Gloria Estefan

Artist Image: Gloria Estefan
Attribution
Image Credit: U.S. State Department (https://www.flickr.com/photos/statephotos/38832214941/in/photolist-22ayQ4r-215bWSS-22atfBg), Public domain

Biography

Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan, known professionally as Gloria Estefan (born September 1, 1957) is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. 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 three Grammy Awards, and 4 Latin Grammys, and is the most successful crossover performer in Latin music to date. Starting in 1977, the Miami Sound Machine, (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 Innocence, which contained the dance hit "Dr. Beat" as well as the ballad "I Need Your Love". Their more successful follow-up album Primitive Love was released in 1985 launching three Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: "Conga" (U.S. #10), "Words Get In The Way" (U.S. #5), and "Bad Boy" (U.S. #8) became follow up hits in the U.S. and around the world. "Words Get in the Way" reached #1 on the US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 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 Gun. 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" (#1 Hot 100), "1-2-3" (#3 Hot 100), "Betcha Say That" (#36 Hot 100), "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" (#5 Hot 100), and "Can't Stay Away From You" (#6 Hot 100). "Can't Stay Away From You", "Anything for You" and "1-2-3" were all #1 Adult Contemporary hits as well.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1977
Number of Albums 57
Record Label
Website gloriaestefan.com
Wikipedia Gloria Estefan on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

What was Gloria Estefan's birth name?

Gloria María Fajardo

...Gloria Estefan (born Gloria María Fajardo , September 1, 1957, in Havana, Cuba) is a seventime Grammy Awardwinning singersongwriter, actress and social...
When was Estefan born?

Havana, Cuba

...Gloria Estefan (born Gloria María Fajardo, September 1, 1957, in Havana, Cuba ) is a seventime Grammy Awardwinning singersongwriter, actress and social...
How many times has Estefan won a Grammy?

sevent

...an (born Gloria María Fajardo, September 1, 1957, in Havana, Cuba) is a sevent ime Grammy Awardwinning singersongwriter, actress and social activist. K...
What is Estefan known as?

Queen of Latin Pop

...nning singersongwriter, actress and social activist. Known as the Queen of Latin Pop , she in the top 100 bestselling music artists with over 100 milli...
How many albums were sold worldwide?

100 million

... of Latin Pop, she in the top 100 bestselling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those in the United States. B...
How many of those sold in the United States?

31.5 million

...stselling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those in the United States. Beginning her career in 1975 as lead ...
What was the name of the band in 1975?

Miami Latin Boys

... of 1975, Fajardo and her cousin Merci Murciano auditioned for the Miami Latin Boys , a local wedding band headed by keyboardist Emilio Estefan. Despit...
Who was Gloria Fajardo's father?

a bodyguard of Cuban president Fulgencio Batista

...s raised primarily in Miami, FL, after her father, a bodyguard of Cuban president Fulgencio Batista , was forced to flee the island following the 1959 ...
Who helmed the 1959 coup in Cuba?

Fidel Castro

...sta, was forced to flee the island following the 1959 coup helmed by Fidel Castro . In the fall of 1975, Fajardo and her cousin Merci Murciano audition...
When did Fajardo and Merci Murciano audition for the Miami Latin Boys?

1975

...he island following the 1959 coup helmed by Fidel Castro. In the fall of 1975 , Fajardo and her cousin Merci Murciano auditioned for the Miami Latin Bo...
When did Dr. Beat top European dance charts?

1984

...ver to nonLatin audiences until Dr. Beat topped European dance charts in 1984 . With 1985s Primitive Love, Miami Sound Machine recorded their first Eng...
What was Miami Sound Machine's first Englishlanguage effort?

Primitive Love

...ces until Dr. Beat topped European dance charts in 1984. With 1985s Primitive Love , Miami Sound Machine recorded their first Englishlanguage effort, s...
How many Top Ten pop hits did Miami Sound machine score in the U.S. alone?

three

...Miami Sound Machine recorded their first Englishlanguage effort, scoring three Top Ten pop hits in the U.S. alone with the infectious Conga, Bad Boy, ...
What happened to Estefan's bus on March 20, 1990?

struck by a tractor trailer

... 20, 1990, while touring in support of the album, her bus was struck by a tractor trailer . Estefan suffered a broken vertebra that required extensive ...
When did Estefan resurface?

1991

...surgery and kept her off the road for over a year. Estefan resurfaced in 1991 with Into the Light, again topping the charts with Coming Out of the Dar...
What was the name of Estefan's 1991 hit single?

