 September 1988
Competing entry
Song"Así somos, así soy"
ArtistMiguel Ángel Mejía
Songwriters
  • América Vázquez
  • Miguel Ángel Mejía
Placement
Final result14th, 0 points
Participation chronology
◄1987 • 1988 • 1989►

The United States was represented at the OTI Festival 1988 with the song "Así somos, así soy", written by América Vázquez and Miguel Ángel Mejía, and performed by Mejía himself. The participating broadcaster representing the country, Univision, selected its entry through a national televised competition. The song, that was performed in position 8, placed fourteenth and last out of 22 competing entries, tied with eight other songs with 0 points.

National stage

Univision held a national televised competition to select its entry for the 17th edition of the OTI Festival. This was the eleventh edition of the Festival Nacional de la Canción OTI–Univision. In the final, each song represented a Univision affiliate, each of which had selected its entry through a local pre-selection.

Central California pre-selection

On Saturday 18 June 1988, KFTV held a televised pre-selection at the Warnors Theatre in Fresno, beginning at 20:00 PDT (03:00+1 UTC). This eleventh edition of the Central California Local OTI Festival featured ten songs. It was presented by Pedro Santos and Prisma, and broadcast on Channel 21 on Sunday 26 June, beginning at 19:00 PDT (02:00+1 UTC).[1]

Songwriters competing included Víctor González, Christina Cardona, Francisco Resendiz Lemos, A. Fernando Figueroa, Coco González, Juan Carlos Urbina, Ramón Vecina, Javier Ramírez Jr., and Raúl Gonzalez. The songs not performed by their songwriter were performed by Dora Luz Orozco, Miguel Hernández, Helen Vecina, Cynthia González, Juan Ángel Salinas, José Matos, Salvador Arteaga, and Viola Rendón.[1]

The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "Aprende a amar", written by Ramón Vecina and Gary Kennedy and performed by Ramón Vecina and Helen Vecina.

  Qualifier
Result of the Local OTI Festival – Central California 1988[a][2]
R/O Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result
"Aprende a amar" Ramón Vecina and Helen Vecina
  • Ramón Vecina
  • Gary Kennedy
 Qualified

Los Angeles pre-selection

On Wednesday 17 August 1988, KMEX-TV held a televised pre-selection at The Hollywood Palace in Los Angeles. This tenth edition of the Los Angeles Local OTI Festival featured ten songs, selected from the 350 received. The show featured guest performances by Armando Manzanero, María Medina, Postdata, Julio Sabala, and the Dolores Terry ballet.[3] It was broadcast on Channel 34 on Sunday 28 August, beginning at 19:00 PDT (02:00+1 UTC).[4]

The jury was composed of Lucho Gatica, Isela Sotelo, Franco, Rudy Regalado, and Alberto Quezada.[5]

The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "La verdad", written and performed by Juan Miguel Enríquez Soto; with "No estoy herido", written and performed by Miguel Enrique (Michael Henry Gaytán), placing second; and "Estoy amando", written and performed by Ana Linda (Linda Arriola), placing third. The festival ended with a reprise of the winning entry.[5]

Result of the Local OTI Festival – Los Angeles 1988[6]
R/O Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result
"Quién te quiere más"
  • Orlando Castro
  • Toti Fuentes
 N/a
"Caprichosa e insaciable" Janelly Javier "El Gato Santos" N/a
"Unidos por amor" Juan Loren Zerimar Juan Loren Zerimar N/a
"Estoy amando" Ana Linda Linda Arriola 3
"Te creí olvidado" Sara Triana Daniel Indart N/a
"Cuchillito de palo" Pedro Sergio Perea Mario Humberto Álvarez N/a
"Todo en nada" Luis Durán N/a
"Me acordé de ti" José Rubén Landaverde "Randú" N/a
"No estoy herido" Miguel Enrique Michael Henry Gaytán 2
"La verdad" Juan Miguel Juan Miguel Enríquez Soto Qualified

El Paso pre-selection

On Saturday 27 August 1988, KINT-TV held a televised pre-selection at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center in El Paso, beginning at 19:00 CDT (00:00+1 UTC).[7] This fourth edition of the El Paso Local OTI Festival featured ten songs, selected from the 47 received.[8] It was broadcast on Channel 26 on Saturday 3 September, beginning at 21:00 CDT (02:00+1 UTC).[9] The show featured a guest performance by Carlos Lico.

The jury was composed of Tino Contreras, Beto Valtierra, Rafael Mendoza, Verónica Sosa-Nájera, and Malena Cano.

The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "Alegría", written by Juan Solares and performed by Samuel Delgado.

