Gloria Estefan


Singer

About

Also Known As
Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García, Gloria Fajardo
Birth Place
Havana, CU
Born
September 01, 1957

Biography

Latin superstar Gloria Estefan first came to fame as the frontwoman of Miami Sound Machine in the '70s. Born Gloria Fajardo in Havana, she came with her family to Miami as a child during the Cuban Revolution, and became a US citizen in 1974.  She studied psychology at the University of Miami and while still a student, she joined a dance band called the Miami Spanish Boys, led by keyboard...

Family & Companions

Emilio Estefan
Husband
Married in 1978.

Biography

Latin superstar Gloria Estefan first came to fame as the frontwoman of Miami Sound Machine in the '70s. Born Gloria Fajardo in Havana, she came with her family to Miami as a child during the Cuban Revolution, and became a US citizen in 1974.  She studied psychology at the University of Miami and while still a student, she joined a dance band called the Miami Spanish Boys, led by keyboardist Emilio Estefan. The group became Miami Sound Machine and the pair were married soon after. Initially big with Spanish-speaking audiences, the group's mix of disco and Latin pop didn't cross over until they began making English-language albums in the early '80s.  "Dr. Beat" in 1984 was their first international dance hit, though it was easily topped by the next two albums, Eyes of Innocence and Let it Loose , which went multi-platinum and produced eight hit singles between them-among them were "Conga," which would become Estefan's signature dance song, and "I Need Your Love," the first of her many ballad hits. By now she had top billing in the group, and 1989's Cuts Both Ways, though largely made with the same group, was released as a solo album. It produced another five singles including a smash ballad, "Don't Wanna Lose You." Soon after its release, Estefan met with President Bush on March 20, 1990 to discuss antidrug efforts. Leaving that meeting, her tour bus was struck by a van in Scranton, PA and she was critically injured with a fractured spine. Against the odds she made a full recovery within a year, and had another success with Into the Light, a concept album about overcoming adversity. Another career peak would come with the 1996 album Destiny, which coincided with a commercial resurgence of Latin music. Among its hits was "Reach," which became the theme of that year's Summer Olympics. She carried her career into other media, making her movie debut in the Wes Craven film "Music of the Heart" (1999). During 2010 she and Emilio Estefan spearheaded an all-star, Spanish-language version of the Michael Jackson charity song "We Are the World" for Haitian relief. A jukebox musical based on the Estefans' life story, On Your Feet! , opened on Broadway in 2015 and toured internationally. Gloria Estefan was featured at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2017.

Filmography

 

Cast (Feature Film)

Celia the Queen (2008)
Herself
For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story (2000)
Music of the Heart (1999)
Cachao: Like His Rhythm There Is No Other (1993)
Herself
The American Music Awards 20th Anniversary Special (1993)

Music (Feature Film)

Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019)
Song Performer
Rough Night (2017)
Song Performer
Ride Along 2 (2016)
Song Performer
Beyond the Lights (2014)
Song
Think Like a Man (2012)
Song Performer
Poseidon (2006)
Song
Original Sin (2001)
Song
Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
Song Performer
Analyze This (1999)
Song Performer
Music of the Heart (1999)
Song Performer
Holy Man (1998)
Song
Holy Man (1998)
Song Performer
Dance With Me (1998)
Song Performer ("Tres Deseos (Three Wishes)" "12 Remix")
Fools Rush In (1997)
Song Performer
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Song
Jimmy Hollywood (1994)
Song Performer
Made In America (1993)
Song
Made In America (1993)
Song Performer
Triumph Over Disaster: The Hurricane Andrew Story (1993)
Song
Salsa (1988)
Song Performer
Stakeout (1987)
Song Performer
Stakeout (1987)
Song
Cobra (1986)
Song ("Suave")

Misc. Crew (Feature Film)

Cachao: Like His Rhythm There Is No Other (1993)
Other

Cast (Special)

