Tag Archives: Coming Out of the Dark

Gloria Estefan Nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame

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Gloria Estefan has the write stuff of legends…

The 62-year-old Cuban singer/songwriter and former Miami Sound Machine member has been nominated for the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Gloria Estefan

Estefan, a three-time Grammy winner and three-time Latin Grammy, has penned numerousinternational chart-topping hits in English and Spanish, including  “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “1-2-3,” “Don’t Wanna Lose You,” “Here We Are,” “Coming Out of the Dark,” “Con Los Años Que Me Quedan,” “Mi Tierra” and “No Me Dejes de Querer.” 

Additionally, Estefan has penned songs for other artists, including “Let’s Get Loud,” performed by Jennifer Lopez, and “Whenever Wherever,” performed by Shakira. Additionally, she co-wrote “Reach,” one of two official songs of the 1996 Atlanta Games, with Diane Warren.

In all, 24 acts are in contention for the 2020 class. In addition to Estefan, performing nominees include Patti Smith, Journey, Vince Gill, the Isley Brothers, former Eurythmicsmembers Annie Lennoxand Dave Stewart, Mike Love, Bread’s David Gates and Steve Miller, The Neptunes, the creative, innovative production-songwriting duo of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, rap icons Outkast and rock pioneers R.E.M.Mariah Carey, who co-wrote 17 of her 18 No. 1 hits and earned her first Songwriters Hall nomination last year, is up for the prize again. 

The Songwriters Hall gave The Associated Press the list of nominees Tuesday (Nov. 5), a day ahead of its official announcement.

Non-performing solo nominees are William “Mickey” Stevenson, Rick Nowels, Sonny Curtis, Jerry Fuller, Tony Macaulay, Bob McDill and Roger Nichols. Non-performing songwriting duos nominated include the late Tommy Boyceand Bobby Hart,Lynn Ahrensand Stephen Flaherty, L. Russell Brownand the late Irwin Levine, and Kye Flemingand Dennis Morgan.

Songwriters are eligible for induction after writing hit songs for at least 20 years. Six songwriters, or songwriting groups, will be officially inducted at the Hall’s 51st annual Induction & Awards Gala in New York on June 11, 2020. Eligible members can vote for three non-performing songwriters and three performing songwriters until December 16.

Gloria Estefan Becomes First Cuban-American to Receive Kennedy Center Honors

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It’s an extra special honor for Gloria Estefan…

The 60-year-old Cuban singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman, who became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1974, was among the honorees at Sunday night’s 40th edition of the Kennedy Center Honors, becoming the first Cuban American to receive the special recognition.

Gloria Estefan

Estefan, a seven-time Grammy winner, was lauded by longtime friend Eva Longoria and received musical love from Jon Secada, the cast of On Your Feet! (the Broadway musical based on the life and music of the honoree and her husband/collaborator Emilio), and Becky G and Chaka Khan, whose rendition of “Coming out of the Dark” was a show highlight.

Estefan received the award from her role model and friend, Rita Moreno.

“This, ladies and gentlemen, is the stuff of the American dream, and Gloria and I are living every, single minute of it,” said in a video shared by Estefan.

During her touching acceptance speech, Estefan said, “Every one of the honorees in this room, in their own beautiful way and by putting their lives as examples, and as beautiful ways of expressing through music, through art, through the film, through dance, showed who we are in this country. And we are that amazing tapestry of so many colors and vibrant backgrounds, and that’s what makes this country great because when you weave those things together, it’s just such a strong force. And we need to keep that alive.”

Marking only the fourth time in four decades the sitting president hasn’t attended the event, Donald Trump in August opted to sit this one out amid several suggested boycotts.

Estefan called Trump’s decision to stay away “very thoughtful… I’m thankful he chose not to come because all he does is overshadow the accomplishments of people who have spent a lifetime trying to do something. It’s kind of a bummer when that moment is overshadowed by politics and controversy, so I’m very thankful he allowed us the freedom to just revel in this accomplishment.”

She said she wished “certain things could be improved” about Trump’s governance, citing in particular his current policies regarding Cuba, from where she and her family emigrated when she was young. “I wish he wouldn’t have pulled back the travel restrictions on Cuba because I think person-to-person travel is incredibly important, although I don’t particularly like the Castros.”

The celebration honoring Estefan, LL Cool J, Lionel Richie, Norman Lear and dancer/choreographer Carmen de Lavallade was a lively, hitch-free night that will air as a special December 26 on CBS.

Estefan Nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame

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Gloria Estefan’s name may soon appear in the annals of history…

The 57-year-old Cuban singer has been nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Gloria Estefan

Estefan, one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, has penned several of her own memorable songs in English and Spanish, including “Anything for You,” “Coming Out of the Dark,” “Rhythm is Gonna Get You” and “No Llores.”

But the former lead singer of Miami Sound Machine has also written or co-written massive hit tracks recorded by other artists, including Shakira’s English-language crossover hit “Whenever, Wherever” and Jennifer Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud.”

Other 2015 nominees include Tom Petty, Vince Gill, Cyndi Lauper, Elvis Costello, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Cat Stevens, Toby Keith, Steve Miller, Steve Winwood, Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson of Heart, and Harry Wayne “K.C.” Casey of KC & the Sunshine Band.

The selected songwriters will be inducted next June at a New York gala.

Estefan to be Inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame

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Gloria Estefan’s name is being added to the annals of Latin music history…

The 56-year-old Cuban singer-songwriter and seven-time Grammy Award winner has been named as a Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee.

Gloria Estefan

Estefan, one of the top 100 best selling music artists with an estimated 100 million records sold worldwide, rose to acclaim as the lead singer of the Miami Sound Machine.

But the “Conga” singer, the female artist with most No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, earned critical acclaim for penning some of her biggest solo hits in English and Spanish, including “Cuts Both Ways,” “Always Tomorrow,” “Coming Out of the Dark,” “No Llores” and “Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice).”

Estefan also co-wrote Shakira’s hit single “Whenever, Wherever” with the Colombian superstar and Tim Mitchell and co-wrote Jennifer Lopez’s signature song “Let’s Get Loud.”

In addition to Estefan, Ricardo Arjona, Juan Luis Guerra, Panamanian composer Omar Alfanno, Spanish pop songwriter Rafael Pérez Botija and Mexican singer/songwriter Lolita de la Colina will also be honored at this year’s induction ceremony — known as La Musa Awards —  taking place on October 18 at Miami Beach’s Ritz Carlton hotel.

The Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame debuted in 2013 with a black tie gala honoring well-known Latin music figures including Jose Feliciano, Julio Iglesias and composer Armando Manzanero.

Founded by songwriters and producers Desmond Child and Rudy Perez, the goal of the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame is to “honor the world’s greatest Latin songwriters and their music in every genre.”