Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan; known professionally as
Gloria Estefan (born September 1, 1957) is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen Of Latin Pop", she is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those in the United States alone. She has won seven Grammy Awards, and is the most successful
crossoverCrossover is a term applied to musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the record charts which track differing musical tastes, or genres...
performer in Latin music to date.
Early life
Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo was born September 1, 1957 in
HavanaHavana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba, to Jose and Gloria Fajardo. Her maternal grandfather, Leonardo Garcia, immigrated to Cuba from
Pola de SieroPola de Siero is a town in the autonomous community of Asturias on the north coast of the Kingdom of Spain. It is the administrative capital of the municipality of Siero...
,
AsturiasThe Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
, Spain, where he married Gloria's maternal grandmother, originally from
LogroñoLogroño is a city in northern Spain, on the Ebro River. It is the capital of the autonomous community of La Rioja, formerly known as La Rioja Province.The population of Logroño in 2008 was 153,736 and a metropolitan population of nearly 197,000 inhabitants...
, Spain. Prior to the
Cuban RevolutionThe Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
, her father was a Cuban soldier and a bodyguard to Cuban dictator
Fulgencio BatistaFulgencio Batista y Zaldívar was the United States-aligned Cuban President, dictator and military leader who served as the leader of Cuba from 1933 to 1944 and from 1952 to 1959, before being overthrown as a result of the Cuban Revolution....
. The Fajardo family fled to
Lafayette, IndianaLafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
as a result of the Cuban Revolution, eventually settling down in Miami, Florida. Shortly after they moved to the United States, Gloria's father joined the US military and fought in the
Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, also having participated in the failed
Bay of Pigs InvasionThe Bay of Pigs Invasion was an unsuccessful action by a CIA-trained force of Cuban exiles to invade southern Cuba, with support and encouragement from the US government, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. The invasion was launched in April 1961, less than three months...
. Gloria attended St. Michael-Archangel School and
Our Lady of Lourdes AcademyOur Lady of Lourdes Academy is a Roman Catholic, all-girls high school in Miami, Florida founded in 1963.It is run by the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters. Lourdes has a long standing tradition in both academics and athletics.The current principal is Sister Kathryn Donze IHM Lourdes was named one...
in Miami. Her father became ill after returning from Vietnam and Gloria helped her mother, Gloria Fajardo, care for him. Her mother worked hard as a school teacher for the
Dade County Public School systemMiami-Dade County Public Schools is a public school district serving Miami-Dade County, Florida. Founded in 1885, it is the largest school district in Florida and the Southeastern United States, and the fourth largest in the United States, with a student enrollment of 380,006 as of July 5, 2010...
. Gloria Estefan graduated from college in 1979 with a
B.A.A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in psychology, with a minor in French, from the
University of MiamiThe University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
. When she was studying at the university, she worked as an English/Spanish/French translator at
Miami International AirportMiami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
Customs Department and, because of her language abilities, was once approached by the
CIAThe Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
as a possible employee. Estefan was raised Catholic.
Marriage
Gloria became romantically involved with the Miami Sound Machine's band leader,
Emilio EstefanEmilio Estefan, Jr. is a Cuban-American of Lebanese ancestry who is a musician and producer. Estefan's first taste of celebrity came as a member of the Miami Sound Machine, but he is also recognized as the producer of many famous singers. He is the husband of singer Gloria Estefan...
, in 1976. As she later revealed, "he was my first and only boyfriend." She and Emilio married on September 2, 1978. They have a son, Nayib (born September 2, 1980) and a daughter, Emily Marie (born December 5, 1994). The family lives in the
Star IslandStar Island is an island neighborhood of Miami Beach, Florida, United States. In Biscayne Bay, the island is south of the Venetian Islands and just east of Palm and Hibiscus islands.-Background:...
section of
Miami Beach, FloridaMiami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
.
Mid-1970s through the 1980s
Starting in 1977, the Miami Sound Machine,the same band as the Miami Latin Boys, with Gloria Estefan began recording and releasing various albums, 45s, and 12"s on the Audiofon Records label in Miami. The first album from 1977 was entitled Live Again Renacer and was released with two different covers. After several more releases on the Audiofon label as well as the RCA Victor label and Miami Sound Machine's own label MSM Records, the band was signed to Discos CBS International and released several albums, 45s, and 12"s beginning with 1980s self-titled album Miami Sound Machine. Growing in popularity in both the United States and around the world, the group would continue recording and issuing various works for Discos CBS International through 1985. In 1984, Miami Sound Machine released their first Epic/Columbia album,
Eyes of InnocenceEyes of Innocence is the 8th studio album released by the Miami Sound Machine, and their first English language studio album, released in 1984 .-Album history:This release was the first mainstream release by the Miami Sound Machine...
, which contained the dance hit "
Dr. Beat"Dr. Beat" is the first international single released by the American band Miami Sound Machine led by Gloria Estefan on their first English language but eighth studio album overall Eyes Of Innocence. The single was released worldwide in 1984 becoming a top success across Europe where the album...
" as well as the ballad "I Need Your Love". Their more successful follow-up album
Primitive LovePrimitive Love is the 9th studio album released by the Miami Sound Machine, and their second English language studio album. It was released in 1985 .-Album history:...
was released in 1985 launching three Top 10 hits on the
Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
: "
Conga"Conga" is the first single released by the American band Miami Sound Machine led by Gloria Estefan on their second English language album, and ninth overall, Primitive Love.-Song history:...
" (U.S. #10), "
Words Get In The Way"Words Get in the Way" was the third single released by the American band Miami Sound Machine led by Gloria Estefan on their second English language album, and ninth overall, Primitive Love...
" (U.S. #5), and "
Bad Boy"Bad Boy" was the second single released by the American band Miami Sound Machine led by Gloria Estefan on their second English language album, and ninth overall, Primitive Love. The song enjoyed much success following up on the band's mainstream breakthrough single, "Conga".-Song history:The radio...
" (U.S. #8) became follow up hits in the U.S. and around the world. "
Words Get in the Way"Words Get in the Way" was the third single released by the American band Miami Sound Machine led by Gloria Estefan on their second English language album, and ninth overall, Primitive Love...
" reached #1 on the US
Hot Adult Contemporary TracksThe Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
chart, establishing that the group could perform pop ballads as successfully as dance tunes. The song "Hot Summer Nights" was also released that year and was part of the film
Top GunTop Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie...
.
Their next album, 1987's Let It Loose, went multi-platinum, with six million copies sold in the US. It featured the following hits: "
Anything for You"Anything for You" is a popular song and ballad written by Gloria Estefan and sung by Estefan and Miami Sound Machine. The song appeared on their 1987 album, Let It Loose. "Anything for You" became a number-one song in the United States during the year 1988; it was the band's first...