Result of the Local OTI Festival – El Paso 1988[10]
R/O Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result
"Alegría" Samuel Delgado Juan Solares Qualified
"Amo a los dos igual" César Alejandro César Alejandro
"Amor en silencio" Ki Eugene Ki Eugene
"Dos bocas" Nelly Fierro Ben Adame Novella
"Eslabón de amor" Daniel Olaizola Rudy Torres
"La vida es así" Otilia Chávez Salvador Chávez
"Mi luz" Patty Duncan Luis Hernández
"Siempre es tiempo para dar nuestro amor" Dora Reyes Mario Betancourt
"Simplemente te quiero" Sol Noriega Sol Noriega
"Tan solo jamás" Leonardo A. Cárdenas Leonardo A. Cárdenas

Tampa pre-selection

On Thursday 1 September 1988, WBHS held a televised pre-selection in Miami. This was the fifth edition of the Tampa Local OTI Festival. It was broadcast on Channel 61.[11]

The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "Dale gracias al amor", written by Dinorah Rivas, and performed by Esther María Tellado.[12]

Result of the Local OTI Festival – Tampa 1988[a][13]
R/O Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result
"Dale gracias al amor" Esther María Tellado Dinorah Rivas Qualified

Miami pre-selection

WLTV held a televised pre-selection in Miami. It was broadcast on Channel 23.[14]

The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "Así somos, así soy", written by América Vázquez and Miguel Ángel Mejía, and performed by Mejía himself.[14]

Result of the Local OTI Festival – Miami 1988[a][15]
R/O Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result
"Así somos, así soy" Miguel Ángel Mejía
  • América Vázquez
  • Miguel Ángel Mejía
 Qualified

Washington D.C. pre-selection

W14AA held a televised pre-selection in Washington D.C., and broadcast on Channel 14.

The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "Tiempo de sembrar", written and performed by María Isolina.

Result of the Local OTI Festival – Washington D.C. 1988[a][16]
R/O Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result
"Tiempo de sembrar" María Isolina María Isolina Qualified

Houston pre-selection

KXLN-TV held a televised pre-selection in Houston. This was the first edition of the Houston Local OTI Festival. It was broadcast on Channel 45.

The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "Homenaje", written by Víctor Manuel Moreno and performed by José Humberto Marín.

Result of the Local OTI Festival – Houston 1988[a][17]
R/O Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result
"Homenaje" José Humberto Marín Víctor Manuel Moreno Qualified

San Francisco pre-selection

KDTV held an internal pre-selection. The station filmed a preview video for each of the shortlisted songs, with the singers lip-syncing to the studio version of the songs. The songs, the preview videos, and which had received the most votes, were revealed in a special program, broadcast on Channel 14.

The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "Ojos brujos", written by Cyarmine Benítez and performed by Ana Deisi.

Result of the Local OTI pre-selection – San Francisco 1988[18]
R/O Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result
7 "Yo sé mi verdad" Alberto Cardielli Alberto Cardielli
"Ojos brujos" Ana Deisi Cyarmine Benítez Qualified

Final

The final was held on Wednesday 28 September 1988 at the Fontainebleau Hilton Hotel in Miami Beach, featuring thirteen songs. It was presented by Lucy Pereda and Antonio Vodanovic, and broadcast live on all Univision affiliates. The show featured guest performances by Willy Chirino, Paloma San Basilio, Julio Sabala, Ángela Carrasco, and Manuel Mijares.[19]

The jury was composed of: Luca Bentivoglio, Paul Rodríguez, Lupita Ferrer, Lissette, Jorge Martínez, Lucerito, Arnaldo André, Fernando Carrillo, Gigi Zanchetta, Gabriel Traversari, Manuel Mijares, Ángela Carrasco, Julio Sabala, Braulio, Cristina Saralegui, Rudy Pérez, and Don Francisco as chairperson.[19]

The winner was "Así somos, así soy" representing WLTV–Miami, written by América Vázquez and Miguel Ángel Mejía, and performed by Mejía himself; with "Culpable yo" representing WSNS-TV–Chicago, written by Juan Carlos Felipe and performed by Roberto Sánchez, placing second; and "Tiempo de sembrar" representing W14AA–Washington D.C., written and performed by María Isolina, placing third. In addition, Miguel Ángel Mejía received the Best Performer Award, and Héctor Garrido received the Best Musical Arrangement Award for "Culpable yo".[19]

