Gloria Estefan
Date of birth: 1957-09-01
Place of birth: Havana, Cuba
Known for: Acting
Also known as: Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García, The Miami Sound Machine, گلوریا استفان
Biography
Gloria Estefan (born Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García; born 1 September 1957) is a Cuban-American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. Estefan is a seven-time Grammy Award winner, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and has been named one of the Top 100 greatest artists of all time by both VH1 and Billboard. Estefan's record sales exceed 75 million worldwide, making her the second best selling female latin artist in history and one of the best-selling female singers of all-time. A contralto, Estefan started her career as lead singer of Miami Latin Boys, which was later renamed Miami Sound Machine. She and Miami Sound Machine earned worldwide success with their 1985 single "Conga", which became Estefan's signature song and led to Miami Sound Machine winning the 15th annual Tokyo Music Festival's grand prix in 1986. In 1988, she and Miami Sound Machine achieved their first number-one hit with "Anything for You". Estefan is credited with breaking down barriers and opening doors for Latin musicians, including Selena, Jon Secada, Shakira and Ricky Martin. In March 1990, Estefan sustained a life-threatening cervical vertebrae fracture when her tour bus was involved in a serious accident near Scranton, Pennsylvania. She underwent an emergency surgical stabilization of her cervical spine and post-surgical rehabilitation that lasted almost a year, but made a full recovery. A year later, in March 1991, Estefan launched her comeback with a worldwide tour and album, Into the Light. Estefan's 1993 Spanish-language album Mi Tierra won the first of her three Grammy Awards for Best Tropical Latin Album. Mi Tierra immediately soared to the top of the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart upon its release. The album was also the first Diamond album in Spain. Many of Estefan's songs, including "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You", "1-2-3", "Don't Wanna Lose You", "Get On Your Feet", "Here We Are", "Coming Out of the Dark", "Bad Boy", "Oye!", "Party Time" and a remake of "Turn the Beat Around," became international chart-topping hits. In addition to winning three Grammy Awards and being a 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Estefan has been awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Las Vegas Walk of Fame, and was a Kennedy Center Honors recipient in 2017 for her contributions to American cultural life. Estefan also won an MTV Video Music Award, was honored with the American Music Award for Lifetime Achievement, and has been named BMI Songwriter of the Year. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and has received multiple Billboard awards. Billboard has listed Estefan as the third Most Successful Latina and 23rd Greatest Latin Artist of all time in US, based on both Latin albums and Latin songs chart. Hailed as the "Queen of Latin Pop" by the media, she has amassed 38 number one hits across Billboard charts, including 15 chart-topping songs on the Hot Latin Songs chart. Rolling Stone has ranked her 1985 hit "Conga" the 11th Greatest Latin Pop Songs of all time. Richard Blanco, the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Poet, told The Boston Globe in 2020 that Estefan is among the Latin singers who helped him gain ground "in the musical poetry of my culture and rejuvenate my spirits".
Movie Credits
VH1: Divas Live
1998-04-14
The queen of soul, Aretha Franklin, and four of the biggest female hitmakers in contemporary pop, Ma
Heartbreakers at the BBC
2023-02-11
A selection of classic heartbreaking BBC performances from some of music’s biggest stars, including
Gloria Estefan: Live by Request
1998-11-03
Latin pop singer Gloria Estefan performs on the A&E special Live by Request where the set list is de
Music of the Heart
1999-10-29
After Roberta Guaspari separates from her husband, she receives encouragement from her mother to tak
Little Angelita
1999-01-01
A little girl finds out her big voice can come in handy in an emergency.
Euro Disney : L'Ouverture
1992-04-11
On April 11, 1992, host Jean-Pierre Foucault and singer David Hallyday presented an exceptional even
Aretha Franklin: Duets
1993-05-09
A chance to hear admirers including Elton John, Gloria Estefan, Smokey Robinson, PM Dawn, Bonnie Rai
Celia Cruz | ¡Azúcar!
2004-01-27
Hosted by Pop and Latin singing sensations Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony, this all-star tribute ho
Sesame Street: Elmopalooza!
1998-02-20
Jon Stewart hosts the Sesame Street Muppets' 30 year celebration, but Elmo steps in when things go a
Gloria Estefan - Live in Atlantis
2000-05-12
Shot at the Atlantis Hotel in the Bahamas, Gloria Estefan's Live in Atlantis features the hits "Comi
1996 VH1 Honors
1996-03-31
In 1996, VH1 organized a benefit concert for Witness with Human Rights First. Robin Williams filmed
Gloria Estefan: The Evolution Tour Live In Miami
1996-09-21
Latin pop superstar Gloria Estefan brings the crowd to their feet in this concert video, shot at a p
Miami Wild
2022-05-18
The stories of American cities are inextricably linked with the tales of immigrants, making their li
Lionel Richie: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song
2022-05-17
The nation’s library, musical artists and American leaders honored pop music icon Lionel Richie in t
Revolution's Daughter
A deep dive into the lives and experiences of those impacted by the Fidel Castro era in Cuba.
Selena ¡Vive!
2005-04-07
Tribute to Selena Quintinilla-Perez, featuring musical performances and archive footage.
