Gloria Estefan

Gloria Estefan (born Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García Estefan) was born on September 1, 1957, in Havana, Cuba. After Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, her family left the island, and she was raised mainly in Miami, Florida.

Her music career began in 1975 when she and her cousin Merci Murciano auditioned for the local group Miami Latin Boys, led by keyboardist Emilio Estefan. With their arrival, the band was renamed Miami Sound Machine. Gloria Fajardo married Emilio Estefan in 1979.

Blending pop, disco, and salsa, Miami Sound Machine released its first Spanish-language album in 1979. The international breakthrough came with Dr. Beat, which topped European dance charts in 1984. *Primitive Love* (1985), their first English-language album, produced three major U.S. hits: Conga, Bad Boy, and Words Get in the Way.

After the success of *Let It Loose* (1987), the group took the name Gloria Estefan & The Miami Sound Machine in 1988, scoring more hits such as Rhythm Is Gonna Get You and Anything for You, which reached No. 1. *Cuts Both Ways* (1989) was credited solely to her name and included the No. 1 single Don't Wanna Lose You.

On March 20, 1990, a serious bus accident left her with a broken vertebra, requiring a long recovery. She returned in 1991 with the album *Into the Light* and the accident-inspired single Coming Out of the Dark, which also topped the charts.

Nicknamed the “Queen of Latin Pop,” Gloria Estefan is a multi-award-winning artist who has won seven Grammy Awards. She is regarded as the most successful pioneer of Latin music crossover, with worldwide sales exceeding 100 million albums.