Jon Secada
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Jon Secada is one of the most versatile artists of our time. Not only blessed with a soulful voice but also gifted in creating, writing and producing good music as well. He has won the Grammy twice and sold for over 20 million albums upon release of his debut album in 1992.
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About
Jon Secada (originally named Juan Secada but changed his first name to Jon in 1990) was born in Havana, Cuba on October 4, 1962. In 1971, his family left Cuba & became residents of the United States when he was 9 years old.
While attending school, his family managed a coffee shop in Miami Beach & Jon worked at it. It was in his teenage years when Jon discovered his gift for music. At 11th grade, he showcased his musical talent in his school by singing a musical version of A Christmas Carol that made Miguel Morejon (a friend and a songwriter) be impressed and surprised at his performance. Though exposed to many different sounds like salsa, merengue and tropical rhythms, Jon developed a great passion for R&B and pop influenced by musical moguls, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Elton John and Marvin Gaye. A bit of punk, soul and undertones of Latin percussion makes Jon's music unique and striking.
After graduating from Hialeah High School, Jon enrolled at the University of Miami where he both earned his B.A. and M.A. in Jazz Vocal Performance. Simultaneously, he began to develop his skills in songwriting. Then in the late 1980's, Jon met Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Jr. Soon after they met, Jon was invited to join Gloria's band (a.k.a. Miami Sound Machine) where he co-wrote and performed as back-up singer on her 1991 album, Into The Light. Later on, Jon became successful touring with the group until his career took off into a solo act in 1992, when he signed a contract with SBK Records and did a self-titled debut album in the same year. His debut album sold for more than six million copies worldwide and was a certified triple platinum in the U.S
It's single Just Another Day became the album's first hit, reached gold status followed by three more top 30 hits, Angel, I'm Free and Do You Believe in Us?
The album's Spanish-language version Orto Dia Mas Sin Verte became Billboard's number one Latin album and won him a Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album that same year.
His second English album, Heart, Soul and & Voice (1994) also became successful and sold over one million copies after release. It's first single, If You Go did well in the charts. That same year, he released Si Te Vas, a Spanish-language version of Heart, Soul & A Voice.
In 1994 world cup, while he performed Do You Believe In Us and If You Go, the stage broke and he fell through it but he kept on singing.
Amor (released on October 10, 1995) won him his 2nd Grammy for Latin Pop Performance on February 28, 1996.
If I Never Knew You (his duet with Shanice Wilson) was featured in the Disney film Pocahontas, its Spanish-version Si No Te Conociera was included in the album, Amor.
In 1995, he performed in a broadway musical, Grease, where he played the lead role as Danny Zuko.
That same year, he sang a duet with Frank Sinatra on The Best Is Yet To Come taken from Sinatra's Duets II album and in June 1996, he performed with Luciano Pavarotti at his War Child Charity Benefit Concert in Italy, where he sang Granada with Pavarotti and did a Spanish-English version of Angel.
In 1996, on behalf of NARAS Foundation, Inc., he was National Spokesperson for Music Education.
In 1997, he released Secada and did a Spanish version of it with the same title. It's single Too Late, Too Soon was a hit in dance charts.
Secada was actually a commercial disappointment reason for Jon to moved to Epic Records where his first duties included writing songs for label mates Ricky Martin (for Bella, the Spanish-version of She's All I Ever Had) and Jennifer Lopez (for Baila) and worked with teen singing sensation Mandy Moore on the tracks One-Sided and It Only Took a Minute from her self-titled multi-platinum album.
In 1999, he re-married Maritere Villar (his first marriage was with Pat Cafaro) and blessed with two children. Same year when he released his Greatest Hits and it's Spanish-version album, Grandes Exitos.
In July 2000, Epic released his label debut, Better Part Of Me, which include the hit single, Stop.
Jon also participated for AIDS related charity concerts like Life BEAT and Am FAR and also for children (UNICEF).
Jon also co-worked as a producer, arranger, lyricist, vocals, etc. for co-singers like Matt Blanco, Carlos Ponce, Jose Luis Rodriguez, Celia Cruz, Roberto Blades, Dave Gruisin and a lot more.
