Tag Archives: Miami Sound Machine

Estefan to be Inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame

Posted on by
Reply

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.”

Levy Working on New Film with Gloria and Emilio Estefan

Posted on by
Reply

It looks like the rhythm is gonna get William Levy…

The 33-year-old Cuban actor and telenovela star is currently working on a film with Miami Sound Machine masterminds Gloria and Emilio Estefan.

William Levy

The movie, based on the 1970s bilingual sitcom Que Pasa, U.S.A.? that aired on public television in the United States, focuses on the idea that the hatred and racism “that we Latinos have sometimes suffered” can transform a person’s life, said Estefan.

“(This is) a film that took me 14 years to finance and I got the people I wanted,” Estefan said.

The film, which is being shot in Miami, is expected to be released in early 2015.

In the meantime, Levy is set to appear in Single Mom’s Club opposite Zulay Henao, as well as Addicted later this year.

Estefan Releasing “The Standards” via Sony This Fall

Posted on by
Reply

Gloria Estefan is heading back to the standards with her old label…

The 55-year-old Cuban singer, who is developing a Broadway musical about her life, has signed a multi-album agreement to return to her longtime label Sony Music Entertainment, a deal that will begin with the release of her upcoming English-language album, The Standards, due out this fall.

Gloria Estefan

Estefan’s album will be a set of American standards, with the repertoire having special significance to Estefan, beginning with “The Way You Look Tonight” and “Good Morning Heartache,” which she performed at her very first Tonight Show appearance in 1985 with Miami Sound Machine.

Estefan spent 30 years with Sony, releasing albums in both English and Spanish, both as a solo artist and with Miami Sound Machine. Then, in 2011, she took a hiatus and released Miss Little Havana via a worldwide distribution and marketing deal with Verve Forecast and Universal Music Group. In the U.S., the physical album was sold exclusively through Target. Now, Estefan has returned to Sony and will be promoted through both its Latin and Masterworks arms.

“Gloria is one-of-a-kind — in any language, in any genre,” said Afo Verde, Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment for the Latin Region, Spain and Portugal.

“Masterworks is thrilled to be a marketing partner with Sony Latin and Gloria Estefan on this very special project,” added Bogdan Roscic, President of Sony Classical and Sony Masterworks. “It represents another landmark in the career of an artist who continues to be a creative inspiration in all styles of popular music.”

Gloria & Emilio Estefan Developing Broadway Show About Their Lives…

Posted on by
Reply

The Miami Sound Machine could be conga’ing all the way to New York City…

Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio Estefan are looking to develop a Broadway stage musical inspired by their lives, and they’ve partnered with theater operator Nederlander Organization to make it happen, the couple announced Tuesday.

Gloria & Emilio Estefan

The 55-year-old “Queen of Latin Pop,” her 59-year-old music producer husband and Nederlander officials should be revealing the creative team behind the new production in the near future.

“We are very excited to share this story, which is based on hope, determination and the belief that with hard work and passion, our dreams can become our reality,” the Estefans said in a press statement. “Our music has been a true reflection of who we are, where we came from and the journey that has brought us to where we are today.”

The Nederlander Organization, the nation’s largest operator of theatres and other music venues, will partner  with Bernie Yuman, producer of Siegfried & Roy‘s Las Vegas production, to bring the new project to life.

“I am thrilled to collaborate with Gloria and Emilio to see their amazing story come to fruition on the Broadway stage,” said organization president Jimmy Nederlander. “The Estefans’ journey of success, led by raw talent and passion, is captivating as it drove them from relative obscurity to global sensations.”

The husband-and-wife team, both born in Cuba, struck it big with crossover hits like “Conga,” “Rhythm is Gonna Get You” and “Cuts Both Ways.”

Estefan is one of the top 100 best selling music artists of all time, having sold an estimated 90 million records worldwide. She’s a three-time Grammy winner and four-time  Latin Grammy winner, and is considered the most successful crossover artist in Latin music.

Meanwhile, Estefan’s husband was named Producer of the Year at the 2000 Latin Grammys for his work on Charlie Zaa’s Ciego de Amor, Carlos Vives’ El Amor de Mi Tierra and the song “Da la Vuelta” by Marc Anthony.

Their breakthrough success in the English-language marker helped pave the way for several Latin artists, including Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, John Secada and Shakira.

Estefan Signs Development Deal with 20th Century Fox Television

Posted on by
Reply

He’s one of the successful Latin music producers of all time… And now Emilio Estefan is setting his sights on television.

The 59-year-old Cuban-born musician and music producer has signed a development deal with 20th Century Fox Television. As part of the agreement, Estefan will bring to life his first drama series for network television.

Emilio Estefan

Estefan is already meeting with writers for the project, a Latino-themed series which he’ll executive produce. The pitch is expected to be presented to the networks this fall.

“Reaching out to all audiences, including the Latino audience, is a critical priority for this studio as we look for that next big international hit,” said 20th TV chairmen Dana Walden and Gary Newman. “Emilio has a vision for a dramatic series that combines great storytelling with an authenticity in terms of Latino culture that we think every network will want on their schedule.”

During his career, Estefan launched the Miami Sound Machine and has played a vital in developing the careers of his wife Gloria Estefan, Marc Antony, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Ricky Martin and Jon Secada, among others.

After helping so many Latino musicians crossi over into the mainstream, Estefan is ready to do the same with a Latino-themed series.

“I think this is the perfect time to do it,” he said, noting that Hispanics are the largest and fastest growing minority in the U.S.

Years ago, he shopped a script for Beauty Parlor, a series he said was in the vein of Modern Family, which is produced by 20th TV. Back then, he was told the American TV audiences were not ready for a Latino family. But Estefan, the winner of 19 Grammy Awards, believes the times have changed.