Juan Francisco Secada Ramírez (born October 4, 1961), better known as Jon Secada, is a

Cuban Cuban may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Cuba, a country in the Caribbean * Cubans, people from Cuba, or of Cuban descent ** Cuban exile, a person who left Cuba for political reasons, or a descendant thereof * Cuban citizen, a perso ...

-born American singer. He has won two Grammy Awards and sold 15 million records, making him one of the best-selling Latin music artists. His music fuses

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...

, soul music, pop, and Latin percussion. Secada has written songs for

Gloria Estefan Gloria Estefan (; born Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García; born 1 September 1957) is a Cuban-American singer, actress, and businesswoman. Estefan is a seven-time Grammy Award winner, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and has been ...

, Ricky Martin, and

Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lynn Affleck (' Lopez; born July 24, 1969), also known as J.Lo, is an American singer, actress and dancer. In 1991, she began appearing as a Fly Girl dancer on the sketch comedy television series ''In Living Color'', where she rema ...

. He has toured with

Luciano Pavarotti Luciano Pavarotti (, , ; 12 October 19356 September 2007) was an Italian operatic tenor who during the late part of his career crossed over into popular music, eventually becoming one of the most acclaimed tenors of all time. He made numerou ...

and recorded duets with Jim Brickman, Olivia Newton-John, and

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...

. Secada has performed several times at '' A Capitol Fourth'', an annual

Independence Day An independence day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or more rarely after the end of a military occupation. Man ...

concert from the United States Capitol televised by PBS.

Early life

Secada was born in 1961 in Havana, Cuba. Secada's father, José, was incarcerated for 3 years as a political prisoner to the communist Cuban government. In 1971, the Secadas received permission to emigrate and moved to Miami. His parents opened a coffee shop. Secada was raised in Hialeah, Florida.

Education

In 1979, Secada graduated from Hialeah Senior High School in Hialeah, Florida. During his performance of ''

A Christmas Carol ''A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas'', commonly known as ''A Christmas Carol'', is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. ''A Christmas C ...

'' in 11th grade, he says he realized his musical potential and was encouraged by teachers to pursue music as a career. After graduating from high school, Secada attended the

Frost School of Music Frost School of Music is the music school at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. From 1926 to 2003, it was known as University of Miami School of Music. Academics and programs The University of Miami's Frost School of Music was on ...

at the University of Miami, where he received a Bachelor of Music in 1983 and a Master of Music in jazz vocal performance in 1986. He graduated cum-laude and was later inducted into the Iron Arrow Honor Society, the highest honor bestowed by the University of Miami.

Career

From 1986 to 1991, Secada was a teacher at Miami Dade College. In 1986, Secada's University of Miami acquaintances introduced him to Emilio Estefan, a musician in

Miami Sound Machine Miami Sound Machine was an American band of Latin-influenced music that had featured the vocals of Cuban-born recording artist Gloria Estefan (née Fajardo). Established in 1975 by Emilio Estefan Jr., the band was originally known as the Miami ...

and husband of

. Estefan listened to one of Secada's demos and then became Secada's mentor and manager. This led to Secada becoming a backup singer for Miami Sound Machine. In 1991, Secada co-wrote and was a backup singer for "

Coming Out of the Dark "Coming Out of the Dark" is a song by Cuban-American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan. It was released on January 10, 1991, worldwide by Epic Records as the leading and first single from her second album, '' Into the Light'' (1991). It was ...

," a number-one hit song inspired by a tour-bus accident involving Gloria Estefan in 1990, in which her back was broken. In 1992, he released his self-titled debut album, which sold 7 million copies. In 1994, he performed a duet with

, a re-recording of "

The Best Is Yet to Come "The Best Is Yet to Come" is a 1959 song composed by Cy Coleman to lyrics by Carolyn Leigh. It is associated with Frank Sinatra, who recorded it on his 1964 album ''It Might as Well Be Swing'' accompanied by Count Basie under the direction of ...

," released on Sinatra's album '' Duets II''. He also performed at the awards for Miss Venezuela 1994. In 1995, he performed on Broadway in '' Grease'', and he also presented at the

49th Tony Awards The 49th Annual Tony Awards was held at the Minskoff Theatre on June 4, 1995, and broadcast by CBS. Hosts were Glenn Close, Gregory Hines, and Nathan Lane. The ceremony The musical sequence was "Broadway Songs We've Never Done, and Never Will" w ...

. He recorded ''

If I Never Knew You "If I Never Knew You" is a song by American singers Jon Secada and Shanice, from Disney's 1995 animated feature film, ''Pocahontas''. The song was written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, and originally recorded by American ...