Homenaje María Teresa Campos
2024-01-05
Jose Feliciano: Behind This Guitar
2022-09-28
The official documentary on the life and continuing career of singer-songwriter and guitarist Jose F
For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story
2000-11-18
In the early 1970s, Cuban trumpeter Arturo Sandoval (Andy Garcia) is torn between his own musical dr
Diane Warren: Relentless
2025-01-10
An intimate look at the life, career and process of one of the most accomplished songwriters of all
Quincy Jones...The First 50 Years
1998-04-11
The composer-arranger-producer is honored in a tribute taped in 1997.
The Magic of the Diary of Anne Frank
2015-04-29
Dutch presenter Astrid Joosten travels the world to find out why Anne Frank's written words in her d
A MusiCares Tribute to Carole King
2015-06-23
On January 24, 2014, Carole King was honored as the 2014 MusiCares Person of the Year. At a gala eve
Soul of a Nation Presents Mi Gente: Groundbreakers and Changemakers
2022-09-14
We're spotlighting key figures in the Hispanic and Latin American community, including music icon Gl
Celia: The Queen
2008-04-26
Carlos Rivera: leyendas
2022-05-20
All the Way... A Decade of Song and Video
2001-02-20
"All the Way... A Decade of Song & Video" is Celine Dion's sixth home video release. It's a collecti
The Latin Explosion: A New America
2015-11-16
With more than 50 million Latinos now living in the United States, Latinos are taking their seat at
Gloria Estefan - Everlasting Gloria!
1995-10-03
Somos un solo pueblo
1995-12-03
Presents a bit of the history of the migration of our people, people who came out opening new horizo
Gloria Estefan: The Best of
1997-02-17
The Latino List
2011-09-29
Documentary film interviews leading Latinos on race, identity, and achievement.
America's Musical Journey
2018-05-17
"AMERICA'S MUSICAL JOURNEY" celebrates the unique diversity of cultures and creative risk-taking tha
Santana: Corazón Live from Mexico: Live It to Believe It
2014-09-09
Includes the concert film, a “making of the concert” 30 minute documentary film shot in Puerto Valla
A Step from Heaven
2009-04-15
Juan Angel Ruiz suffered a tragic accident that left his life and health in permanent risk but his s
First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb
2015-11-20
An all-star cast performs the music of John Kander and Fred Ebb; songs include "New York, New York"
Pavarotti & Friends 99 for Guatemala and Kosovo
1999-06-01
The Pavarotti & Friends for Guatemala and Kosovo concert was held on June 1, 1999, and raised $1 mil
Gloria Estefan: Live and Unwrapped
2004-02-10
The Live & Unwrapped is the fifth special concert by Gloria Estefan, the show was made at The Coloss
Gloria Estefan: Don't Stop
1998-09-11
Don’t Stop! is an all-access, no-holds-barred look into the dynamic world of pop megastar Gloria Est
Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones
2018-12-09
“Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones,” is a star-studded evening that celebrates the life an
Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration
2001-11-13
The Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special was a 2001 New York City revue show by Michael Jackson
A Change of Heart
2017-03-10
Discouraged with cards that life has felt him, Hank is a man whose circumstances have steered him to
Walt Disney World's 25th Anniversary Party
1997-02-28
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the most magical place on earth!
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
2021-06-18
Rita Moreno defied both her humble upbringing and relentless racism to become one of a select group
Sesame Street: 50 Years of Sunny Days
2021-04-26
For more than a half-century, Sesame Street has addressed and explained diversity, equity, and inclu
Father of the Bride
2022-07-21
A father comes to grips with his daughter’s upcoming wedding through the prism of multiple relations
Vivo
2021-07-30
A music-loving kinkajou named Vivo embarks on the journey of a lifetime to fulfill his destiny and d
Latin Grammy Celebrates: Them and Their Music
2021-05-09
Gloria Estefan – Into the Light World Tour
1992-01-01
Nine countries… 100 cities… millions of fans... and they've been waiting! Capture live over a two-ni
Gloria Estefan: Sangre Yoruba
2021-07-17
Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over
2021-09-11
The story of the iconic singer's fascinating six-decade career in both music and Black and LGBTQ act
Brisa
2024-11-12
Brisa de Angulo Losada, a survivor and advocate for other victims of childhood sexual violence, took
American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special
2024-10-06
An evening celebrating half a century of groundbreaking music, iconic moments, unforgettable perform
Sid & Marty Krofft's Redeye Express
1988-03-09
TV special with Ron Reagan as the owner of the Redeye Express, a nightclub featuring comedy acts, mu
Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie
2025-09-13
Gabby heads out on a road trip with her Grandma Gigi to the urban wonderland of Cat Francisco. But w
Club Med
1986-01-06
Various romantic entanglements occur among the week's visitors to a Club Med resort in Ixtapa, Mexic
The Grand Opening of Euro Disneyland
1992-04-11
On April 11, 1992, The Grand Opening of Euro Disney aired on CBS, offering viewers a spectacular, en
Disney's Magic in the Magic Kingdom
1988-02-12
Television special focused on magic acts in the Magic Kingdom
Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?
2004-03-06
Come one, come all for Sesame Street's 35th anniversary musical gathering! Is there one song the who