The “Queen of Latin Pop” Gloria Estefan celebrates 67 today
Born in Havana, Cuba in 1957, Gloria Estefan has sold over 100 million records worldwide and won seven Grammy Awards throughout an extraordinary career that helped bridge Latin and mainstream music, earning her international acclaim
The “Queen of Latin Pop” Gloria Estefan celebrates 67 today
The trailblazing singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman Gloria Estefan, known as the “Queen of Latin Pop,” was born Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García on September 1, 1957, in Havana, Cuba. Gloria Estefan’s early life was marked by her family’s flight from Cuba following the Cuban Revolution. Her father, a bodyguard for the wife of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista, moved the family to Miami, Florida, in 1960 when Gloria was just a toddler. Growing up in Miami, Estefan was immersed in both Cuban and American cultures, which greatly influenced her musical style.
In the mid-1970s, while studying psychology at the University of Miami, Estefan met Emilio Estefan, who would become her husband and the leader of the Miami Latin Boys, a band in which she soon became the lead singer. The band was renamed Miami Sound Machine, and with Gloria’s powerful voice and charismatic presence, they quickly gained popularity in the Latin music scene.
Miami Sound Machine’s breakthrough came in the mid-1980s with a series of English-language hits that brought Latin rhythms to mainstream pop audiences. Songs like “Conga” (1985), “Words Get in the Way” (1986), and “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” (1987) became global hits, showcasing Estefan’s unique ability to blend Latin sounds with pop music.
In 1989, Gloria Estefan released her first solo album, “Cuts Both Ways,” which included the hit single “Don’t Wanna Lose You.” The album was a massive success, solidifying her status as a solo artist and leading to a series of hit albums throughout the 1990s, including “Into the Light” (1991) and “Mi Tierra” (1993), the latter of which was a tribute to her Cuban heritage and won the Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album.
In 1990, Estefan faced a life-changing event when she was seriously injured in a bus accident while on tour. After undergoing extensive surgery and physical therapy, she made a remarkable recovery and returned to the stage, inspiring millions with her resilience. This experience deeply influenced her music, leading to more introspective and inspirational themes in her work.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Estefan continued to release music and expand her career into other areas, including acting and writing. She starred in the Broadway musical “On Your Feet!,” which was based on her life and music, and she also co-wrote several children’s books.
Gloria Estefan married Emilio Estefan in 1978, and together they have two children, Nayib and Emily. The Estefans are also successful business partners, owning several enterprises, including restaurants and hotels in Miami. Their marriage is often highlighted as one of the most enduring and successful partnerships in the entertainment industry.
In addition to her music and business ventures, Estefan is an active philanthropist, supporting various causes, particularly those related to children’s health, education, and disaster relief and she has received numerous awards for her humanitarian efforts.
As a pioneering artist who brought Latin music into the global spotlight, she has sold over 100 million records worldwide and won seven Grammy Awards. Today she celebrates 67.
Look back at the 1989 music video for one of Gloria Estefan’s biggest hits worldwide “Don’t Wanna Lose You”
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