'', a duet with Shanice for '' Pocahontas''. In 1999, he co-wrote and produced " She's All I Ever Had" for Ricky Martin. In 2003, he performed in '' Cabaret''. He also co-wrote ''

Juramento Juramento is a municipality in the north of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. the population was 4,345 in a total area of 432 km². It became a municipality in 1953. Juramento is located 42 km to the southeast of Montes Claros on ...

'' for Ricky Martin. From 2006 to 2009 Secada was a judge on '' Latin American Idol'' for its entire four-season run. In 2007, he co-wrote three songs, and performed in one, on

Lilian Garcia Lilián Annette Garcia (born August 19, 1966) is a Spanish-American ring announcer, singer and podcaster best known for her time with WWE. She is currently announcing for the Professional Fighters League (PFL).Doyle, Dave"Former WWE ring announce ...

's album ''¡Quiero Vivir!''. In 2017, he released a tribute album with cover versions of songs by

Benny Moré Bartolomé Maximiliano Moré Gutiérrez (24 August 1919 – 19 February 1963), better known as Benny Moré (also spelled Beny Moré), was a Cuban singer, bandleader and songwriter. Due to his fluid tenor voice and his great expressivity, he was k ...

Personal life

From 1988 to 1993, Secada was married to Jo Pat Cafro. In May 1995, he started dating Maritere Vilar. They were married in February 1997 and have two children. Secada resides in a 7,284 square-foot house, with a tennis court and pool, a few blocks west of the University of Miami, his alma mater, in Coral Gables, Florida. Secada has created the Jon Secada Music Scholarship at the University of Miami, raised funds for The Recording Academy's effort "Keeping Music in Schools," and supports many initiatives including the Pediatric AIDS Unit at

Jackson Memorial Hospital Jackson Memorial Hospital (also known as "Jackson" or abbreviated "MJMH") is a non-profit, tertiary care hospital, the primary teaching hospital of the University of Miami's School of Medicine, and the largest hospital in the United States with 1,5 ...

, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Discography

* '' Jon Secada'' (1992) * ''

Otro Día Más Sin Verte ''Otro Día Más Sin Verte'' ( en, Another Day Without Seeing You), also called ''Sentir'' ( en, Feel) in Spain, is the Spanish-language debut album by Cuban American, Cuban singer Jon Secada. It was released on October 6, 1992 by EMI Latin to ...

'' (1992) * ''

Heart, Soul & a Voice ''Heart, Soul & a Voice'' is the second English-language album by Cuban American singer Jon Secada, released in 1994 on the SBK Records label. It contains the singles "Take Me", "If You Go", and "Mental Picture". All of the tracks except "Don't Be ...

'' (1994) * '' Si Te Vas'' (1994) *''Amor'' (1995) *''Secada'' (1997) *''Better Part of Me'' (2000) *''The Gift'' (2001) *''Amanecer'' (2002) *''Same Dream'' (2005) *''A Christmas Fiesta/Una Fiesta Navideña'' (2007) *''Expressions'' (2009) *''Classics/Clasicos'' (2010) *''Otra Vez'' (2011) *''To Beny Moré With Love'' (2017)

Awards and nominations

{, class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" , - ! scope="col" , Award ! scope="col" , Year ! scope="col" , Nominee(s) ! scope="col" , Category ! scope="col" , Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable", , - !scope="row",

ASCAP Latin Music Awards The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadca ...

, 2000 , "

Bella Bella is a feminine given name. It is a diminutive form of names ending in -bella. ''Bella'' is related to the Italian, Spanish, Greek, Portuguese and Latin words for beautiful, to the name Belle, meaning ''beautiful'' in French. It increased in ...

" , Most Performed Song , , , - !scope="row" rowspan=5, ASCAP Pop Music Awards , 1992 , "

" , rowspan=5, Most Performed Songs , , , - , rowspan=3, 1994 , " Angel" , , rowspan=3, , - , "

Do You Believe in Us "Do You Believe in Us" ( es, "Cree en nuestro amor") is a song by Cuban recording artist Jon Secada for his debut self-titled studio album and for his debut Spanish-language album ''Otro Día Más Sin Verte'' (1992). It was released in late 1992 ...

" , , - , "

Just Another Day Just Another Day may refer to: Music * ''Just Another Day'' (album), an album by Wire Daisies * " Just Another Day...", a song by Queen Latifah * "Just Another Day", a song by The Game from the album ''Compton'' * "Just Another Day", a song by T ...

