Emilio Estefan
Estefan at the 2014 Miami International Film Festival premiere of An Unbreakable Bond
Born
Emilio Estefan Gómez

(1953-03-04) March 4, 1953
Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Other namesEmilio Estefan Jr.
Occupations
  • Musician
  • producer
Years active1974–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1978)​
Children2, including Emily
RelativesLili Estefan (niece)
Musical career
Genres
LabelsSony
Formerly ofMiami Sound Machine

Emilio Estefan Gómez (born March 4, 1953) is a Cuban-American musician and producer.[1][2] Estefan has won 19 Grammy Awards.[3][4][5] He first came to prominence as a member of the Miami Sound Machine. He is the husband of singer Gloria Estefan, father of son Nayib Estefan and daughter Emily Estefan, and the uncle of Spanish-language television personality Lili Estefan.

Estefan is credited with paving the way for the crossover explosion of Latin music of the late 90s, mostly through artists that Estefan himself brought to the forefront of the US music stage, including his wife Gloria Estefan, as well as Jon Secada, Ricky Martin, and Shakira.[3][6]

Estefan received the BMI "Songwriter of the Year" award in 2005 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[7] He also received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 2009.[8][9]

In November 2015, President Barack Obama awarded Estefan the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.[10] In 2019 he also received the Gershwin Prize from the Library of Congress.[11]

Background

Emilio Estefan Gómez was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba to Emilio Estefan Sr. (1919–2003)[12][13] and Carmen María Gómez (1921–2006).[14] His father Emilio Estefan Sr. was born in Cuba to Lebanese and Syrian parents and was the second child in a family which consisted of eleven siblings[13][1][2][15][16][17]—many of whom were textile traders that traveled throughout Cuba and the Caribbean. Emilio Sr. was raised by his widowed mother Júlia, as his father had died when he was still a child.[18] Carmen's parents Antonio Gómez and Carmen Vasquez were Spanish immigrants who met while the latter was working for the Bacardi family.

In 1967, at the age of fourteen, Estefan and his father Emilio Sr. fled Cuba for Spain to escape the Castro regime. The Estefan family planned to reunite in the United States and, as a result, Carmen chose to remain behind because she did not want to abandon her parents. In addition, Estefan's older brother José (b. 1945) was drafted into the military and could not leave Cuba until 1980.[12] For about a year, Estefan and his father lived an impoverished life in Spain before relocating permanently to Miami, Florida. Although circumstances were far better in Miami, Estefan and Emilio Sr. still struggled as they lived in a cramped house with Estefan's aunt and 8 cousins.[19] Estefan did not reunite with his mother until 1971 when she was finally able to immigrate to the United States.

It was during his formative years that Estefan cultivated his musical sensibilities, as he had often used his accordion-playing skills to earn enough tips to support his father and family.[20]

Professional career

Early music

In 1975, Gloria and her cousin Mercedes "Merci" Navarro (1957–2007)[21] met Estefan while performing at a church ensemble rehearsal. Estefan, who had formed the band the Miami Latin Boys earlier that year, learned about Gloria through a mutual acquaintance. While the Miami Latin Boys were performing at a Cuban wedding at Hotel Dupont, Gloria and Merci (who were wedding guests) performed two Cuban standards impromptu. They impressed the Miami Latin Boys so much that they were invited to join the band permanently with the band's name changing to Miami Sound Machine. Gloria, who was attending the University of Miami at the time, only agreed to perform during the weekends so that her studies would not be interrupted.[20]

Eventually, Miami Sound Machine would perform with Gloria Estefan (née Fajardo) as the lead singer and headliner.

Producer

As a producer, Estefan has shaped and developed the careers of many music superstars. His influential role in the Latin Boom of the late ‘90s and early ‘00s is reflected in his production and songwriting on albums by Shakira (Laundry Service and Donde estan los ladrones?), Ricky Martin (Ricky Martin and Sound Loaded), Jennifer Lopez (On the 6), Jon Secada, Marc Anthony, Thalia, and others.[6][22][23]

He has also produced various events for both general market and Hispanic market television. These events include the Latin Grammys, Hispanic Heritage Awards, Nuestra Navidad, and some high-profile productions on HBO and Showtime. He has also produced many musical events at the White House.[24]

In 2008, Estefan produced and directed his first full-length documentary 90 Millas to showcase the history and pioneers of Cuban music.[25]

Estefan gathered dozens of Latino entertainers in 2010 to record Michael Jackson's "We Are The World" in Spanish. The Spanish language version, already written by Estefan and approved by Quincy Jones, became "Somos El Mundo". It premiered during El Show de Cristina on March 1, 2010[26] and the funds went to the Haiti relief.[27][28]

Also, in 2010, Estefan released his book The Rhythm of Success – How an Immigrant Produced His Own American Dream.