" (#1 Hot 100), "1-2-3" (#3 Hot 100), "
Betcha Say That"Betcha Say That" is a song from 1987 by Gloria Estefan and her former band, the Miami Sound Machine. The song can be found on their 1987 album, Let It Loose....
" (#36 Hot 100), "
Rhythm Is Gonna Get You"Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" is a song written by Enrique Garcia and Gloria Estefan, and released by Gloria Estefan & The Miami Sound Machine in 1987 as the lead single from the album Let it Loose ....
" (#5 Hot 100), and "
Can't Stay Away From You"Can't Stay Away from You" is the title of a 1988 single by singer Gloria Estefan, credited to Estefan and her former band, the Miami Sound Machine. The song was the third single released off their multi-platinum album, Let It Loose...
" (#6 Hot 100). "Can't Stay Away From You", "Anything for You" and "1-2-3" were all #1 Adult Contemporary hits as well.
In 1988, Estefan took top billing and the band's name changed to Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine. Beginning in 1989, the group's name was dropped altogether. Estefan was credited as a solo artist, though the ever-changing line-up of Miami Sound Machine continues as her backing band to this day.
In 1988, after the worldwide chart success of single "
Anything for You"Anything for You" is a popular song and ballad written by Gloria Estefan and sung by Estefan and Miami Sound Machine. The song appeared on their 1987 album, Let It Loose. "Anything for You" became a number-one song in the United States during the year 1988; it was the band's first...
", her Let it Loose album was repackaged as Anything for You. It became the band's first UK #1 album, selling over a million copies. It was the biggest selling album of the year in The Netherlands, staying at #1 for 22 weeks. The album also took top honors in Australia and Canada, launching Estefan to superstar status.
1990: Cuts Both Ways, tour bus accident and surgery
In late 1989, she released her best-selling album to date,
Cuts Both WaysCuts Both Ways is a 1989 album by Gloria Estefan. It was the first studio album credited to Estefan as a solo artist, but is her 11th album overall including her work with the band the Miami Sound Machine...
. The album included the hit singles "
Don't Wanna Lose You"Don't Wanna Lose You" is a song written and recorded by Gloria Estefan. It was released in 1989 as the first single from the album Cuts Both Ways and reached number one in the U.S., where it became her second number-one single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100...
" (a Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit), "
Oye mi Canto (Hear my Voice)"Oye Mi Canto " was the second single by Gloria Estefan from her first album as a solo artist "Cuts Both Ways", released in August 1989 in Europe and the rest of the world in 1990 as the fourth single from the album Cuts Both Ways....
", "Here We Are", "
Cuts Both Ways"Cuts Both Ways" is a single by Gloria Estefan. It was released in 1990 worldwide as the fifth and final single of the album Cuts Both Ways.-Song history:This was the final single released from the album Cuts Both Ways...
" (#1 on the U.S.
Hot Adult Contemporary TracksThe Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
chart) and "
Get on Your Feet"Get On Your Feet" is a single by Gloria Estefan. It was released in 1989 in U.S., Japan and UK and in 1990 in Europe as the second single from the album Cuts Both Ways....
".
While touring in support of
Cuts Both WaysCuts Both Ways is a 1989 album by Gloria Estefan. It was the first studio album credited to Estefan as a solo artist, but is her 11th album overall including her work with the band the Miami Sound Machine...
on March 20, 1990, near
Scranton, PennsylvaniaScranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
, Estefan was critically injured, suffering a fractured spine when a speeding semi-truck crashed into the tour bus she was in during a snowstorm. She was taken to
Community Medical Center's Intensive Care Unit and the next day was flown by
helicopterA helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
to
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where surgeons at the
Hospital for Joint Diseases at
NYU Langone Medical CenterNYU Langone Medical Center is an academic medical center in New York City affiliated with New York University. It was named to the Honor Roll of U.S. News "Best Hospitals" in the nation for 2009-2010. The Medical Center comprises NYU School of Medicine and three hospitals: Tisch Hospital, the Rusk...
permanently implanted two titanium rods to stabilize her vertebral column. Her rehabilitation required almost a year of intensive
physical therapyPhysical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
by Michael Klepper, but she achieved a complete recovery. She returned to an international tour ten months after the accident.
1991–1992: Into The Light and The Greatest Hits
Estefan returned to the charts with a
concept albumIn music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
,
Into the LightInto the Light is a concept album, the second studio solo album released by American singer Gloria Estefan, but is the 14th overall, released in 1991 .-History:...
, in 1991. She performed "
Coming Out of the Dark"Coming Out of the Dark" is a single by American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan. It was released in 1991 worldwide as the leading and first single of the album Into the Light, becoming the singer’s third number one in the U.S.-Song history:...
" for the first time on the
American Music Awards-Conception:The AMAs were created by Dick Clark in 1973 to compete with the Grammys after the move of that year's show to Nashville, Tennessee led to CBS picking up the Grammy telecasts after its first two in 1971 and 1972 were broadcast on ABC...
in January 1991, receiving a standing ovation as she took the stage. "Coming Out of the Dark" reached #1 in the U.S. as a single a few months later. Other popular singles were "
Seal Our Fate"Seal Our Fate" is a single by American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan. It was released in 1991 worldwide as the second single from her third solo album Into the Light.-Song information:...
" and "
Live for Loving You"Live for Loving You" is a single by Cuban American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan. It was released in 1991 worldwide as the fourth and last single from her third solo album Into the Light.-Song history:...
". The album peaked at number five on the Billboard album chart, becoming her highest debut; it also peaked at number two on the British albums chart. Eventually the album went platinum in the UK and double platinum in the US. The Into the Light World Tour covered 100 cities in five countries and was seen by more than 10 million people worldwide.
She followed up Into the Light with her first greatest-hits album,
Gloria Estefan Greatest HitsGloria Estefan Greatest Hits is a 1992 compilation album by the Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan.As well as a collection of her greatest hits, the album also contained four new songs...
. It was released in 1992, and included the U.S. hit ballads "
Always Tomorrow"Always Tomorrow" is a single by American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan. It was released in 1992 worldwide as the leading and first single from her fourth solo album Gloria Estefan Greatest Hits.-Song History:...
" and "
I See Your Smile"I See Your Smile" is a single by American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan. It was released in 1992 in Europe, the UK and America as the third single worldwide, and second in America, from her first compilation album, Gloria Estefan Greatest Hits....
" along with the international hit dance track "Go Away". Also in 1992, Estefan sang backup on fellow Cuban-American singer-songwriter
Jon SecadaJon Secada is a Cuban-American singer and songwriter. Secada was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Hialeah, Florida. He has won two Grammy Awards and sold 20 million albums since his English-language debut album in 1992. His music fuses funk, soul, pop and Latin percussion...
's breakthrough single "
Just Another Day"Just Another Day" is the debut single released by Jon Secada from his 1992 debut album Jon Secada. Written by Jon Secada and Miguel Morejon, the song reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart.. It also peaked at No...
