Gloria Estefan Singer, Songwriter Miami, Florida

Born Gloria Maria Fajardo in Havana, Cuba, her family fled Cuba in 1959, when Fidel Castro seized power of the country, and settled in a neighborhood behind Miami’s Orange Bowl Stadium. In 1975, she met Emilio Estefan, who invited her to join his band, which eventually became the Miami Sound Machine. Starting in 1985, the band became an international success with such songs as, "Conga" and "Words Get In The Way." Throughout her career with the Miami Sound Machine and as a solo artist, Ms. Estefan has sold 70 million albums worldwide and won five Grammy Awards.

Ms. Estefan has received numerous recognitions and honors. In 1992, she was invited by President George Bush to serve as a public member of the United States Delegation to the 47th General Assembly to the United Nations. In addition, she was the first-ever Latin female to receive the BMI “Songwriter of the Year” award. She has composed 15 of her own Top 10 Hits and has written worldwide hits recorded by renowned artists such as Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. Ms. Estefan is married to Emilio Estefan and they have two children, Nayib and Emily Marie.