The following year, Estefan presented the book The Exile Experience: A Journey to Freedom in collaboration with writer Carlos Pintado and journalist Carlos Alberto Montaner, which included personal testimonials from different generations of exiles. The Exile Experience: Journey to Freedom is published in three separate editions – each tailor-made for those who arrived through Operation Pedro Pan, the Freedom Flights and the Mariel boatlift. Each edition features the names of every Cuban who arrived via one of those three exoduses, and there has been an accumulation of more than 400,000 names amongst the three editions published.[29]

He partnered with the Nederlander Group in 2013 to produce the Broadway musical extravaganza, On Your Feet![30] The musical is based on the life and musical legacy of the Estefans and Fajardos. On Your Feet! premiered on Broadway in October 2015.

Estefan also became an AARP Life Reimagined ambassador[31] in 2013. In his new role, Emilio shares his views on a variety of subjects, including living, mentoring, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy.

In February 2014, Estefan directed and produced the documentary film An Unbreakable Bond about the real-life story of father-son duo Marc and Nick Buoniconti's undying commitment towards finding a cure for paralysis.[32] The film premiered at National & International film festivals.[33]

Gloria & Emilio Estefan at the 2014 Miami International Film Festival premiere of An Unbreakable Bond

In early 2014, in a decision unanimously approved by the County Commission, Estefan was appointed Miami-Dade Special Ambassador[34] by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jean Monestime. In his unpaid four-year non-partisan role, Emilio was set to represent the Miami-Dade community at an international level to encourage and promote the diversity of business and trade. During the same year, Estefan and Botrán Rum created a strategic marketing alliance including a personal endorsement by Estefan. Through his role, Estefan will help promote the brand throughout the U.S., leading a multi-channel marketing campaign with the mantra "The Night Begins with Botran."[35]

Estefan sits as the second vice-chair to the commission for the National Museum of the American Latino, a bi-partisan commission charged with exploring the possibility of creating a National Latino Museum in Washington D.C.

Other business ventures

The Cardozo hotel on Ocean Drive, in Miami Beach, Florida.

Gloria and Emilio Estefan own a number of business establishments, including several Cuban-themed restaurants (Bongos Cuban Café; Larios on the Beach). The restaurants are located in Miami Beach, downtown Miami (part of the American Airlines Arena), at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, Walt Disney World's Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida, and at Miami International Airport. They also own two hotels: Costa d'Este in Vero Beach which opened in 2008,[36] and The Cardozo in Miami Beach. In June 2009, Estefan and his wife became the first Hispanics to buy a minor ownership stake in an NFL team, the Miami Dolphins.[37][38] According to articles published in People en Español and AARP Magazine, the Estefans' estimated net worth as of 2011 was approximately $700 million.[19]

Awards

In 1994, Estefan was awarded the El Premio Billboard award for his work in the Latin music industry.[39] In the same year, he was given the Excellence Award at the 1994 Lo Nuestro Awards.[40] At the Latin Grammy Awards of 2000, Estefan received the award for Producer of the Year for his work on the albums Ciego de Amor by Charlie Zaa, El Amor de Mi Tierra by Carlos Vives and was recognized as the first Person of the Year by the Latin Recording Academy.

In 2002, he was appointed to the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities by President George W. Bush.[41] In 2005, Estefan received the BMI "Songwriter of the Year" award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[7] Estefan has received honorary doctoral degrees from Barry University, the University of Miami, Florida International University and the Berklee College of Music.[42][43][44] He also received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Songwriters' Hall of Fame and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2009.[8][9]

Estefan was inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014.[45] In November 2015, President Barack Obama awarded Estefan and his wife Gloria with the nation's highest civilian honor—the Presidential Medal of Freedom.[10] They were also awarded Lo Nuestro Excellence Award in 2018 and the Gershwin Prize in 2019 from the Library of Congress.[11]

Personal life

Estefan became romantically involved with the Miami Sound Machine's lead singer Gloria Fajardo in 1976. They married on September 2, 1978, and have a son, Nayib (born September 2, 1980), and a daughter, Emily (born December 5, 1994). The family lives on Star Island.

Emily is a recording artist. Nayib is an aspiring filmmaker and owner of the Nite Owl Theater in Miami.[46][47] On June 5, 2010, Nayib married Lara Diamante Coppola in the backyard of his parents' house. On June 21, 2012, the first Estefan grandchild was born: grandson Sasha Argento Coppola Estefan. Gloria Estefan has said that "Sasha" is a name of Russian descent meaning "benefactor of mankind", and was a possible name for her and Emilio's son, Nayib.[48]