American Idol: The Phenomenon (2004)
Interviewee
Miss Universe 2004 Pageant (2004)
VH1 Divas (2004)
The 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Concert (2003)
Performer
The 3rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards (2002)
2002 Olympic Winter Games (2002)
Gloria and Emilio Estefan: Made for Each Other (2001)
Andy Garcia: Latin Rhythms & America Dreams (2001)
Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration (2001)
The 43rd Annual Grammy Awards (2001)
Presenter
Tito Puente: The King of Latin Music (2001)
25 Sexiest Artists (2000)
Interviewee
Greatest TV Moments: Sesame Street Music A-Z (2000)
Gloria Estefan, Caribbean Soul: The Atlantis Concert (2000)
72nd Annual Academy Awards Presentation (2000)
Performer
Grammy Countdown (2000)
The 27th Annual American Music Awards (2000)
Performer
The 42nd Annual Grammy Awards (2000)
Presenter
The 1st Annual Latin Grammy Awards (2000)
Host
Havana: Portrait of Yesteryear (1999)
Narration
Pavarotti & Friends 99 (1999)
A Rosie Christmas (1999)
1999 Grammy Awards (1999)
Presenter
The American Red Cross Holiday Music Spectacular (1999)
Wild on South Beach (1999)
And So This Is Christmas (1999)
Celine Dion: All the Way... A Decade of Song (1999)
The Americanos Concert (1999)
The Concert of the Century For VH1 Save the Music (1999)
The 1999 ALMA Awards (1999)
The 1999 Teen Choice Awards (1999)
Performer
Disney's Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra in Concert (1999)
Celine, Aretha, Gloria, Shania and Mariah: Divas Live (1998)
The 1998 World Music Awards (1998)
Host
Elmopalooza (1998)
Women of the Net (1998)
The 40th Annual Grammy Awards (1998)
Presenter
Quincy Jones -- The First 50 Years (1998)
Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope (1998)
Gloria Estefan Live By Request (1998)
The 1997 World Music Awards (1997)
Performer
The 1997 Hispanic Heritage Awards (1997)
Performer
Walt Disney World's 25th Anniversary Party (1997)
53rd Presidential Inaugural Gala (1997)
All-Star Moms (1997)
Independence Day Concert (1996)
Sounds of Summer Preview '96 (1996)
Intimate Portrait: Gloria Estefan (1996)
1996 Grammy Awards (1996)
Performer
Ladies' Home Journal's Most Fascinating Women of '96 (1996)
Performer
The 68th Annual Academy Awards (1996)
Performer
Gloria Estefan: The Evolution Tour Live in Miami (1996)
Latin Nights: An All-Star Celebration (1995)
1995 NCLR Bravo Awards (1995)
Performer
LIFEbeat Benefit Concert -- The Beat Goes on 2 (1995)
Aretha Franklin: Going Home (1995)
The VIDA Awards (1995)
Performer
Christmas in Washington 1995 (1995)
Jim Thorpe Pro Sports Awards (1994)
Performer
The 36th Annual Grammy Awards (1994)
Performer
Sinatra Duets (1994)
Will You Marry Me? (1994)
In a New Light '94 (1994)
The 1994 World Music Awards (1994)
Performer
American Bandstand's No. 1 Hits (1994)
Spring Break Rave (1993)
The Chris Evert Special (1993)
The 35th Annual Grammy Awards (1993)
Presenter
Disney's Countdown to Kid's Day (1993)
The American Music Awards (1993)
Host
1991 Grammy Awards (1993)
Performer
Aretha Franklin: Duets (1993)
Danny Kaye's International Children's Awards For UNICEF (1992)
Performer
Child of Mine: Songs For Our Children (1992)
In a New Light (1992)
Gloria Estefan: Going Home (1992)
The Grand Opening of Euro Disney (1992)
American Bandstand 40th Anniversary Special (1992)
Hurricane Relief (1992)
This Island Earth (1992)
The American Music Awards (1991)
Performer
Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music, Uh-Huh! (1991)
The American Music Awards (1990)
Host
MDA Jerry Lewis Telethon (1990)
Routes of Rhythm With Harry Belafonte (1990)
The 31st Annual Grammy Awards (1989)
Performer
The 30th Annual Grammy Awards (1988)
Performer
The American Music Awards (1988)
Performer
ABC Presents a Royal Gala (1988)
Sid & Marty Krofft's Redeye Express (1988)
Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine (1988)
The 60th Annual Academy Awards Presentation (1988)
Performer
The American Music Awards (1987)
Performer

Music (Special)

