Emilio Estefan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emilio Estefan
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Estefan at the 2014 Miami International Film Festival premiere of An Unbreakable Bond
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Emilio Estefan Gómez
March 4, 1953 Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
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| Other names | Emilio Estefan Jr. |
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| Years active | 1974–present |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2, including Emily |
| Relatives | Lili Estefan (niece) |
| Musical career | |
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| Labels | Sony |
Emilio Estefan Gómez, born on March 4, 1953, is a talented Cuban-American musician and producer. He has won an amazing 19 Grammy Awards for his work in music. Emilio first became well-known as a member of the popular band Miami Sound Machine.
He is married to the famous singer Gloria Estefan. They have a son named Nayib and a daughter named Emily Estefan. Emilio is also the uncle of TV personality Lili Estefan.
Emilio Estefan is often given credit for helping Latin music become super popular in the United States in the late 1990s. He helped many artists, including his wife Gloria Estefan, and stars like Jon Secada, Ricky Martin, and Shakira, become famous.
He has received many important awards for his contributions to music. These include the BMI "Songwriter of the Year" award in 2005 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2009, he received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Songwriters' Hall of Fame. In November 2015, President Barack Obama gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award a civilian can receive in the United States. In 2019, he also received the Gershwin Prize from the Library of Congress.
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Emilio Estefan's Early Life
Emilio Estefan Gómez was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. His parents were Emilio Estefan Sr. and Carmen María Gómez. His father's family had roots in Syria and Lebanon. His mother's parents were Spanish immigrants.
In 1967, when Emilio was 14, he and his father left Cuba for Spain. They were escaping the government at that time. The family planned to meet up in the United States. Emilio's mother stayed behind to care for her parents. His older brother could not leave Cuba until 1980.
For about a year, Emilio and his father lived in Spain and faced many challenges. Then, they moved to Miami, Florida. Life was better in Miami, but they still lived in a small house with Emilio's aunt and eight cousins. Emilio's mother finally joined them in the United States in 1971.
During these years, Emilio developed his musical skills. He often played his accordion to earn money. This helped support his father and family.
Emilio Estefan's Music Career
Starting in Music
In 1975, Emilio formed a band called the Miami Latin Boys. Later that year, Gloria Fajardo and her cousin Merci Navarro met Emilio. They were singing at a church rehearsal. Emilio heard them sing at a Cuban wedding and was very impressed.
He invited Gloria and Merci to join his band. The band's name then changed to Miami Sound Machine. Gloria was studying at the University of Miami at the time. She agreed to perform only on weekends so she could focus on her studies. Eventually, Gloria Estefan became the lead singer of the Miami Sound Machine.
Becoming a Music Producer
As a music producer, Emilio Estefan has helped many music stars grow their careers. He played a huge part in making Latin music popular around the world in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He produced and wrote songs for albums by famous artists like Shakira, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Jon Secada, Marc Anthony, and Thalia.
Emilio has also produced many TV shows and events. These include the Latin Grammys, Hispanic Heritage Awards, and special productions for HBO and Showtime. He has also produced many musical events at the White House.
In 2008, Emilio produced and directed his first full-length documentary. It was called 90 Millas and showed the history of Cuban music.
In 2010, Emilio brought together many Latino entertainers. They recorded a Spanish version of Michael Jackson's song "We Are The World". This new version was called "Somos El Mundo". It was released on March 1, 2010, and the money raised went to help people after the earthquake in Haiti.
Also in 2010, Emilio released his book, The Rhythm of Success – How an Immigrant Produced His Own American Dream.
The next year, he released another book called The Exile Experience: A Journey to Freedom. This book shared personal stories from different generations of Cuban exiles. It included the names of over 400,000 Cubans who came to the U.S. through special programs.
In 2013, Emilio worked with the Nederlander Group to create a Broadway musical. The musical, called On Your Feet!, tells the story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan's lives and music. It opened on Broadway in October 2015.
Emilio also became an ambassador for AARP Life Reimagined in 2013. In this role, he shares his ideas on topics like living well, mentoring, starting businesses, and giving back to the community.
In February 2014, Emilio directed and produced a documentary film called An Unbreakable Bond. This film tells the true story of a father and son, Marc and Nick Buoniconti. They worked hard to find a cure for paralysis. The film was shown at many film festivals.
In early 2014, Emilio was named Miami-Dade Special Ambassador. This was an unpaid role where he represented the Miami-Dade community internationally. He helped promote business and cultural diversity. In the same year, he partnered with Botrán Rum to help promote their brand.
Emilio is also the second vice-chair for the commission of the National Museum of the American Latino. This group is exploring the idea of creating a National Latino Museum in Washington D.C.
Other Businesses
Gloria and Emilio Estefan own several businesses. They have Cuban-themed restaurants like Bongos Cuban Café and Larios on the Beach. These restaurants are in places like Miami Beach, downtown Miami, Hollywood, Florida, and Walt Disney World in Orlando. They also own two hotels: Costa d'Este in Vero Beach and The Cardozo in Miami Beach.
In June 2009, the Estefans made history. They became the first Hispanic people to own a small part of an NFL team, the Miami Dolphins.
Awards and Honors
Emilio Estefan has received many awards for his amazing work. In 1994, he won the Billboard Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to Latin music. He also received the Lo Nuestro Excellence Award in 1994.
At the Latin Grammy Awards of 2000, Emilio won Producer of the Year. He was also recognized as the first Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year.
In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed him to the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. In 2005, he received the BMI "Songwriter of the Year" award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Emilio has also received honorary doctorates from several universities. In 2009, he received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
In 2014, Emilio Estefan was added to the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame. In November 2015, President Barack Obama gave Emilio and Gloria Estefan the Presidential Medal of Freedom. They also received the Lo Nuestro Excellence Award in 2018 and the Gershwin Prize in 2019.
Emilio Estefan's Family Life
Emilio Estefan and Gloria Fajardo started dating in 1976. They were both part of the Miami Sound Machine. They got married on September 2, 1978.
They have two children: a son named Nayib, born on September 2, 1980, and a daughter named Emily Estefan, born on December 5, 1994. The family lives on Star Island in Florida.
Emily Estefan is also a recording artist, following in her parents' footsteps. Nayib is an aspiring filmmaker and owns a movie theater in Miami. On June 5, 2010, Nayib married Lara Diamante Coppola. On June 21, 2012, Emilio and Gloria became grandparents when their grandson, Sasha Argento Coppola Estefan, was born. Gloria Estefan has shared that "Sasha" is a Russian name meaning "benefactor of mankind."
See also
In Spanish: Emilio Estefan para niños