References

  1. 1 2 Mclanne, Daisanne (June 14, 1990). "The Power and the Gloria". Rolling Stone.
  2. 1 2 McGrath, Nick (July 12, 2013). "Gloria Estefan: My family values". The Guardian.
  3. 1 2 Nash, Alanna (2013). "Gloria and Emilio Estefan Have Rhythm — and Lots of Romance". AARP.
  4. ↑ "Emilio & Gloria Estefan To Get Presidential Medal". CBS Miami (published 2015). November 16, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Masterworks Broadway Releases The Original Broadway Cast Recording Of ON YOUR FEET! Based On The Life And Music Of Gloria Estefan And Emilio Estefan". Sony. 2016.
  6. 1 2 Hassan, Marcos (2020). "35 Years Ago, Miami Sound Machine Laid the Blueprint for Latin Pop". Remezcla.com.
  7. 1 2 "15 Latinos Shining on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!". Latina Magazine. December 6, 2013.
  8. 1 2 FCab, Estefan Enterprises. "Emilio Estefan – Awards". Emilio Estefan. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Gloria & Emilio Estefan | Songwriters Hall of Fame". www.songhall.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  10. 1 2 "President Obama Names Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom". whitehouse.gov. November 16, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015 – via National Archives.
  11. 1 2 Mangal, Mayra (February 22, 2018). "Premio Lo Nuestro 2018: los grandes ganadores de la noche". People en Español. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  12. 1 2 "Emilio Estefan Sr". Variety. March 26, 2003. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  13. 1 2 "Ancientfaces. Emilio Estefan, Sr. (1919 - 2003)". Ancientfaces.
  14. ↑ Who's who in Florida's Latin Community: Biographical Dictionary of the Hispanics in Florida. Worldwide Reference Publications. 1986. ISBN 9780921261001.
  15. ↑ "Emilio y Gloria Estefan, orgullo hispano". Washington Post. April 10, 2023. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Emilio Estefan, mucho más que el marido de Gloria". www.notimerica.com. Europa Press. March 4, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Emilio Estefan y su última foto en Cuba: "agradecido por una familia maravillosa" | ADN Cuba". adncuba.com (in Spanish). Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  18. ↑ Estefan, Emilio (January 5, 2010). The Rhythm of Success: How an Immigrant Produced his Own American Dream. Penguin. ISBN 9781101159750.
  19. 1 2 Nash, Alanna. "Latin Pop Icon Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan, Multilingual CD The ..." AARP. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  20. 1 2 "Gloria and Emilio Estefan Build a Music Empire and a Family Compound". Wall Street Journal. December 1, 2015. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Mercedes Navarro Murciano, 50, original member of Miami Sound Machine dead". groups.google.com. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Emilio and Gloria Estefan: 2019 Gershwin Prize Winners". Library of Congress.
  23. ↑ "Emilio Estefan: Berklee Trustee; Producer". Berklee.edu.
  24. ↑ "Emilio Estefan to Develop Latino-Themed Drama Series Under New Pact With 20th TV". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  25. ↑ FCab, Estefan Enterprises. "Emilio Estefan – Director". Emilio Estefan. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  26. ↑ "'Somos El Mundo' Video Premieres, Stars Pitbull, Shakira, Juanes, David Archuleta, Daddy Yankee – Viral Videos". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  27. ↑ "Latino Celebrities Join Together for "Somos El Mundo" Recording". Thesilvertongueonline.com. February 20, 2010. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  28. ↑ "50 Latin Stars Gather To Record 'Somos El Mundo'". Billboard. September 14, 2009. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  29. ↑ "Emilio Estefan – The Exile Experience – Gables | Books & Books". shop.booksandbooks.com. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Gloria and Emilio Estefan's on Your Feet! Sets Broadway Dates & Theater". Broadway.com. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Emilio Estefan, Life Reimagined Ambassador – AARP". AARP. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Marc Buoniconti — paralyzed at 19 — says hit on the football field 'saved my life'". miamiherald. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  33. ↑ "An Unbreakable Bond – The Buoniconti Fund". Themiamiproject.org. Archived from the original on December 19, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Miami-Dade County – District 2 – News Release". Miamidade.gov. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Emilio Estefan fronts new Botran Rum campaign". Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  36. ↑ "Gloria & Emilio Estefan Open Costa d'Este Beach Resort". Reuters. June 19, 2008. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012.
  37. ↑ "Dolphins announce Estefans' stake in team", Sports Illustrated (via AP Miami), June 25, 2009
  38. ↑ "Emilio and Gloria Estefan give Miami Dolphins celebrity appeal", The Miami Herald, June 26, 2009
  39. ↑ Lannert, John (May 21, 1994). "Emilio Estefan Earns "El Premio Billboard"". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 32. Nielsen Business Media. p. 50. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  40. ↑ "Lo Nuestro – Historia". Univision (in Spanish). Univision Communications. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  41. ↑ "President Obama Appoints Members of the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino". whitehouse.gov. September 23, 2009. Retrieved October 10, 2018 – via National Archives.
  42. ↑ "Honorary Degree Recipients". commencement.miami.edu. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  43. ↑ "Commencement 2007 | Berklee College of Music". www.berklee.edu. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  44. ↑ "Emilio Estefan honored as pioneer producer". CNN. September 18, 2000. Archived from the original on September 30, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
  45. ↑ "Emilio Estefan, Beto Cuevas y Fonseca homenajeados en los premios La Musa". The San Diego-Union Tribune (in Spanish). October 15, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  46. ↑ Herrmann, Brenda. "NAYIB ESTEFAN LOVES MAGIC, GIRLS – AND HIS POP STAR MOM". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  47. ↑ "Nayib Estefan Keeps 35MM Alive at Nite Owl Theater". NBC 6 South Florida. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  48. ↑ "Gloria Estefan a first-time grandmom". Toronto Sun. June 25, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
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