Coming Out of the Dark

...ar. Estefan resurfaced in 1991 with Into the Light, again topping the charts with Coming Out of the Dark , a single inspired by her nearfatal accident....
What was the name of Estefan's European club smash?

Dr

...nd Emilio Estefan, Jr.) began with the release of the European club smash Dr . These trademark Estefan jams wed slick Miami pop to polyrhythms from her...
Where did Estefan come from?

Cuba

...rademark Estefan jams wed slick Miami pop to polyrhythms from her native Cuba . She effortlessly moved between Latin and Anglo approaches, employing el...
Which platinum album did Estefan release in 1996?

Destiny

... Beat Around, Mi Tierra, and Oye. Her platinum albums, including 1996's Destiny , did the same. Her run continued in the 21st century with the multipla...
In what year did 90 Millas become gold certified?

2007

...n continued in the 21st century with the multiplatinum Alma Caribeña and 2007 's goldcertified 90 Millas. 2013's Standards, her last outing before an e...
Which album was her last before an extended break?

Standards

...multiplatinum Alma Caribeña and 2007's goldcertified 90 Millas. 2013's Standards , her last outing before an extended recording break, registered at 20...
Who was the first Cuban American singersongwriter to receive a Kennedy Center Honor?

Gloria

...were the first couple to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Gloria was the first CubanAmerican singersongwriter to receive a Kennedy Cente...
In what year did Conga become Estefan's signature song?

1985

...known as Miami Sound Machine. She earned worldwide success with Conga in 1985 , which became Estefan's signature song and led to Miami Sound Machine wi...
What was Estefan's signature song?

Conga

...r became known as Miami Sound Machine. She earned worldwide success with Conga in 1985, which became Estefan's signature song and led to Miami Sound M...
What year did Miami Sound Machine win the grand prix at the 15th annual Tokyo Music Festival?

1986

...achine winning the grand prix in the 15th annual Tokyo Music Festival in 1986 . In 1988, she and the band got their first numberone hit with the song A...
What was the name of the new album she released in 1991?

Into the Light

...e her comeback in March 1991 with a new world tour and album called Into the Light . Her 1993 Spanishlanguage album Mi Tierra won the first of her thre...
What was Estefan's first number one album on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart?

Mi Tierra

...d tour and album called Into the Light. Her 1993 Spanishlanguage album Mi Tierra won the first of her three Grammy Awards for Best Tropical Latin Albu...
The Estefans symbolize the rich cultural diversity of what?

American musical experience

...The Estefans symbolize the rich cultural diversity of the American musical experience . The music created by Emilio and Gloria Estefan makes you want t...
The music created by Emilio and Gloria Estefan makes you want to listen to the beat and get on your feet, said who?

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden

...you want to listen to the beat and get on your feet, said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden . They are the creative force behind the popularity of mus...
Who is the creative force behind the popularity of music steeped in the Latino culture?

Emilio and Gloria Estefan

...rsity of the American musical experience. The music created by Emilio and Gloria Estefan makes you want to listen to the beat and get on your feet, sa...
Who was Gloria Estefan's beloved husband of 40 years?

Emilio Estefan

...veral of them, said Gloria Estefan. I am deeply honored, along with Emilio Estefan , my beloved husband of 40 years, to be the 2019 recipients of the L...
How long has Emilio Estefan been my husband?

40 years

... I am deeply honored, along with Emilio Estefan, my beloved husband of 40 years , to be the 2019 recipients of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize f...
What is my wish throughout my career?

to inspire minorities

...ters and producers. Throughout my career my wish has always been to inspire minorities and to be an example that with hard work and dedication all you...
What has my wish always been to inspire?

minorities

...nd producers. Throughout my career my wish has always been to inspire minorities and to be an example that with hard work and dedication all your drea...
What language was Estefan originally a performer?

Spanish

... songwriter had finally achieved solo billing. Estefan was originally a Spanish language performer but switched to English as the Miami Sound Machine b...
Which language did Estefan switch to when the Miami Sound Machine began receiving more recognition?

English

...ing. Estefan was originally a Spanishlanguage performer but switched to English as the Miami Sound Machine began receiving more recognition. Over the ...
Where does Estefan still live?

Miami, Florida

...r showstopping performances. Estefan still lives in her hometown of Miami, Florida , where she is revered by its large Cuban American community. Adding...
What is Estefan revered by?

