Jon Secada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jon Secada
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Secada in 2017
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| Born |
Juan Francisco Secada Ramírez
October 4, 1961 |
| Education | University of Miami |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Jo Pat Cafro
(m. 1988; div. 1993)Maritere Vilar
(m. 1997) |
| Children | 2 |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | |
Juan Francisco Secada Ramírez (born October 4, 1961), known as Jon Secada, is a singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer. He was born in Cuba and later became an American citizen. Jon Secada has won two Grammy Awards. He has sold 15 million records, making him one of the top-selling Latin music artists. His music mixes funk, soul music, pop, and Latin rhythms.
Secada has written songs for famous artists like Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, and Jennifer Lopez. He has also toured with opera singer Luciano Pavarotti. He recorded duets with Jim Brickman, Olivia Newton-John, and even Frank Sinatra. Jon Secada has performed many times at A Capitol Fourth. This is an annual concert held on Independence Day at the United States Capitol.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to the U.S.
Jon Secada was born in 1961 in Havana, Cuba. His father, José, was held as a political prisoner for three years by the Cuban government. In 1971, the Secada family was allowed to leave Cuba. They moved to Miami, Florida. His parents opened a coffee shop there. Jon Secada grew up in Hialeah, Florida.
Education and Discovering Music
In 1979, Secada finished high school at Hialeah Senior High School. He realized his talent for music during a performance of A Christmas Carol in 11th grade. His teachers encouraged him to follow music as a career.
After high school, Secada went to the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1983. He then received a Master of Music degree in jazz vocal performance in 1986. He graduated with high honors. Later, he was inducted into the Iron Arrow Honor Society. This is the highest honor given by the University of Miami.
Jon Secada's Music Career
From 1986 to 1991, Jon Secada worked as a teacher at Miami Dade College. In 1986, friends from the University of Miami introduced him to Emilio Estefan. Emilio was a musician in Miami Sound Machine and Gloria Estefan's husband. Emilio listened to Secada's music demos. He then became Secada's mentor and manager. This led to Secada becoming a backup singer for Miami Sound Machine.
In 1991, Secada helped write and sang backup for "Coming Out of the Dark". This song became a number-one hit. It was inspired by a bus accident involving Gloria Estefan in 1990. In 1992, he released his first album, Jon Secada. This album sold 7 million copies.
In 1994, he recorded a duet with Frank Sinatra. It was a new version of "The Best Is Yet to Come". This song was on Sinatra's album Duets II. Secada also performed at the Miss Venezuela 1994 awards. In 1995, he acted on Broadway in the musical Grease. He also presented an award at the 49th Tony Awards. He recorded "If I Never Knew You" with Shanice for the movie Pocahontas. In 1999, he helped write and produce "She's All I Ever Had" for Ricky Martin.
In 2003, he performed in the musical Cabaret. He also helped write "Juramento" for Ricky Martin. From 2006 to 2009, Secada was a judge on Latin American Idol. In 2007, he helped write three songs and sang in one on Lilian Garcia's album ¡Quiero Vivir!. In 2017, he released a tribute album with cover versions of songs by Benny Moré. As of January 2025, Secada began teaching at the Wertheim School of Music at Florida International University.
Personal Life and Family
Jon Secada was married to Jo Pat Cafro from 1988 to 1993. In May 1995, he started dating Maritere Vilar. They got married in February 1997. They have two children together.
Secada lives in a large house in Coral Gables, Florida. It is near the University of Miami, where he went to college. The house has a tennis court and a pool.
Jon Secada cares about helping others. He created the Jon Secada Music Scholarship at the University of Miami. He has also raised money for "Keeping Music in Schools," a program by The Recording Academy. He supports many other causes. These include the Pediatric AIDS Unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Music Albums
- Jon Secada (1992)
- Otro Día Más Sin Verte (1992)
- Heart, Soul & a Voice (1994)
- Si Te Vas (1994)
- Amor (1995)
- Secada (1997)
- Better Part of Me (2000)
- The Gift (2001)
- Amanecer (2002)
- Same Dream (2005)
- A Christmas Fiesta/Una Fiesta Navideña (2007)
- Expressions (2009)
- Classics/Clasicos (2010)
- Otra Vez (2011)
- To Beny Moré with Love (2017)
Awards and Recognitions
Jon Secada has received many awards for his music. Here are some of them:
- Grammy Awards:
* In 1993, he won Best Latin Pop Album for Otro Día Más Sin Verte. * In 1996, he won Best Latin Pop Performance for Amor. * In 2017, he won Best Traditional Tropical Album for To Beny Moré With Love at the Latin Grammy Awards.
- ASCAP Latin Music Awards:
* In 2000, "Bella" won Most Performed Song.
- ASCAP Pop Music Awards:
* In 1992, "Coming Out of the Dark" won Most Performed Song. * In 1994, "Angel", "Do You Believe in Us", and "Just Another Day" all won Most Performed Songs. * In 1995, "I'm Free" won Most Performed Song.
- BMI Latin Awards:
* In 1993, "Otro Día Más Sin Verte" was named Song of the Year. * In 2001, "Bella" won an Award-Winning Song.
- BMI Pop Awards:
* He won several Award-Winning Songs in 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2001 for hits like "Just Another Day", "Do You Believe in Us", "Angel", "I'm Free", "Mental Picture", "If You Go", "Too Late Too Soon", and "She's All I Ever Had".
- Billboard Music Awards:
* In 1993, he was named Top Adult Contemporary Artist.
- Hit Awards (Hong Kong):
* In 1993, he won Top Male Artist.
- Lo Nuestro Awards:
* In 1993, he won Male Artist of the Year (Pop), New Pop Artist of the Year, and Pop Album of the Year for Jon Secada.
- The World Music Awards:
* In 1993, he was recognized as the Best-Selling Latin American Recording Artist.
- The Caribbean Music Awards:
* In 1993, Otro Día Más Sin Verte won Best New Latin Pop Album.
- Billboard Latin Music Awards:
* In 1993, he won Best Latin-Pop Album of the Year for Otro Día Más Sin Verte, Best Latin-Pop Artist, and Best New Latin-Pop Artist of the Year.
- Rolling Stone Magazine:
* In 1993, he was named Best Male Vocalist.
- Asian Music Awards:
* In 1994, "Mental Picture" won Best Pop Song.
Television Appearances
- Alice's Wonderland Bakery as King of Hearts
See also
In Spanish: Jon Secada para niños
- List of best-selling Latin music artists
