Tag Archives: Conga

Estefan to be Inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame

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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.”

Gloria & Emilio Estefan Developing Broadway Show About Their Lives…

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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.

Castillo Sings the Biebs to Victory on “The Voice”

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Julio Cesar Castillo lives to sing another day on The Voice…

During his Knockout Round battle against fellow Team Blake member MarissaAnn on Tuesday’s episode of NBC’s singing competition, the 21-year-old mariachi singer stepped up his game with a Biebs attack.

Julio Cesar Castillo

While MarissaAnn performed the Labelle’s “Lady Mar

malade,” a song which earned Christina Aguilera a Grammy in 2002, the Chicago mariachi singer performed Justin Bieber’s “Somebody to Love.”

“It’s out of my comfort zone,” acknowledged Castillo, who had previously wowed the judges with his renditions of Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba” and Gloria Estefan’s “Conga,” “but it’s a side of my voice I definitely want to show the coaches.“

It’s a big risk that ultimately paid off… After two great performances that the other coaches called “dead even,” Blake Shelton ultimately named Castillo the winner of the clash, sending him to the next round.

“Right now I feel invincible,” professed Castillo. “I feel like my dream is finally coming true!”

Castillo will now compete in The Voice’s live rounds, which are set to begin next week.

Castillo Congas His Way to the Next Round on “The Voice”

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Julio Cesar Castillo has plenty of reason to “come on, shake your body baby, do the conga!”

The 21-year-old mariachi singer, who became the first-ever The Voice contestant to ever perform a blind audition completely en español, competed against soul singer and fellow Team Blake member Terisa Griffin during Monday’s episode of the hit singing competition.

In their Battle Round bout, Castillo and Griffin performed Gloria Estefan’s “Conga” in what’s being hailed as a “battle to remember.”

Blake Shelton, the pair’s coach, pick the song as a way of finding the “middle ground” between Julio’s and Terisa’s polar opposite singing styles.

The reaction of fellow coaches Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine and Cee Lo Green made for must-see TV.

“For the first time on this show, I’m kind of speechless,” declared Aguilera. Levine shared Christina’s quandary, but the singer did manage to give Shelton kudos on the strange duet.

“Blake, you’ve really outdone yourself on this one,” he said. “It was odd and it worked.”

In the end though, Shelton picked Castillo to advance to the next round of competition.

Martinez Sambas to the Top of the DWTS Leaderboard…

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Hey may say he doesn’t know how to be sexy, but former “All My Children” star J.R. Martinez does know how to shake his bon-bon…

Performing a sizzling samba and even playing the drums to Gloria Estefan‘s “Conga” on Monday night’s ‘80s-themed “Dancing With the Stars” performance show, the 28-year-old wounded-Iraq-veteran-turned-actor showed just why he’s a frontrunner.

Martinez and his dancing partner Karina Smirnoff received a total of 28 points from the judges, including the pair’s first 10, to earn the highest score of the night.

Martinez tapped into his Latin roots to get “inspired” and perfect the complicated Brazilian dance.

“One of the advantages that I think I have in the Samba this week is the fact that I am Latin,” said Martinez in the pre-dance clip. “Being raised by a single mother, I was always dancing with my mother and I think that will help me do well with the samba.”

Meanwhile, Smirnoff pushed him hard to help Martinez capture the dance’s sexual energy.

“It’s funny, she kept telling me, ‘Be sexy here! Be masculine!’ and I would do something and she’s like, ‘That’s not sexy! That’s
not masculine!’” said Martinez after the dance. “And I was like, ‘I don’t know how to be sexy!’ I really don’t. It’s not my thing. I don’t think I’m a sexy and masculine type of guy, but tonight, it was fun.”

Boy, did the judges respond to the pair’s high energy dance!

“You were like a loin-shattering sex machine,” said Bruno Tonioli. “You had so much fire down below, it was like a volcano!”

Meanwhile, Carrie Ann Inaba told Martinez just how hot she thinks he is: “Hey papi, muy caliente!” she said. “That is the way to dance that samba.”

If the dancing pair survive tonight’s elimination round, Smirnoff says they’ll tackkle a quick step for next week’s Broadway-themed performance show.