Cuban American community

... hometown of Miami, Florida, where she is revered by its large Cuban American community . Adding to the drama of her ragstoriches life story, in 1990 E...
What year did Estefan survive a nearfatal bus accident?

1990

...erican community. Adding to the drama of her ragstoriches life story, in 1990 Estefan survived a nearfatal bus accident that could have put her in a w...
Who captured Estefan's father?

his own cousins

... military mission funded by the U.S. government and was captured by his own cousins and imprisoned. After eighteen months, President John F. Kennedy n...
How long did President Kennedy negotiate his release?

eighteen months

...ed by the U.S. government and was captured by his own cousins and imprisoned. After eighteen months , President John F. Kennedy negotiated his release....
What was Gloria's cousin's name?

Merci

...few numbersshe received a standing ovation. Soon, Gloria and her cousin, Merci , joined the band, which was quickly renamed the Miami Sound Machine. As...
What was the band renamed to after Gloria and her cousin?

Miami Sound Machine

...her cousin, Merci, joined the band, which was quickly renamed the Miami Sound Machine . As the popularity of the band grew, they went from playing smal...
When did Gloria and Merci join the band, what was the name of their first album?

Renacer

...ng in front of larger crowds and eventually recorded their first album, Renacer . In 1980 Estefan gave birth to a son, Nayib. The same year, her father...
When did Estefan give birth to Nayib?

1980

... of larger crowds and eventually recorded their first album, Renacer. In 1980 Estefan gave birth to a son, Nayib. The same year, her father died. Care...
In what year did Miami Latin Boys tour Latin America and Europe?

197684

...' name changed to Miami Sound Machine; toured Latin America and Europe, 197684 ; single Dr. Primitive Love, first hit Englishlanguage album, 1986; Sing...
In what year was Gloria Fajarda born?

1957

...1957 Present Biography Gloria Fajarda was born in Havana, Cuba in 1957 but didnt spend much time there. Her father took the family to live in Miami fo...
Where did her father move the family after the Cuban Revolution?

Miami

...7 but didnt spend much time there. Her father took the family to live in Miami following the Cuban Revolution in 1959. As a teenager Gloria had little...
Gloria was diagnosed with what disease?

Multiple Sclerosis

...f her younger sister as well as her father who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis . Her love of music served as an escape during these difficult tim...
Who was the manager of Miami Sound Machine?

Emilio

... began focusing more on the musical legacy of her Cuban roots. By 1980, Emilio realized the band had serious potential and quit his day job to act as ...
What is Estefan's musical style credited with helping make?

Latinflavored pop musicbased on the rhythms of her native Cubaa tremendous crossover success

...s credited with helping make Latinflavored pop musicbased on the rhythms of her native Cubaa tremendous crossover success . Although Estefan's early ye...
Who worked as a bodyguard for the country's dictatorial leader?

Fulgencio Batista

...o, who worked as a bodyguard for the country's dictatorial leader, Fulgencio Batista . When Communist forces, led by Fidel Castro, took over a year lat...
When did Estefan flee Cuba with her family?

As a toddler

... As a toddler Estefan fled Cuba with her family. Estefan became the lead singer and the band was renamed the Miami Sound Machine, before going on to sc...
Who was the elder Fajardo recruited into?

2506 Brigade

...oming to the United States, the elder Fajardo was recruited into the 2506 Brigade , a CIAfunded band of Cuban refugees that was involved in the unsucce...
What was the name of the Broadway musical produced by Estefan's husband?

On Your Feet!,

...d 1990s. Estefan and her husband later produced a Broadway musical, On Your Feet!, which featured the Miami Sound Machine's popular songs. As a toddle...
What year was the Bay of Pigs invasion?

1961

...a CIAfunded band of Cuban refugees that was involved in the unsuccessful 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. After President John F. Kennedy negotiated the rel...
Who negotiated the release of the captured soldiers?

President John F. Kennedy

... involved in the unsuccessful 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. After President John F. Kennedy negotiated the release of the captured soldiers, Fajardo rejo...
What did Estfan like to write as a child?

poetry

... and served for two years in Vietnam. As a child Estefan liked to write poetry , and though she took classical guitar lessons, she found them tedious. ...
What was her father diagnosed with after returning from Vietnam?

multiple sclerosis

...fter her father's return from Vietnam, he was diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis , possibly as a result of having been exposed to the herbicide Age...
What herbicide did her father have exposure to while serving in the Army?

Agent Orange

...m, he was diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis, possibly as a result of having been exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange while serving in the Army....