  Winner
Result of the final of the XI Festival Nacional de la Canción OTI–Univision[20][21]
R/O Song Artist Songwriter(s) Affiliate Result
2 "La verdad" Juan Miguel Juan Miguel Enríquez Soto KMEX-TV–Los Angeles N/a
"Así somos, así soy" Miguel Ángel Mejía
  • América Vázquez
  • Miguel Ángel Mejía
 WLTV–Miami 1
"Culpable yo" Roberto Sánchez Juan Carlos Felipe WSNS-TV–Chicago 2
"Dale gracias al amor" Esther María Tellado Dinorah Rivas WBHS–Tampa N/a
"Tiempo de sembrar" María Isolina María Isolina W14AA–Washington D.C. 3
"Aprende a amar" Ramón Vecina and Helen Vecina
  • Ramón Vecina
  • Gary Kennedy
 KFTV–Fresno N/a
"Alegría" Samuel Delgado Juan Solares KINT-TV–El Paso N/a
"Homenaje" José Humberto Marín Víctor Manuel Moreno KXLN-TV–Houston N/a
"Ojos brujos" Ana Deisi Cyarmine Benítez KDTV–San Francisco N/a
"Camino viejo" Jaime Jacobo Torres Jaime Jacobo Torres WXTV–New York N/a
"Historia sin final" Jorge Montana Jorge Montana KTVW-TV–Phoenix N/a
"Nací para cantar" Laura Canales Efraín Sánchez KWEX-TV–San Antonio N/a
"Mi voz y mi guitarra" Gustavo López Gustavo López W66BV–Detroit N/a

At the OTI Festival

On 19 November 1988, the OTI Festival was held at the Teatro Nacional Cervantes in Buenos Aires, Argentina, hosted by Argentina Televisora Color (ATC), and broadcast live throughout Ibero-America. Miguel Ángel Mejía performed "Así somos, así soy" in position 8, with Rodolfo Martínez conducting the event's orchestra, and placing fourteenth and last out of 22 competing entries, with 0 points tied with the songs from Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, the Netherlands Antilles, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.[22]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Incomplete list of the competing entries.

References

  1. ^ a b "Hispanic musicians vie". Hanford Sentinel. Hanford, United States. 16 June 1988. p. 2-B – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  2. ^ XI Festival OTI California Central 1988 (Television programme) (in Spanish). Fresno, United States: KFTV. 18 June 1988.
  3. ^ "La OTI L.A. 88". Informador del Valle (in Spanish). 1 December 1988. p. 5 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  4. ^ "TV guide". The San Bernardino Sun. 28 August 1988. p. 16 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  5. ^ a b Rodríguez, Jorge Luis (19 August 1988). "Los ganadores del OTI". La Opinión (in Spanish). Los Angeles, United States. pp. 3rd-1, 2 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ X Festival OTI Los Ángeles 1988 (Television programme) (in Spanish). Los Angeles, United States: KMEX-TV. 17 August 1988.
  7. ^ Silva, Guadalupe (12 August 1988). "Popular balladeer headlines OTI contest". El Paso Times. El Paso, United States. p. El Tiempo 14. Retrieved 24 January 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "10 are finalists in song festival". El Paso Herald-Post. El Paso, United States. 19 August 1988. p. Accent 4. Retrieved 24 January 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Television". El Paso Times. El Paso, United States. 12 August 1988. p. El Tiempo 14. Retrieved 24 January 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ IV Festival OTI El Paso 1988 (Television programme) (in Spanish). El Paso, United States: KINT-TV. 27 August 1988.
  11. ^ "El canal 61 le invita a participar en Festival de la Canción OTI 1988". La Gaceta (in Spanish). Tampa, United States. 12 August 1988. p. 2 – via Florida Digital Newspaper Library.
  12. ^ "Inscribirse para concurso de la OTI". La Gaceta (in Spanish). Tampa, United States. 30 June 1989. p. 2 – via Florida Digital Newspaper Library.
  13. ^ V Festival OTI Tampa 1988 (Television programme) (in Spanish). Miami, United States: WBHS. 1 September 1988.
  14. ^ a b "El Festival Internacional OTI de la canción en Buenos Aires". La Gaceta (in Spanish). Tampa, United States. 11 November 1988. p. 1 – via Florida Digital Newspaper Library.
  15. ^ Festival OTI Miami 1988 (Television programme) (in Spanish). Miami, United States: WLTV. 1988.
  16. ^ Festival OTI Washington D.C. 1988 (Television programme) (in Spanish). Washington D.C., United States: W14AA. 1988.
  17. ^ I Festival OTI Houston 1988 (Television programme) (in Spanish). Houston, United States: KXLN-TV. 1988.
  18. ^ OTI de San Francisco 1988 (Television programme) (in Spanish). San Francisco, United States: KDTV. 1988.
  19. ^ a b c "En el Festival Nacional de la OTI de 1988 en Miami Beach". La Gaceta (in Spanish). Tampa, United States. 7 October 1988. p. 3 – via Florida Digital Newspaper Library.
  20. ^ Final del XI Festival Nacional de la Canción OTI–Univision 1988 (Television programme) (in Spanish). Miami Beach, United States: Univision. 28 September 1988.
  21. ^ López, Samuel E. (28 September 1988). "Esta noche es el Festival OTI Nacional". La Opinión (in Spanish). Los Angeles, United States. p. 2nd-1 – via Google Books.
  22. ^ XVII Festival de la canción OTI 1988 (Television programme) (in Spanish). Buenos Aires, Argentina: Argentina Televisora Color. 19 November 1988.
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