Jon Secada

Born in Havana, Cuba, however raised in Miami, Florida, U.S., Jon Secada was exposed to a wide variety of musical influences from a young age – which would prove to have a lasting impression on his own musical output. Initially immersed in the genres of salsa and merengue, Secada subsequently discovered rhythm and blues and pop music, notably the works of Marvin Gaye, Billy Joel and Elton John. Having graduated from high school in 1979, the singer-songwriter enrolled at the University of Miami, where he studied his Bachelor’s degree in Music and Master’s degree in Jazz Vocal Performance.

Secada was subsequently approached by Gloria Estefan who invited the Cuban-born talent to sing in her backing group. The singer-songwriter’s duties however didn’t end there, with Secada co-writing a number of songs on Estefan’s smash hit album “Into the Light”, notably the No. 1 single “Coming Out of the Dark”. Secada went on to tour on Estfan’s “Into the Light World Tour”, where he was given unprecedented freedom on stage to make his mark and perform solo, which ultimately kick-started his solo career.

In 1992 the musician released his debut, self-titled album, which went on to sell over six million copies worldwide. The record became 1992’s No. 1 Latin Album, aided by the hits “Just Another Day”, “Angel”, and “I’m Free”, and earned the singer his first Grammy Award for “Best Latin Pop Album”. The platinum-selling full-length “Heart, Soul & a Voice” followed in 1994 led by the singles “If You Go” and “Mental Picture”, after which he released his Grammy-winning third album “Amor” in 1995.

With a reputation as one of the finest living Latin artists, Secada was afforded the luxury of working with the likes of Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, a teenage Mandy Moore, and Frank Sinatra. Following the release of the best-of compilation “Secada” in 1997, the singer moved to Epic Records to release his fourth full-length album “Better Part of Me” in 2000. The studio albums “The Gift” and “Amanecer” appeared in the early part of the new millennium, after which Secada landed leading roles in the Broadway musical productions of “Grease” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat”.

Following another move of label, this time to Big3 Records, Secada issued the full-length “Same Dream” in 2005, followed by the holiday album “Una Fiesta Navidena” in 2007. The studio album “Expressions” arrived towards the tail-end of the decade in 2009 and was succeeded by the best-of compilation “Classicos” in 2010, and the full-length “Otra Vez” in 2011.