An American Head & a Cuban Heart

Today in Music History: September 16

There are many legendary women recording artists of our time. Most are filled with a love and passion for music that is nothing less than sheer excellence. Their horizons are greatly broadened with an overwhelming desire to help others succeed. The time and energies put into their music shines in the songs often written by the artist under a backdrop of real life. 

Gloria Estefan Gloria María Fajardo García was born on September 1, 1957 in Havana, Cuba. Her family fled Cuba and moved to the United States when Communist dictator Fidel Castro rose to power. Her father, Jos˜O Manuel Fajardo, had been a Cuban soldier and bodyguard of President Fulgencio Batista. She was two years old upon arriving in the US and little did she know her destiny was to become a Latin superstar.

"When my father was ill, music was my escape," Estefan told Washington Post reporter Richard Harrington. "I would lock myself up in my room for hours and just sing. I wouldn't cry—I refused to cry...Music was the only way I had to just let go, so I sang for fun and for emotional catharsis."

In 1976, Gloria became romantically involved with the Miami Sound Machine's band leader, Emilio Estefan. They married on September 2, 1978 and she later revealed "he was my first and only boyfriend."  

Watching Gloria Estefan perform is deceptive. When she sings in English, you hear an all-American pop star with a great voice and a lot of style - Miami style. When she sings in Spanish, Cuban soul shines through her ever mve and gesture. So which is she?

According to Gloria, she's not one thing or another. She calls herself a Cuban-American with an American head and a Cuban heart. Read MORE...

1989 Gloria Estefan went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Don't Wanna Lose You', a No.6 hit in the UK. After many years of performing under the banner of Miami Sound Machine, this was the first single to be released by Gloria Estefan under her own name only. The shift of focus was because she was the only member of the original line-up left after the band's leader and her husband Emilio pulled out to produce.

Gloria’s favorite quote:

 “You can put things off until tomorrow, but tomorrow may never come.”

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...