". She spent much of 1992 in Miami, helping relief efforts for victims of
Hurricane AndrewHurricane Andrew was the third Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the United States, after the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 and Hurricane Camille in 1969. Andrew was the first named storm and only major hurricane of the otherwise inactive 1992 Atlantic hurricane season...
.
1993: Mi Tierra and Christmas Through Your Eyes
In 1993, Estefan released the album
Mi TierraMi Tierra is the third studio solo album and first Latin solo album released by American singer Gloria Estefan, but is her 15th overall, released in 1993 .- History :...
, her first Spanish-language album. It peaked at number twenty-seven on the Billboard album chart and number eleven on the British album chart. The singles "Mi Tierra" and the romantic-tropical ballad "
Con Los Años Que Me Quedan"Con los años que me quedan" is a song by Gloria Estefan, released as her second single from her first Spanish album Mi Tierra.-Song history:...
" and "Mi Buen Amor", climbed to number-one on the "Hot Latin Tracks" chart in the United States. The album sold over eight million copies worldwide, went multiplatinum in Spain (15X) and platinum in the United States, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom, Gold in Switzerland and Australia, and won a
Grammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for "Best Tropical Latin Album".
That same year, Estefan released her first Christmas album,
Christmas Through Your Eyes- Musicians :* Gloria Estefan - vocal, background vocals* Rene Toledo - guitar* Warren Luening - trumpet* George Graham - trumpet* Larry Hall - trumpet* Charles Davis - trumpet* James Thatcher - french horn* Kurt Snyder - french horn...
, the first album from Estefan to not be produced by her husband Emilio Estefan Jr. The collection included the singles "This Christmas" and "Silent Night".The album went Platinum in the United States.
Also in 1993, Estefan collaborated with
Frank SinatraFrancis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
on his album
DuetsDuets is an album by American singer Frank Sinatra, released in 1993.Recorded near the end of Sinatra's career, it consists of duets between Sinatra and other guest star singers from various genres; Sinatra personally chose the performers...
with the song "Come Rain or Come Shine".
1994–1995: Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me and Abriendo Puertas
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, a cover album of some of Estefan's favorite songs from the 1960s and 1970s, was released in 1994. "
Turn the Beat AroundIn 1994 , the song was recorded by Gloria Estefan for the soundtrack to the film The Specialist. Released as a single, it became a hit reaching #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is also featured on Estefan's fourth solo album Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me. She also sang the song as her opening...
", the first single and a remake of
Vicki Sue RobinsonVicki Sue Robinson was an American theatre and film actress and singer, closely associated with the disco era of late 1970s pop music; she is most famous for her 1976 hit, "Turn the Beat Around."-Early life and career:...
's 1976 discodeg classic, became another international hit, certified gold in the US. It also was used in the
Sharon StoneSharon Vonne Stone is an American actress, film producer, and former fashion model. She achieved international recognition for her role in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct...
film
The SpecialistThe Specialist is a 1994 American action film from Warner Bros. Pictures. It is directed by Luis Llosa, produced by Jerry Weintraub, and written by Alexandra Seros...
.
1995's Spanish-language album Abriendo Puertas earned Estefan her second Grammy Award for "Best Tropical Latin Album". It spun off two #1 dance hits, "
Abriendo Puertas"Abriendo Puertas" is the first single released by Gloria Estefan on her second Spanish album, Abriendo Puertas.-Song history:...
" and "
Tres Deseos"Tres Deseos" is a song by Gloria Estefan, released as a promotional single from her second Spanish album, Abriendo Puertas.-Song history:...
", and two #1 Latin singles, "Abriendo Puertas" and "
Más Allá"Más Allá" is a song by Gloria Estefan, released as the second single from her second Spanish album Abriendo Puertas.-Song history:...
".
In January 1995, the Miami Sound Machine performed at the
Super Bowl XXIXSuper Bowl XXIX was an American football game played on January 29, 1995 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1994 regular season...
halftime show, with
Tony BennettTony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
,
Patti LaBellePatricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
, and trumpeter
Arturo SandovalArturo Sandoval is a jazz trumpeter and pianist. He was born in Artemisa, in the newest renamed Artemisa Province, Cuba....
, in a program entitled "Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye", to promote the upcoming Disney theme park attraction.
1996–1997: Summer Olympics and Destiny
The platinum-selling album
DestinyDestiny is the seventh studio solo album released by American singer Gloria Estefan, but is the nineteenth of her career overall. It was released in 1996.-Album history:...
, released in 1996, featured "Reach", the official theme of the
1996 Atlanta Summer OlympicsThe 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. Estefan performed in the
Summer Olympics closing ceremonyThe Closing Ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympics took place on August 4, 1996 at the Centennial Olympic Stadium in Atlanta, United States at approximately 8:00 PM EDT...
, in front of an audience of two billion people worldwide, during which she performed the songs "Reach" and "
You'll Be Mine (Party Time)"You'll Be Mine " is a song by Gloria Estefan, released as a the second single from her seventh studio album Destiny, in 1996.-Song history:...
".
On July 18, 1996, Estefan embarked on her Evolution World Tour (her first tour in five years), which covered the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Australia, South Africa and Asia.
1998: Back to dance: gloria!
Estefan rode the wave of the Disco revival in the U.S. during the late 1990s. On June 2, 1998, she released her eighth solo album, (twenty-first overall),
gloria!gloria! is the eighth studio album released by American singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan, released in 1998 by Epic Records .-Album history:gloria! is a groove-oriented, exuberant, Disco influenced album...
. The album is highly influenced by Disco music, blended with
Salsa musicSalsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
percussion and Latin flavour. To promote gloria!, she performed at the famed New York City discoteque
Studio 54Studio 54 was a highly popular discotheque from 1977 until 1991, located at 254 West 54th Street in Manhattan, New York, USA. It was originally the Gallo Opera House, opening in 1927, after which it changed names several times, eventually becoming a CBS radio and television studio. In 1977 it...
.
The album peaked at #23 on the
Billboard 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. The album reached Gold certification. The single "
Oye!"¡Oye!" is a song by Gloria Estefan, released as the second single from her eighth studio album Gloria!.-Song information:"¡Oye!" is the song that bears the most resemblance to a club song on the entire album and probably the one that become most popular with this release. Unfortunately when the...
" peaked at #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play and the Hot Latin Tracks charts. The other major hit single releases were "
Don't Let This Moment End"Don't Let This Moment End" is a song by Gloria Estefan, released as the second single in the United States, the third in the United Kingdom, and her fourth globally, from her eighth album gloria!.-Song history:...
", which peaked at #76 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "
Heaven's What I Feel"Heaven's What I Feel" is a song by Gloria Estefan, released as the first single from her eighth studio album gloria!.-Song history:The song is a ballad with a dance background. It was first offered to Celine Dion to be recorded, but she turned it down...
