Jon Secada

Secada was born in 1961 in Havana, Cuba.^[2] Secada's father, José, was incarcerated for 3 years as a political prisoner by the communist Cuban government. In 1971, the Secadas received permission to emigrate and moved to Miami.^[5] His parents opened a coffee shop.^[6] Secada was raised in Hialeah, Florida.

In 1979, Secada graduated from Hialeah Senior High School in Hialeah, Florida.^[7] During his performance of A Christmas Carol in 11th grade, he says he realized his musical potential and was encouraged by teachers to pursue music as a career.^[2]

After graduating from high school, Secada attended the Frost School of Music 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.^[8] He graduated cum laude and was later inducted into the Iron Arrow Honor Society, the highest honor bestowed by the University of Miami.^[9]

From 1986 to 1991, Secada was a teacher at Miami Dade College.^[10]

In 1986, Secada's University of Miami acquaintances introduced him to Emilio Estefan, a musician in Miami Sound Machine and husband of Gloria Estefan.^[1] Estefan listened to one of Secada's demos and then became Secada's mentor and manager.^[2][11] This led to Secada becoming a backup singer for Miami Sound Machine.^[6]

In 1991, Secada co-wrote and was a backup singer for "Coming Out of the Dark", a number-one hit song inspired by a tour-bus accident involving Gloria Estefan in 1990, in which her back was broken.^[12] In 1992, he released his self-titled debut album, which sold 7 million copies.^[6] In 1994, he performed a duet with Frank Sinatra, a re-recording of "The Best Is Yet to Come", 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,^[6] and he also presented at the 49th Tony Awards. He also recorded "If I Never Knew You", a duet with Shanice for Pocahontas. In 1999, he co-wrote and co-produced "She's All I Ever Had" for Ricky Martin.^{[citation needed]}

In 2003, he performed in Cabaret.^[6] He also co-wrote "Juramento" for Ricky Martin. From 2006 to 2009 Secada was a judge on Latin American Idol for its entire four-season run.^[13] In 2007, he co-wrote three songs, and performed in one, on Lilian Garcia's album ¡Quiero Vivir!.^[14]

In 2017, he released a tribute album with cover versions of songs by Benny Moré.^[15]

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^[16] 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.^[17]

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, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.^[18]

• Jon Secada (1992)
• Otro Día Más Sin Verte (1992)
• Heart, Soul & a Voice (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)

• Alice's Wonderland Bakery as King of Hearts

• List of best-selling Latin music artists