The United States was represented at the OTI Festival 1980 with the song "", written and performed by Rammiro Velasco. The participating broadcaster representing the country, the Spanish International Network (SIN), selected its entry through a national televised competition. The song, that was performed in position 9, placed thirteenth with 11 points, out of 23 competing entries.
National stage The Spanish International Network (SIN) held a national televised competition to select its entry for the 9th edition of the OTI Festival. This was the third edition of the . In the final, each song represented a SIN affiliate, each of which had selected its entry through a local pre-selection.
Los Angeles pre-selection On Sunday 21 September 1980, KMEX-TV held a televised pre-selection at its studios in Los Angeles, beginning at 21:30 PDT (04:30+1 UTC). This second edition of the Los Angeles Local OTI Festival featured ten songs. It was broadcast live on Channel 34.
The jury was composed of Laurindo Almeida, Mario Alberto Milar, Rosemary Manjarez, and Pepe Rolón as chairperson.
The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written by Steve Rawitz and performed by .
+ Result of the Local OTI Festival – Los Angeles 1980 Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result 1 "" Ricardo Rosendo Fernández Ricardo Rosendo Fernández 2 "" Ernesto Peraza Sánchez Ernesto Peraza Sánchez 3 "" Juan Guillermo Aguirre "Santiago" Juan Guillermo Aguirre "Santiago" 4 "" Fredy Tovar Luis Muñoz 5 "" Memo de Anda Memo de Anda 6 "" Enrique Roberto Rivas "Bobby" Enrique Roberto Rivas "Bobby" 7 "" Kissy Roberto Stuart 8 "" Lorgio Coimbra Lorgio Coimbra 9 "" Juan de la Cruz Arturo de la Parra 10 "" Steve Rawitz
Central California pre-selection On Sunday 21 September 1980, KFTV also held a televised pre-selection at the KMEX-TV studios in Los Angeles. This third edition of the Central California Local OTI Festival featured three songs. It was held on the same show as the Los Angeles pre-selection, and used the same jury. It was broadcast live on Channel 21.
The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written by Miguel Mendoza and performed by Martha del Mar.
+ Result of the Local OTI Festival – Central California 1980 Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result 1 "" Armando Aranda Armando Aranda 2 "" Martha del Mar Miguel Mendoza 3 "" Jesús Méndez José Jacinto
New York pre-selection WXTV held a pre-selection. This was the second edition of the New York Local OTI Festival.
The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written and performed by Carmen Iraida Colón; with "", written by Vilma Planas and performed by Aldo Matta, placing second; and "", written by Roberto Lozano and performed by Georgia Gálvez, placing third.
+ Result of the Local OTI Festival – New York 1980 Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result "" Carmen Iraida Colón Carmen Iraida Colón "" Aldo Matta Vilma Planas 2 "" Georgia Gálvez Roberto Lozano 3
San Francisco pre-selection KDTV held a pre-selection. The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written by Jesús Estrada and performed by Thelma Aragón.
+ Result of the Local OTI Festival – San Francisco 1980 Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result "" Thelma Aragón Jesús Estrada
Northern California pre-selection KLOC-TV held a pre-selection. The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written by Rodolfo Flores and performed by Brenda Thomas.
+ Result of the Local OTI Festival – Northern California 1980 Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result "" Brenda Thomas Rodolfo Flores
Chicago pre-selection WCIU-TV held a pre-selection. The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written and performed by Fernando "Palomo" Abarca.
+ Result of the Local OTI Festival – Chicago 1980 Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result "" Fernando "Palomo" Abarca Fernando "Palomo" Abarca
Miami pre-selection WLTV held a pre-selection. The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written and performed by Rammiro Velasco.
+ Result of the Local OTI Festival – Miami 1980 Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result "" Rammiro Velasco Rammiro Velasco
Final The final was held on Saturday 11 October 1980 in Miami, featuring ten songs. It was broadcast live on all SIN affiliates. The winner was "" representing WLTV–Miami, written and performed by Rammiro Velasco.
+ Result of the final of the Song Artist Affiliate Result 1 "" 2 "" KWEX-TV–San Antonio 3 "" Fernando "Palomo" Abarca WCIU-TV–Chicago 4 "" Carmen Iraida Colón WXTV–New York 5 "" 6 "" Thelma Aragón KDTV–San Francisco 7 "" KMEX-TV–Los Angeles 8 "" Rammiro Velasco WLTV–Miami 1 9 "" Martha del Mar KFTV–Fresno 10 "" Brenda Thomas KLOC-TV–Sacramento
At the OTI Festival On 15 November 1980, the OTI Festival was held at the Martín Coronado hall of the in Buenos Aires, Argentina, hosted by (ATC), and broadcast live throughout Ibero-America. Rammiro Velasco performed "" in position 9, with Tony Ramírez conducting the event's orchestra, and placing thirteenth with 11 points, out of 23 competing entries.
Voting Each participating broadcaster assembled a jury who awarded 5–1 points to their five favourite songs in order of preference.
+ Points awarded to the United States Score Country 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points Spain 1 point Peru
+ Points awarded by the United States Score Country 5 points Guatemala 4 points Spain 3 points Puerto Rico 2 points Dominican Republic 1 point Mexico
Notes
References