", which peaked at #27 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1999: "Music of My Heart"
In 1999, Estefan performed a duet with *NSYNC on the single "
Music Of My Heart"Music of My Heart" is a song by Cuban American recording artist Gloria Estefan featuring American pop band 'N Sync. The teen pop song was written by Dianne Warren and produced by David Foster, for the Wes Craven directed movie "Music of the Heart" . It was released as the first single from the...
", which was featured in a film in which she also appeared,
Music of the HeartMusic of the Heart is a 1999 dramatic film. This film was produced by Craven-Maddalena Films and Miramax Films, and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution.The film stars Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn, Gloria Estefan, and Angela Bassett...
. The song reached #2 on the Billboard chart and was nominated for an Academy Award. She also released a Latin hit with the Brazilian group So Pra Contrariar called "
Santo Santo"Santo Santo" is a song by Só Pra Contrariar, released as their first single, taken from the album Juegos de Amor. The tune is an upbeat version of "Oh My Darling Clementine".-Song history:...
", sang with
Luciano Pavarottiright|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...
in Pavarotti and Friends for
GuatemalaGuatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
and
KosovoKosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, and released the benefit album A Rosie Christmas..
She also made a couple of sporting event appearances. The first event was a performance with
Stevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
at
Super Bowl XXXIIISuper Bowl XXXIII was an American football game played on January 31, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion, following the 1998 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Denver Broncos defeated the National Football...
in Miami. She also sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at game three of the
2003 World SeriesThe 2003 World Series marked the 99th baseball World Series event. The Florida Marlins defeated the New York Yankees in six games, 4–2.-Background:...
in Miami between the
Florida MarlinsThe Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
and
New York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
2000s
Greatest Hits Vol. IIGreatest Hits Vol. II is the third English greatest hits album released by American singer Gloria Estefan, but is the fourth compilation and twenty-third album overall, released in 2001.-Album history:...
was released in 2001. It contained hits from 1993 to 2000, as well as three new songs and a remix of her first hit "
Conga"Conga" is the first single released by the American band Miami Sound Machine led by Gloria Estefan on their second English language album, and ninth overall, Primitive Love.-Song history:...
", retitled "
Y-Tu-Conga"Y-Tu-Conga" is a song by Gloria Estefan, which was released as a promotional single by Gloria Estefan from her third compilation album Greatest Hits Vol. II.-Song information:...
". The song "Out of Nowhere" was nominated for a
Grammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in the category for Best Dance Recording; another song from the album, "
You Can't Walk Away from Love"You Can't Walk Away from Love" is a song by Gloria Estefan, released as the first single from her third compilation album, Greatest Hits Vol. II.- Song History :...
", was featured in the film Original Sin.
2003–2004: Unwrapped
In 2003, Estefan released
UnwrappedUnwrapped is the tenth studio solo album released by American singer Gloria Estefan, but is the twenty-fourth album overall, released in 2003.-Album history:...
, her first English-language CD in five years. To promote the CD, she toured Europe, Mexico,
Puerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and the United States. The video for the single "
Hoy"Hoy" was the second single released by Gloria Estefan on her tenth studio album Unwrapped.-Song history:This single become in one of the most successful Spanish singles ever released on her entire career, being a complete success on the charts, especially in Latin America...
", had been filmed in
Machu PicchuMachu Picchu is a pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site located above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for...
, Peru. "Hoy" and "
Tu Fotografía"Tu Fotografía" was the fifth and final single released by Gloria Estefan on her tenth studio album Unwrapped. The single wasn't released for commercial purpose, only were sent promotional CD singles to radio stations at U.S. and Argentina...
" both reached #1 on Billboard's Latin chart, and "
I Wish You"I Wish You" was the third single released by Gloria Estefan on her tenth studio album Unwrapped. The single was not released for commercial purpose, only were sent promotional CD singles to radio stations at U.S., while was released as CD single format only at Europe.-From the Artist:"I Wish You"...
" reached the AC top 20.
On July 28, 2004, at the
Trump Tower buildingTrump Tower is a 58-story mixed-use skyscraper located at 725 Fifth Avenue, at the corner of East 56th Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It was developed by Donald Trump and the Equitable Life Assurance Company, and designed by Der Scutt of Swanke, Hayden Connell...
, in a press conference hosted by
Donald TrumpDonald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
, Estefan announced that her then-upcoming tour would be her final one. The
Live & Re-Wrapped TourThe Live Re-Wrapped is the sixth concert tour by singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan, the tour crossed the most important cities from the United States and initially was slated to cross to the European continent, but was cancelled due unknown reasons....
, was produced by Clear Channel Entertainment. It began in
Hidalgo, TexasHidalgo is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 11,198 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Rio Grande Valley Magic of the Southern Indoor Football League, the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League, and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA...
on July 30, 2004, and played in 26 cities; it featured Estefan's greatest hits, along with new material from Unwrapped. The final concert of the tour took place in Estefan's hometown of Miami on the weekend of October 9 and 10, in front of a sold-out crowd, despite having been delayed for two weeks by a hurricane.
2005: Mash-up hit with Mylo and the tributes
On April 7, 2005, Estefan participated in "
Selena ¡VIVE!The tribute concert was followed up with the release of the album of the performance, released on May 10, 2005. Though it did not include many of the songs performed, it does include many of the highlights.-Track listing:# "Tú Sólo Tú" - Ana Gabriel...
", the tribute concert for
Selena Quintanilla-PérezSelena Quintanilla-Pérez , known simply as Selena, was a Mexican American singer-songwriter. She was named the "top Latin artist of the '90s" and "Best selling Latin artist of the decade" by Billboard for her fourteen top-ten singles in the Top Latin Songs chart, including seven number-one hits...
, the "Queen of Tejano", who was murdered in March 1995 on the brink of her attempt to cross over as an English-language performer. Gloria performed "I Could Fall in Love", one of Selena's posthumously released crossover hits. Also that year, Estefan appeared on the
soundtrackMusic from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives is the soundtrack to the ABC television series, Desperate Housewives. It was released alongside the series in 2005 by Hollywood Records and distributed by Universal Music. As the album title implies, much of the music on the album was inspired by the...
for the television series
Desperate HousewivesDesperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
, singing a song titled "
Young Hearts Run Free"Young Hearts Run Free" is a disco song by American soul singer Candi Staton. Released in 1976 from the album of the same title, it spent a week at number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart. It also peaked at number twenty on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Along with the tracks: "Run To Me"...
".
In late 2005, the club
mash-upA mashup or bootleg is a song or composition created by blending two or more pre-recorded songs, usually by overlaying the vocal track of one song seamlessly over the instrumental track of another...
"Dr. Pressure" was released, which combined
MyloMyles MacInnes , better known by the stage name Mylo, is a Scottish electronic musician and record producer.-Career:...
's Number 19 hit "Drop The Pressure" with the Miami Sound Machine's "Dr. Beat". It reached #3 on the UK singles chart and #1 on the Australian dance chart, providing Estefan with her first top 40 hit and commercial radio airplay since 1996.