The 4th Annual Latin Grammy Awards (2003)
Song Performer
Christmas in Rockefeller Center (2003)
Song Performer ("Your Picture")
2002 Olympic Winter Games (2002)
Song Performer
72nd Annual Academy Awards Presentation (2000)
Song Performer
Gloria Estefan, Caribbean Soul: The Atlantis Concert (2000)
Song Performer
The 1st Annual Latin Grammy Awards (2000)
Song Performer
And So This Is Christmas (1999)
Song Performer ("Love On Layaway")
Disney's Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra in Concert (1999)
Song Performer
A Rosie Christmas (1999)
Song Performer
Celine Dion: All the Way... A Decade of Song (1999)
Song Performer
The 1999 Teen Choice Awards (1999)
Song Performer
Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope (1998)
Song Performer
Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope (1998)
Song
The 1998 World Music Awards (1998)
Song Performer
Gloria Estefan Live By Request (1998)
Song Performer
Quincy Jones -- The First 50 Years (1998)
Song Performer
Celine, Aretha, Gloria, Shania and Mariah: Divas Live (1998)
Song Performer
53rd Presidential Inaugural Gala (1997)
Song Performer
The 1997 World Music Awards (1997)
Song Performer
Walt Disney World's 25th Anniversary Party (1997)
Song Performer ("Remember The Magic")
The 68th Annual Academy Awards (1996)
Song Performer
Independence Day Concert (1996)
Song Performer ("Turn The Beat Around")
Gloria Estefan: The Evolution Tour Live in Miami (1996)
Song Performer ("Conga" "Live For Loving You" "Get On Your Feet" "Anything For You" "Don'T Wanna Lose You" "Destiny" "Here We Are" "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" "Oye Mi Canto" "Steal Your Heart" "Along Came You (A Song For Emily)" "Mi Tierra" "Con Los Aos" "Montuno" "Tradicion" "Everlasting Love" "Cuts Both Ways" "I See Your Smile" "Words Get In The Way" "Can'T Stay Away From You" "Always Tomorrow" "Coming Out Of The Dark" "Abriendo Puertas" "You'Ll Be Mine (Party Time)" "Turn The Beat Around" "Higher" "Tres Deseos" "Reach")
LIFEbeat Benefit Concert -- The Beat Goes on 2 (1995)
Song Performer
Singing Positive (1995)
Song Performer
Singing Positive (1995)
Song
Aretha Franklin: Going Home (1995)
Song Performer
Sinatra Duets (1994)
Song Performer
In a New Light '94 (1994)
Song Performer
Aretha Franklin: Duets (1993)
Song Performer
In a New Light (1992)
Song Performer
Child of Mine: Songs For Our Children (1992)
Song Performer
This Island Earth (1992)
Song Performer ("Nayib'S Song")
American Bandstand 40th Anniversary Special (1992)
Song Performer
Routes of Rhythm With Harry Belafonte (1990)
Song Performer
The American Music Awards (1990)
Song Performer
The 32nd Annual Grammy Awards (1990)
Song Performer
The 60th Annual Academy Awards Presentation (1988)
Song Performer
Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine (1988)
Song Performer
Sid & Marty Krofft's Redeye Express (1988)
Song Performer

Life Events

1977

Joined Miami Latin Boys, later Miami Sound Machine

1984

Miami Sound Machine released first English language album <i>Eyes of Innocence</i>, featuring the dance hit "Dr. Beat"

1985

Had crossover success with "Conga"

1987

Released the multi-platinum selling <i>Let It Loose</i>, featuring "Anything for You" and "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You"

1988

Group's name changed to Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine

1989

Released first album credited as solo artist <i>Cuts Both Ways</i>

1990

Critically injured near Scranton, PA when a speeding semi-truck crashed into her tour bus

1991

Released comeback album <i>Into the Light</i> and the inspirational hit "Coming Out of the Dark"

1993

First Spanish language album as a solo artist, <i>Mi Tierra</i>

1994

Recorded a cover disco hit "Turn the Beat Around" originally performed by Vicki Sue Robinson in 1976; track was included in the covers album <i>Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me</i>

1996

Released the single "Reach," the official song of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, GA

1998

Featured in the very first "Divas Live: An Honors Concert for VH1 Save the Music" alongside Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, and Shania Twain

1999

Film acting debut, "Music of the Heart" opposite Meryl Streep; also sang film's theme song with *NSYNC

2000

Co-starred with Andy Garcia in the biographical drama "For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story"

2003

Released first English language album in five years <i>Unwrapped</i>

2009

Along with husband Emilio, bought a small ownership stake in the Miami Dolphins

2011

Celebrated her Latin-dance-pop roots with <i>Miss Little Havana</i>

2012

Guest starred on musical comedy series "Glee" (Fox)

Family

Jose Manuel Fajardo
Father
Soldier. Had been part of regiment assigned to protect Fulgencio Baptista when he was in power; fled Cuba with family when Castro came to power; later worked with the CIA and served in Vietnam; diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Companions

Emilio Estefan
Husband
Married in 1978.

Bibliography