Gloria Estefan's Kevo

If ever there was a person who should be credited for bringing the Latin sound to America, it should be Gloria Estefan. Her path from obscurity to stardom has been both tragic and triumphant, starting in the mid 1970s when she became the lead singer of the Miami Latin Boys, later to be known as the Miami Sound Machine. After twenty years of musical success, Estefan continued her career in a solo function that has given her international recognition.

The daughter of Cuban immigrants, Estefan grew up in one of the poorest sections of Miami, Florida. As a shy, overweight teenager, Estefan often played her guitar and sang to distract herself from the hardships of life. She became somewhat of a second mother to her sister and nursed her father who suffered from complications due to exposure of Agent Orange while in Vietnam. She met her future husband, Emilio Estefan, while at a wedding in 1975 in which she was asked to sing a few songs. Within a year, she was singing with the band Miami Latin Boys at different functions around town while she attended college.

Later known as the Miami Sound Machine, the band originally only sang in Spanish but changed to English as their popularity grew. Some of her early musical influences were The Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers, but Estefan also learned more about the Cuban music of her roots. This created her unique sound which blends the rhythms of Cuban and American pop that produced their first number one hit album in 1985 called Primitive Love with the mega singles "Conga!" and "Bad Boys" at the top of the charts. The band then turned around and realeased Let It Loose in 1987. It sold four-million copies, spurred by its hit single "1-2-3", and it also made the Miami Sound Machine a force to be reckoned with as they soon took their act internationally. They became known as Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine.

It looked as if all this success was over for Estefan in March of 1990, as she was involved in a near-fatal accident while on tour. She had to endure several operations to repair damage to her spine and other problems. Through intense physical therapy, diet and a strict exercise program, Estefan made her first comeback performance on the annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. With her career back on track, Estefan's increasing popularity helped the growth of the Latin influence in music and the awareness of other Spanish acts. In early 1994, Estefan was invited by the Grammy Awards to perform a song in Spanish for the telecast, a first for the music ceremony.

Estefan has just recently finished her first acting role in a movie, Music of the Heart, and would like to act in other roles as they become available. She has also released her latest album, Gloria!, but has no plans to support it through tour. However, the possiblility of a mega-tour in the year 2000 is possible.
Climb to Fame
Latin-American singer and songwriter.
Work History
(early 1990s) Solo performer.

(1987) Represents United States at the Pan American Games

(1986) First million-selling, English-language, American album, Primitive Love

(1976-1984) Group's name is changed to Miami Sound Machine; other members include Enrique Garcia, Juan Marcos Avila, and Emilio Estefan, Jr. Tour Latin America and Europe numerous times.

(1975) Joins group Miami Latin Boys (also billed as the Miami Latin Kings).
Affiliations
AACF, most child orientated charities
Awards
Gloria Estefan has also won numerous Awards