2006: Compilations and the UK promo tour
In early 2006, Estefan performed in Los Angeles at a tribute to singer
Dionne WarwickDionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
. Estefan sang "Walk On By", one of Warwick's signature songs.
In October 2006, Sony released a 2-CD compilation
The Essential Gloria EstefanThe Essential Gloria Estefan is the seventh compilation album released by American singer Gloria Estefan, but is the twentieth-eighth album overall, released in 2006...
, featuring her hits from 1984 to 2003, Estefan made several radio and television appearances to promote The Essential Gloria Estefan including a December 9, 2006 appearance on
ITVITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's
The X FactorThe X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
.
Estefan also released two additional similar compilation albums that year for other markets.
The Very Best of Gloria EstefanThe Very Best of Gloria Estefan is the sixth compilation album released by American singer Gloria Estefan, but is the twentieth-seventh album overall, released in 2006.- Track listing :Bonus Track-Chart performance:...
was released in Europe and Mexico, and was similar to The Essential Gloria Estefan, but also included as a bonus track "Dr. Pressure". This compilation was certified GOLD in Ireland.
Oye Mi Canto!: Los Grandes ExitosOye Mi Canto!: Los Grandes Exitos is the fifth compilation album released by American singer Gloria Estefan, but is the twentieth-sixth album overall, released in 2006.-US & Latin American version:-Worldwide version:Spain Bonus DVD...
, a collection of her Spanish-language hits was released in Spain. It included a bonus DVD, which included various music videos and television performances.
2008–2009 highlights
In 2008, Gloria appeared during the
seventh seasonThe seventh season of American Idol, the annual reality show and singing competition, began on January 15, 2008 and concluded on May 21, 2008. Ryan Seacrest continued to host the show with Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson returning as judges...
of
American IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, in the special charity episode "
Idol Gives BackIdol Gives Back is the name of a charitable campaign that spanned two episodes of American Idol during its sixth season. A second Idol Gives Back concert and fundraiser occurred on April 9, 2008, during the seventh season of the show. Idol Gives Back was not held in 2009 due to the ongoing...
", performing her song "
Get on Your Feet"Get On Your Feet" is a single by Gloria Estefan. It was released in 1989 in U.S., Japan and UK and in 1990 in Europe as the second single from the album Cuts Both Ways....
" along with
Sheila E.Sheila Escovedo , known by her stage name Sheila E., is an American drummer and percussionist, perhaps best known for her work with Prince, George Duke and Ringo Starr.-Early life and Prince period:...
. The performance was recorded and was released at the American
iTunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
store; the video of the performance reached the number twenty of the store's Top 100 videos, and the song became the most downloaded. Estefan became the headliner of the new venue of the MGM Grand at
Foxwoods Resort CasinoFoxwoods Resort Casino is a hotel-casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States. Together with the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, it is one of the largest casino complexes in the world in terms of floor space for gaming. The entire resort comprises of space. The casino has over 380 gaming tables...
. Her three-day shows were sold out. She then headed to Canada to perform at the
Casino RamaCasino Rama is a large casino, hotel and entertainment complex located on the reserve land of Chippewas of Rama First Nation, in the town of Rama, Ontario, Canada...
. In August, she started her "
90 Millas World TourThe 90 Millas World Tour is the seventh concert tour by singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan, the tour was performed primarily for her Spanish audience but also for the Dutch, Irish and British who have been her most ardent supporters....
". Gloria played concerts in London, Rotterdam, Belfast and Aruba. Gloria performed several concerts in Spain, specifically Madrid, Barcelona, Zaragoza and Tenerife. Two of these concerts, in
Las VentasThe Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas is a famous bullring in Madrid .Situated in the Guindalera quarter of the district of Salamanca, it was inaugurated on June 17, 1931. It has a seating capacity of 25,000 and is regarded as the home of bullfighting in Spain.This bullring was designed by the architect...
, Spain, and
RotterdamRotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, The Netherlands, were free to the public.
Back in the states, Gloria performed a special concert at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino to raise funds for the Education of South Florida. Gloria was a headliner for
Bette MidlerBette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
's "Annual Hulaween Gala" along with other special guests such as
Kathy GriffinKathleen Mary "Kathy" Griffin is an American actress, stand-up comedienne, television personality, New York Times best-selling author and an LGBT rights advocate. Griffin first gained recognition for appearances on two episodes of Seinfeld, and then for her supporting role on the NBC sitcom...
and a costume contest judged by
Michael KorsMichael Kors is an American fashion designer. He is best known for designing classic American sportswear for women.-Personal life:...
. The event benefited the New York Restoration Project.
During the Thanksgiving season, Gloria Estefan appeared on Rosie O' Donnell's television special Rosie Live! singing a duet with O'Donnell titled "Gonna Eat For Thanksgiving", an alternate version of "Gonna Eat For Christmas" from on O'Donnell's album A Rosie Christmas.
In 2009, Estefan announced plans for her "farewell tour" of Latin America and South America. Estefan has explained that this tour is intended to be her last, so that she can spend more time with her daughter Emily. Estefan also completed a three-night concert series with
Carole KingCarole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
entitled "She's Got a Friend" at the
Foxwoods Resort CasinoFoxwoods Resort Casino is a hotel-casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States. Together with the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, it is one of the largest casino complexes in the world in terms of floor space for gaming. The entire resort comprises of space. The casino has over 380 gaming tables...
.
The tour continued with a concert at
GuadalajaraGuadalajara may refer to:In Mexico:*Guadalajara, Jalisco, the capital of the state of Jalisco and second largest city in Mexico**Guadalajara Metropolitan Area*University of Guadalajara, a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco...
in Mexico, as part of a program designed to improve tourism in Mexico, and a series of appearances at music festivals throughout Europe, including headlining at the Summer Pops Music Festival in
LiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
on July 27, 2009.
The same year, Gloria opened the "In Performance at the White House: Fiesta Latina 2009" with "No Llores". Also, at the end, Estefan together with
Jennifer LopezJennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
,
ThalíaAriadna Thalía Sodi Miranda , known simply by the mononym Thalía , is a Mexican singer and actress. She has sold over 40 million albums worldwide...
,
Marc AnthonyMarc Anthony is an American singer-songwriter, actor and producer. Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time. The two-time Grammy and three-time Latin Grammy–winner has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. He is best known for his Latin salsa numbers and ballads...
,
José FelicianoJosé Feliciano is a Puerto Rican singer, virtuoso guitarist and composer known for many international hits including the 1970 holiday single "Feliz Navidad".-Childhood:...
, performed a rendition of her Spanish-language classic, "
Mi Tierra"Mi Tierra" was the first single released by Gloria Estefan on her first Spanish album Mi Tierra, it was written by Estefano based on inspirations by Estefan.-Song history:...
