Gloria Estefan reflects on bilingual career

MIAMI (Billboard) - For the first time in its young, nine-year history, the Latin Recording Academy and its board of trustees is honoring a woman as its Person of the Year, Gloria Estefan.

With a career that spans more than three decades and 70 million-plus albums sold, Estefan is the original Latin crossover international star. First as lead singer of Miami Sound Machine and later as a soloist, Estefan has achieved success in two languages.

During a break from her European tour, Estefan spoke with Billboard about what it means to be Latin today.

Q: You are touring arenas, in front of tens of thousands of people. Of course, you’ve done this most of your life. Is there a routine you follow right before taking the stage?

Gloria Estefan: I try to open all my chakras and I think of all my points of communication. I do a prayer that everything comes out the best it can, and we exchange energy. I imagine a point in the top of my head, in my hands, in my solar plexus. Read the rest of this entry »

New candids added

September 9, 2008: Gloria arrived at a hotel in London with family.

Gloria Estefan Celebrates Her Three Latin Grammy Nominations

Gloria Estefan Celebrates Her Three Latin Grammy Nominations In The Middle Of A Sold Out Concert In London

Miami, FL (September 11, 2008) – In a press conference held yesterday, the Latin Recording Academy announced the nominees for the 9thAnnual LATIN GRAMMY Awards. Five time Grammy award winner and international superstar Gloria Estefan was among the elite nominated for the prestigious LATIN GRAMMY awards, in three of its main categories.

The nominated categories include:

Best Traditional Tropical Album
90 MILLAS
Gloria Estefan

Best Tropical Song
Píntame De Colores
Emilio Estefan, Jr., Gloria Estefan, Alberto Gaitan & Ricardo
Gaitan, songwriters (Gloria Estefan)
Track from: 90 Millas

Best Long Form Music Video
90 MILLAS
Gloria Estefan
Emilio Estefan, Jr., video director; Emilio Estefan, Jr., video
Producer

Besides from these three nominations, Estefan was chosen “2008 Person of the Year” for her philanthropic, professional and cultural accomplishments and will receive the honor at a star-studded concert and tribute dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. Estefan is the ninth Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year honoree and is the first woman to receive the honor. She joins a prestigious list of previous honorees, which includes Julio Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Carlos Santana. A portion of the proceeds from the evening’s tribute dinner will benefit the Gloria Estefan Foundation as well as St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. The prestigious event will be produced by 13-time GRAMMY winner Phil Ramone and will precede the 9th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, which will be held at the Toyota Center in Houston on Thursday, Nov. 13, and will be broadcast live on the Univision Television Network at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central.

Gloria was in the middle of her concert, in London, when she was informed of the nominations. Her sold out concert at Wembley couldn’t be better scenery for this celebration. This marks the first time in 12 years that Estefan Tours Europe. The tour will take her to European cities including London, Rotterdam, Madrid, Barcelona and Belfast. Upon returning to the states, Gloria will perform a very special concert on October 24 at the Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Education Funds of Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Indian River County Public Schools.

Source: gloriaestefan.com

New photos from Spain

Concert in Madrid (2008.09.13) (HQ)

Concert in Barcelona, Spain (2008.09.17) (HQ)

New photos from London

Concert at the Wembley Arena in London (2008.09.10) (HQ)

More new photos

Concert at Odyssey Arena in Belfast (2008.09.08) (HQ)

Concert at Odyssey Arena in Belfast (2008.09.08)

New photos from Netherlands

Concert at the Ahoy in Rotterdam (2008.09.05) (HQ)

Concert at the Ahoy in Rotterdam (2008.09.05)

Birthday party in Rotterdam (2008.09.02) (HQ)