" , , - , 1995 , "I'm Free" , , , - !scope="row" rowspan=2, BMI Latin Awards , 1993 , "

" , Song of the Year , , , - , 2001 , "

" , Award-Winning Song , , , - ! scope="row" rowspan=8, BMI Pop Awards , rowspan=4, 1994 , "

" , rowspan=8, Award-Winning Songs , , rowspan=4, , - , "

" , , - , " Angel" , , - , "I'm Free" , , - , rowspan=2, 1996 , "Mental Picture" , , rowspan=2, , - , "

If You Go ''If You Go'' is a 1961 album by Peggy Lee. The orchestra was arranged and conducted by Quincy Jones. John Engstead was the front cover photographer. Track listing # " As Time Goes By" (Herman Hupfeld) – 2:48 # "If You Go" ( Geoffrey Parso ...

" , , - , 1998 , "Too Late Too Soon" , , rowspan=2, , - , 2001 , " She's All I Ever Had" , , - !scope="row",

Billboard Music Awards The ''Billboard'' Music Awards are honors given out annually by '' Billboard'', a publication covering the music business and a music popularity chart. The ''Billboard'' Music Awards show has been held annually since 1990, with the exception of ...

, 1993 , Himself , Top Adult Contemporary Artist , , , - !scope="row", Billboard Latin Music Awards ,

2001 The September 11 attacks against the United States by Al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror, were a defining event of 2001. The United States led a Participants in ...

, "Así" , Latin Dance Club Play Track , , , - !scope="row" rowspan=3,

Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

, rowspan=2,

1993 File:1993 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Oslo I Accord is signed in an attempt to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; The Russian White House is shelled during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis; Czechoslovakia is peace ...

, Himself , Best New Artist , , rowspan=3, , - , ''

'' ,

Best Latin Pop Album The Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for releasing albums in the Latin pop genre. Honors in ...

, , - ,

1996 File:1996 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: A Centennial Olympic Park bombing, bomb explodes at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, set off by a radical Anti-abortion violence, anti-abortionist; The center fuel tank explodes on TWA Flight 8 ...

, ''Amor'' ,

Best Latin Pop Performance The Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for releasing albums in the Latin pop genre. Honors in ...

, , - !scope="row", Latin Grammy Awards ,

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...

, ''To Beny Moré With Love'' , Best Traditional Tropical Album , , , - ! scope="row" rowspan=7, Lo Nuestro Awards , rowspan=5,

, rowspan=2, Himself , Male Artist of the Year, Pop , , rowspan=5, , - , New Pop Artist of the Year , , - , '' Jon Secada'' , Pop Album of the Year , , - , " Angel" , Pop Song of the Year , , - , "

" , Video of the Year , , - ,

1994 File:1994 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1994 Winter Olympics are held in Lillehammer, Norway; The Kaiser Permanente building after the 1994 Northridge earthquake; A model of the MS Estonia, which Sinking of the MS Estonia, sank in ...

, Himself , Male Artist of the Year, Pop , , - ,

1995 File:1995 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: O.J. Simpson is O. J. Simpson murder case, acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman from the 1994, year prior in "The Trial of the Century" in the United States; The ...

, " Si Te Vas" , Video of the Year , {, class="wikitable" , + !Year !Award !Category !Work !Result !Ref. , - , rowspan="8" , 1993 , BMI Awards , Most Performed Latin Song , "Otro Día Más Sin Verte", "

Sentir "Sentir" is a song recorded by Cuban recording artist Jon Secada for his debut self-titled studio album and for his debut Spanish-language album ''Otro Día Más Sin Verte'' (1992). It was released in 1993 as the fourth single from his Spanish-lan ...

", and "Cree en Nuestra Amor" (Do You Believe in Us) , Won , , - , The World Music Awards , Best-Selling Latin American Recording Artist , Himself , Won , rowspan="5" , , - , The Caribbean Music Awards , Best New Latin Pop Album , rowspan="2" , ''

'' , Won , - , rowspan="3" , ''Billboard'' Latin Music Awards , Best Latin-Pop Album of the Year , rowspan="3" , Won , - , Best Latin-Pop Artist , rowspan="4" , Himself , - , Best New Latin-Pop Artist of the Year , - , Hit Radio Awards (Hong Kong) , Best Male Artist of the Year , Won , , - , Rolling Stone Magazine , Best Male Vocalist , Won , - , 1994 , Asian Music Awards , Best Pop Song , "Mental Picture" , Won , - , rowspan="1" , 1998 , rowspan="1" , BMI Pop Awards , Best Latin Song , "Amandolo"

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Secada, Jon 1961 births Living people Afro-Cuban culture American entertainers of Cuban descent American Latin pop singers Cuban emigrants to the United States Cuban male singers Cuban songwriters Grammy Award winners Hialeah Senior High School alumni Latin Grammy Award winners Latin music songwriters Male songwriters Miami Sound Machine members Musicians from Miami People from Havana People of Afro–Cuban descent University of Miami Frost School of Music alumni