".
2010s
Gloria began 2010 with a charity single: she and her husband, producer Emilio Estefan, Jr., invited artists to record "
Somos El Mundo"Somos El Mundo 25 Por Haiti" is a 2010 song and charity single recorded by the latin supergroup Artists for Haiti and written by Emilio Estefan and his wife Gloria Estefan...
", a Spanish-language version of
Michael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's song "
We Are The World"We Are the World" is a song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World...
". The song, written by Estefan and approved by
Quincy JonesQuincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
, was recorded, and premiered during El Show de Cristina on March 1, 2010. All of the money from sales of the song went to Haitian relief.
On March 24, 2010, Gloria led a march down Miami's
Calle OchoThe Tamiami Trail is the southernmost of U.S. Highway 41 from State Road 60 in Tampa to U.S. Route 1 in Miami. The road also has the hidden designation of State Road 90....
in support of Cuba's Las Damas de Blanco (
Ladies in WhiteLadies in White is an opposition movement in Cuba consisting of wives and other female relatives of jailed dissidents. The women protest the imprisonments by attending Mass each Sunday wearing white dresses and then silently walking through the streets dressed in white clothing...
). Las Damas de Blanco is an opposition movement in Cuba that consists of wives and other female relatives of jailed dissidents. Since 2003, the women have protested the imprisonments by attending Mass each Sunday wearing white dresses and then silently walking through the streets in white clothing.
Late in the year, Gloria took part in Broadway's "24 Hour Plays" in which actors, writers, and directors collaborate to produce and perform six one-act plays within 24 hours to benefit the Urban Arts Partnership. She performed alongside actors
Elijah WoodElijah Jordan Wood is an American actor. He made his film debut with a minor part in Back to the Future Part II , then landed a succession of larger roles that made him a critically acclaimed child actor by age 9. He is best known for his high-profile role as Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson's...
,
Diane NealDiane Neal is an American actress widely known for her role as Casey Novak on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Biography:...
, and
Alicia WittAlicia Roanne Witt is an American film, stage, television actress and singer.-Early life:Witt was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. Her mother, Diane , is a junior high school reading teacher, and her father, Robert Witt, is a science teacher and photographer. She has a brother, Ian...
in the play I Think You'll Love This One, written by the 20-year-old winner of the Montblanc writers' project, Elizabeth Cruz Cortes. Estefan's performance was praised by critics and by the director of the play.
2011 Miss Little Havana
On April 7, 2011, Estefan made an unannounced appearance at auditions for
The X FactorThe X Factor is an American television music competition to find new singing talent. The show is produced by creator Simon Cowell's company SYCOtv. It premiered on September 21, 2011 on Fox....
in Miami, and gave encouragement to the 7,500 participants gathered outside the Bank United Center for auditions.
In 2011, Estefan was inducted into the
Hollywood BowlThe Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
Hall of Fame along with Grammy and Emmy award winner Harry Connick Jr. Both singers performed at a special concert on June 17, 2011, with
Thomas WilkinsThomas Wilkins was a Welsh cleric and antiquarian, who collected Welsh manuscripts.-Life:His father and his grandfather were both called Thomas Wilkins; all three in turn were rectors of St Mary's Church in Glamorgan. Wilkins was educated at Jesus College, Oxford, matriculating in 1641 and...
as musical conductor. Proceeds from this event went to benefit the
Los Angeles Philharmonic InstituteThe Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute was a summer training program held in Los Angeles, California for conservatory aged orchestral instrumentalists and conductors...
's education programs.
Estefan's new dance-oriented studio album,
Miss Little Havana-Charts:-Release history:-External links:*...
, is scheduled to be released in the United States on September 27, 2011, with the physical CD available exclusively at
TargetTarget Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
. Early on, Estefan had described the album as a project in the vein of her 1998 hit album
gloria!gloria! is the eighth studio album released by American singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan, released in 1998 by Epic Records .-Album history:gloria! is a groove-oriented, exuberant, Disco influenced album...
Collaborating with her on the album were producers
Pharrell WilliamsPharrell Williams , commonly known simply as Pharrell, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, composer, and fashion designer. Williams and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing hip hop and R&B music...
, Motiff, Emilio Estefan, and Drop Dead Beats.
One song from the album, "
Wepa"Wepa" is a Dance-pop song by American singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan and is the lead single of her eleventh studio album, Miss Little Havana. The song was produced by Pharrell Williams and her long-time collaborator and husband, Emilio Estefan Jr....
", premiered on May 31, 2011 at AmericanAirlines Arena in a special music video of the song for the
Miami HeatThe Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
. The Heat video was released on YouTube on June 1. The song went on sale for digital downloading at the iTunes music store on July 24.
In the fall of 2011, Estefan began hosting Gloria Estefan's Latin Beat, a seven-part series for
BBC Radio 2BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
in the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
that explores the history of Latin music.
Film and television appearances
Estefan has appeared in two films,
Music of the HeartMusic of the Heart is a 1999 dramatic film. This film was produced by Craven-Maddalena Films and Miramax Films, and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution.The film stars Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn, Gloria Estefan, and Angela Bassett...
(1999) and
For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval StoryFor Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story is a film about Arturo Sandoval starring Andy García.The biographical drama was produced for the HBO premium cable network and first aired on October 18, 2000...
(2000). Estefan made a cameo appearance with her husband in
Marley & MeMarley & Me is a 2008 American comedy-drama film directed by David Frankel. The screenplay by Scott Frank and Don Roos is based on the memoir of the same name by John Grogan...
in 2008.
Estefan was cast to star as
Connie FrancisConnie Francis is an American pop singer of Italian heritage and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1950s and 1960s. Although her chart success waned in the second half of the 1960s, Francis remained a top concert draw...
, a U.S. pop singer of the 1950s and early 1960s, in Who's Sorry Now?, based on Francis' life. Filming supposedly began in late 2008, according to Parade Magazine (March 23, 2008). Estefan, in an interview with www.allheadlinenews.com, stated the film would be released in 2009. As of December 2009, the film has been dropped as Connie Francis had
irreconcilable differencesThe concept of irreconcilable differences provides a possible ground for divorce in a number of jurisdictions.In Australian family law with no-fault divorce it is the sole ground, adequate proof being that the estranged couple have been separated more than 12 months.In the United States it can be...
with Estefan over the film's writer. Francis wanted to hire writer
Robert L. FreedmanRobert L. Freedman is an American screenwriter, playwright, and lyricist. He is probably best known for his teleplays for Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella and the acclaimed 2001 miniseries Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows, for which he was nominated for Emmy Awards as both writer and...
, who had written the
Emmy AwardAn Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
winning mini-series
Life with Judy Garland: Me and My ShadowsLife with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows is a 2001 television film based on the memoirs of Lorna Luft, the daughter of Garland. The production is notable for its meticulous recreations of her films and concerts, and verisimilitudinous impressions of her by Tammy Blanchard and Judy Davis.The film,...
. Estefan refused to consider him, which according to Francis ended the project collaboration.
Estefan appeared in the
ABCThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television special
ElmopaloozaElmopalooza is a Sesame Street special that aired on ABC on February 20, 1998.-About the show:The show is a musical, featuring performances from guests Jon Stewart, David Alan Grier, Rosie O' Donnell, Gloria Estefan, En Vogue, The Fugees, Kenny Loggins, Shawn Colvin, Jimmy Buffett, and The Mighty...
, which aired February 20, 1998, in which she sang the song "Mambo, I, I, I". In April 2004, Estefan appeared on the
Fox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
's program,
American IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
as a guest mentor for the contestants' Latin week.
Books
Estefan has written two children's books: The Magically Mysterious Adventures of Noelle the Bulldog (2005) and Noelle's Treasure Tale (2006). The latter book spent a week at #3 on the New York Times Bestseller list for children's books.
She also collaborated on a cookbook with her husband entitled Estefan Kitchen, which was published in 2008. It contains 60 traditional Cuban recipes.
Other business ventures
Gloria and Emilio Estefan own a number of business establishments, including seven Cuban-themed restaurants (
Bongos Cuban Café). The restaurants are located in Miami; Miami Beach, Downtown Miami, part of the American Airlines Arena; Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Florida; Walt Disney World's
Downtown DisneyDowntown Disney is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Downtown Disney is open to the public, requires no admission fee, and offers complimentary parking and transportation to all Disney-operated Walt Disney...
in
OrlandoOrlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
; Mexico City; and
Puerto VallartaPuerto Vallarta is a Mexican balneario resort city situated on the Pacific Ocean's Bahía de Banderas.The 2010 census reported Puerto Vallarta's population as 255,725 making it the sixth-largest city in the state of Jalisco...
, Mexico. They also own two hotels: the Costa d'Este in Vero Beach which opened in 2008, and The Cardozo in Miami Beach.
Gloria Estefan was appointed to the board of directors for Univision Communications Inc. in 2007, according to Hispanic Market Weekly. The Estefans' estimated net worth as of 2011 was approximately $700 million, according to an article in People En Espanol magazine.
In June 2009, Gloria Estefan and her husband bought a "very small" ownership stake in the
Miami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Awards
In addition to her seven Grammys, Estefan has received a number of other awards. In May 1993, she received the
Ellis IslandEllis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
Congressional Medal of Honor, which is the highest award that can be given to a naturalized U.S. citizen. She has won the Hispanic Heritage Award, an MTV Video Music Award, two cable television ACE Awards and the 1993 National Music Foundation's Humanitarian of the Year award. The singer is the recipient of the American Music Award for Lifetime Achievement. She also has a star on the
Hollywood Walk of FameThe Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
. Her husband, Emilio, a world-renowned music impresario, received a star adjacent to his wife's on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005.
Estefan holds an
honorary doctoral degreeAn honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
in music from the
University of MiamiThe University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
, awarded in 1993. She was a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Miami. In 2002,
Barry UniversityBarry University is a private, Catholic university, which was founded in 1940 in Miami Shores, Florida, a suburb north of Downtown Miami. It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami....
in Miami bestowed upon her an honorary law degree. Along with her husband, Estefan received an honorary doctoral degree in music from the Berklee College of Music in Boston in 2007. She also delivered the commencement address to the 2007 graduating class.
In 2002, she received the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Medallion of Excellence for Community Service. The singer was
MusicaresThe MusiCares Foundation, Inc., was established in 1989 by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Meant for musicians to have a place to turn, in times of financial, personal, or medical crisis, its primary purpose is to focus the resources and attention of the music industry on human...
Person of the Year in 1994. Gloria also founded the Gloria Estefan Foundation whose goal is to help those with spinal cord injuries.
She has been honored twice by the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 1992, she served as a public member of the United States Delegation to the 47th General Assembly to the
United NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
Estefan received the
Latin Recording Academy Person of the YearThe Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year is an award presented annually by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, the same organization that distributes the Latin Grammy Awards, to commend musicians for their artistic achievement in the Latin music industry and dedication to...
award at the
Latin Grammy AwardsA Latin Grammy Award is an accolade by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. Unlike the regular Grammy Award which primarily honors music produced in the United States, the Latin Grammy honors works produced anywhere around the...
in November 2008 in recognition of her twenty-five year singing career. She is the first female singer to receive this award. She also received a Latin Grammy for "Best Traditional Tropical Album" for
90 Millas90 Millas is the tenth solo studio album by the Cuban-American singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan, and her fourth Spanish language album. It was released on September 17, 2007 by SonyBMG...
, and a Latin Grammy for "Best Tropical Song" for her single, "
Píntame De Colores"Píntame De Colores" was the third single released by Gloria Estefan for her eleventh studio album 90 Millas. This exclusive single was released only at Europe, but later was released at the United States in February 2008....
". This marked the first occasion for Estefan to ever win a Grammy award for a song (either Latin or non-Latin).
On March 12, 2009, Estefan was honored as a
BMIBroadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
Icon at the 16th annual BMI Latin Awards. Her catalog boasts 22 BMI Latin and Pop Awards, along with 11 BMI Million-Air Awards.
In April 2010, Estefan and her husband received a star in the "Walk Of Stars" in Las Vegas for their contribution to music industry. On April 28, 2011, at the Latin Billboard Awards, Estefan was honored with the Billboard Spirit of Hope Award for her philanthropic work.
Albums discography
Studio albums
| Release date |
Title |
| 1984 |
Eyes of Innocence Eyes of Innocence is the 8th studio album released by the Miami Sound Machine, and their first English language studio album, released in 1984 .-Album history:This release was the first mainstream release by the Miami Sound Machine...
|
| 1985 |
Primitive Love Primitive Love is the 9th studio album released by the Miami Sound Machine, and their second English language studio album. It was released in 1985 .-Album history:...
|
| 1987 |
Let It Loose / Anything for You |
| 1989 |
Cuts Both Ways Cuts Both Ways is a 1989 album by Gloria Estefan. It was the first studio album credited to Estefan as a solo artist, but is her 11th album overall including her work with the band the Miami Sound Machine...
|
| 1991 |
Into The Light Into the Light is a concept album, the second studio solo album released by American singer Gloria Estefan, but is the 14th overall, released in 1991 .-History:...
|
| 1993 |
Mi Tierra Mi Tierra is the third studio solo album and first Latin solo album released by American singer Gloria Estefan, but is her 15th overall, released in 1993 .- History :...
|
| 1994 |
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me |
| 1995 |
Abriendo Puertas |
| 1996 |
Destiny Destiny is the seventh studio solo album released by American singer Gloria Estefan, but is the nineteenth of her career overall. It was released in 1996.-Album history:...
|
| 1998 |
gloria! gloria! is the eighth studio album released by American singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan, released in 1998 by Epic Records .-Album history:gloria! is a groove-oriented, exuberant, Disco influenced album...
|
| 2000 |
Alma Caribeña Alma Caribeña is the ninth studio solo album and third Spanish album released by American singer Gloria Estefan, but is the twenty-second overall, released in 2000.-Album history:...
|
| 2003 |
Unwrapped Unwrapped is the tenth studio solo album released by American singer Gloria Estefan, but is the twenty-fourth album overall, released in 2003.-Album history:...
|
| 2007 |
90 Millas 90 Millas is the tenth solo studio album by the Cuban-American singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan, and her fourth Spanish language album. It was released on September 17, 2007 by SonyBMG...
|
| 2011 |
Miss Little Havana -Charts:-Release history:-External links:*...
|
Filmography
| Film |
| Year |
Film |
Role |
Notes |
| 1999 The year 1999 in film involved several noteworthy events and has been called "The Year That Changed Movies". Several significant feature films, including Stanley Kubrick's final film Eyes Wide Shut, Pedro Almodóvar's first Oscar-winning film All About My Mother, science fiction The Matrix, Deep...
|
Music of the Heart Music of the Heart is a 1999 dramatic film. This film was produced by Craven-Maddalena Films and Miramax Films, and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution.The film stars Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn, Gloria Estefan, and Angela Bassett...
|
Isabel Vazquez |
Debut acting performance |
| 2000 The year 2000 in film involved some significant events.The top grosser worldwide was Mission: Impossible II. Domestically in North America, Gladiator won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Actor ....
|
Little Angelita |
Voice Narrator |
Animated Short Film |
| For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story is a film about Arturo Sandoval starring Andy García.The biographical drama was produced for the HBO premium cable network and first aired on October 18, 2000...
|
Emilia |
television film |
| 2003 The year 2003 in film involved some significant events. Releases of sequels took place with movies like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Pokémon Heroes, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,...
|
Famous: The Making of Unwrapped Unwrapped is the tenth studio solo album released by American singer Gloria Estefan, but is the twenty-fourth album overall, released in 2003.-Album history:...
|
Herself |
Album documentary |
| 2007 This is a list of major films released in 2007.-Top grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2007...
|
90 Millas Documentary 90 Millas is the tenth solo studio album by the Cuban-American singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan, and her fourth Spanish language album. It was released on September 17, 2007 by SonyBMG...
|
Herself |
Album documentary |
| 2008 This is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008...
|
Marley & MeMarley & Me is a 2008 American comedy-drama film directed by David Frankel. The screenplay by Scott Frank and Don Roos is based on the memoir of the same name by John Grogan...
|
Herself |
Cameo appearance |
| 2009 The year 2009 saw the release of many films. Seven made the top 50 list of highest-grossing films, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that as of this year, their Best Picture category would consist of ten nominees, rather than five .- Highest-grossing films :Please note...
|
G-Force G-Force is a 2009 spy-fi comedy film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer for Walt Disney Pictures in Disney Digital 3-D. Written by Cormac and Marianne Wibberley, the film is the directorial debut of Hoyt Yeatman, whose earlier work includes contributions in the area of visual effects...
|
Juárez |
Voice in the Latin-American version of the film |
| 2010 The year 2010 saw many new films released worldwide. 2010 saw a dramatic increase and prominence in the use of 3D-technology in filmmaking and film releases after the success of Avatar in the format, with releases such as Alice in Wonderland, Clash of the Titans, Jackass 3D, all animated films and...
|
Recording: The History Of Recorded Music |
Herself |
Documentary |
| Television |
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
| 1986 The year 1986 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1986.For the American network television schedule, please see 1986-87 American network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:*September 6 –...
|
Club Med |
- |
One Episode |
| 1989 For the American TV schedule, see: 1989–90 United States network television schedule.The year 1989 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1989.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
|
Postcard From Miami with Clive James |
Herself |
One Episode |
| 1993 The year 1993 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1993.For the American TV schedule, see: 1993-94 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
|
The Hypnotic World of Paul McKennaPaul McKenna is an English hypnotist and self-improvement author.McKenna has written and produced books and multimedia products, hosted self-improvement television shows and presents seminars in hypnosis, neuro-linguistic programming, weight loss and motivation.-Career:Paul McKenna started in...
|
Herself |
| 2000 The year 2000 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2000.For the American TV schedule, see: 2000-01 United States network television schedule.-Event:-Debuts:-1940s:...
|
FrasierFrasier is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for eleven seasons, from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee in association with Grammnet and Paramount Network Television.A spin-off of Cheers, Frasier stars...
|
Maria |
One Episode: "Something About Dr. Mary" |
| 2005 The year 2005 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2005.For the American TV schedule, see: 2005–06 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-Miniseries:...
|
A Capitol Fourth A Capitol Fourth is a free annual concert performed on the west lawn of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., in celebration of the Independence Day. Broadcast live on PBS and NPR, the concert is viewed and heard by millions across The United States and the world, as well as...
|
Herself |
| 2009 |
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-ListKathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List is a reality show starring Kathy Griffin. The series aired on Bravo. It debuted in August 2005, and was cancelled in November 2010....
|
Herself |
One Episode: "Rosie and Gloria and Griffin... Oh My!" |
| 2010 The following is a list of events that affected American television in 2010, a year marked by the usual debuts, cancellations, and continuations of shows; the launches, closures, or rebrandings of channels; but also significant cable/satellite carriage disputes, as well as...
|
The Marriage Ref The Marriage Ref is a TV reality show and panel game hosted by comedian Tom Papa and produced by Jerry Seinfeld, in which a rotating group of celebrities decides the winners of real-life marital disputes. The show premiered on NBC on Sunday, February 28, 2010 on the final night of the Olympics...
|
Herself |
One Episode |
| 2011 The following is a list of events affecting American television in 2011. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel launches, closures and rebrandings, as well as information about controversies and carriage disputes....
|
The X Factor |
Herself |
Cameo Miami Auditions |
Videography
- Video Exitos (1986) L.D.L Enterprises
- Homecoming Concert (1989) CMV
- Evolution (1990) CMV
- Coming Out Of The Dark (1991) SMV
- Into The Light World Tour (1992) SMV
- Everlasting Gloria! (1995) EMV
- The Evolution Tour Live In Miami (1996) EMV
- Don't Stop (1998) EMV
- Que siga la tradición (2001) EMV
- Live In Atlantis (2002) EMV
- Famous (2003) (Video journal about making-of Unwrapped LP; included in CD package)
- Live & Unwrapped (2004) EMV
Books
- The Magically Mysterious Adventures of Noelle the Bulldog (2005) ISBN 0-06-082623-1.
- Noelle's Treasure Tale: A New Magically Mysterious Adventure (2006)
- Estefan's Kitchen (2008)
See also
External links