Awards & Certifications
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | GRAMMY Awards | Best Latin Pop Album for Otro Dia Mas Sin Verte |
| 1992 | GRAMMY Awards | Best New Artist Nominee for Otro Dia Mas Sin Verte |
| 1992 | American Music Awards | Nominated for Best New Adult Contemporary Artist for Jon Secada |
| 1992 | Billboard Magazine | Jon Secada has become only the second artist to have two singles on the HOT 100 for 30 weeks or more. "Just Another Day" logged 38 weeks on the chart, while the second single "Do You Believe In Us" racked up 30 weeks(for Jon Secada). The only artist EVER to have (4) Four Consecutive NUMBER ONE singles from a debut album on BILLBOARDS LATIN SINGLES chart.(for Jon Secada) |
| 1993 | BMI Latin Music Awards | Most Performed Latin Songs (for Otro Dia Mas Sin Verte and Sentir Cree en Nuestro Amor) |
| 1993 | Hit Radio Award (Hong Kong) | Best Male Artist of the Year ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE - "Best Male Vocalist" 1992-1993 / READERS POLL |
| 1993 | Playgirl Magazine | One of the TEN sexiest male rock stars |
| 1993 | The World Music Awards | Best Selling Latin-American Recording Artist (for Otro Dia Mas Sin Verte) |
| 1993 | Billboard Latin Music Awards | Best Latin-Pop Album of The Year Best Latin-Pop Artist Best New Latin-Pop Artist of the Year (all for Otro Dia Mas Sin Verte) |
| 1993 | Un Ano De Rock Awards (Spain's Grammy Award) | Nominated for Best New Artist of The Year and Best Song of the Year- Otro Dia Mas Sin Verte |
| 1993 | The Caribbean Music Awards | Best New Latin Pop Albumb (for Otro Dia Mas Sin Verte) |
| 1994 | BMI Pop Awards | Citation for Best Pop Song (for If you Go and Mental Picture) |
| 1994 | Asian Music Awards | Best Pop Song (for Mental Picture) |
| 1995 | GRAMMY Awards | Best Latin Pop Performance (for Amor) |
| 1996 | Grammy Awards | Best Latin Pop Album (for Amor) |
| 1996 | The NARAS Foundation | Spokesperson for Music Education |
| 1998 | BMI Pop Awards | Best Pop Song (for Too Late, Too Soon) |
| 1998 | BMI Pop Awards | Best Latin Song (for Amandolo) |
| 1998 | Got nomination for ALMA Award | for Outstanding Performance by an Individual or Act in a Variety/Music Series or Special (for A Capitol Fourth (2004) (TV)) |
| 2001 | Billboard Latin Awards | Nominated for Best Dance song (for Asi) |
| 2001 | BMI Pop Awards | Best Pop Songwriter (for She's All I Ever Had) |
| 2001 | BMI Latin Awards | Best Latin Songwriter (for Bella) |
| 2002 | National Committee on Hispanic Excellence and Betterment | Appointed by president Bush |
Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | Adult Contemporary | Hot Dance Airplay | Hot Latin Tracks | Hot Dance Music/Club Play | The Billboard Hot 100 | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Otro Dia Mas Sin Verte | 1 | Jon Secada | |||||
| 1992 | Just Another Day | 2 | 5 | Jon Secada | ||||
| 1992 | Do You Believe In Us | 3 | 13 | Jon Secada | ||||
| 1992 | Angel | 1 | Jon Secada | |||||
| 1993 | Tiempo Al Tiempo | 9 | Otro Día Más Sin Verte | |||||
| 1993 | Sentir | 1 | Otro Día Más Sin Verte | |||||
| 1993 | I m Free | 4 | 27 | Jon Secada | ||||
| 1993 | Cree En Nuestro Amor | 1 | Otro Día Más Sin Verte | |||||
| 1993 | Angel | 3 | 18 | Jon Secada | ||||
| 1994 | Whipped | 65 | Heart, Soul, & a Voice | |||||
| 1994 | Solo Tu Imagen | 13 | Si Te Vas | |||||
| 1994 | Si Te Vas | 1 | Si Te Vas | |||||
| 1994 | If You Go | 2 | 10 | Heart, Soul, & a Voice | ||||
| 1995 | Mental Picture | 10 | 30 | 29 | Heart, Soul, & a Voice | |||
| 1996 | Es Por Ti | 5 | Amor | |||||
| 1997 | Too Late, Too Soon | 8 | 41 | Secada | ||||
| 1997 | La Magia De Tu Amor | 25 | Secada (Spanish Version) | |||||
| 1997 | Amandolo | 10 | Secada (Spanish Version) | |||||
| 2000 | Stop | 23 | 15 | Better Part of Me | ||||
| 2000 | Asi [Stop] | 32 | Better Part of Me | |||||
| 2002 | Si No Fuera Por Ti | 3 | Amanecer | |||||
| 2003 | Por Amor (with Gloria Estefan | 34,18 | Amanecer | |||||
| 2006 | Window To My Heart | 6 | 18 | Same Dream | ||||
| 2006 | Free | 21 | Same Dream |
News
Tours & Concerts
05/31/2007 - Tampa, FL (Florida Orchestra Festival De Musica Latina)
06/02/2007 - Ledyard, CT (Foxwoods Resort Casino)
10/31/2007 - Lake Buena Vista, FL (Disney)
11/01/2007 - Lake Buena Vista, FL (Disney)
11/02/2007 - Lake Buena Vista, FL (Disney)
11/03/2007 - Lake Buena Vista, FL (Disney)
12/07/2007 - Ledyard, CT (Foxwoods Resort Casino)
Announcements
Discography
Albums
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Singles
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| March 24, 1992 | Just Another Day | Capitol |
| September 08, 1992 | Do You Believe | Capitol |
| January 12, 1993 | Angel | EMI |
| June 15, 1993 | I'm Free | EMI |
| April 26, 1994 | If You Go [#2] | SBK/Capitol |
| May 24, 1994 | If You Go [#1] | SBK/Capitol |
| January 1, 1995 | Alma con Alma | |
| February 28, 1995 | Mental Picture | Capitol |
| May 23, 1995 | Where Do I Go From You | SBK Records |
| September 12, 1995 | If I Never Knew You | Hollywood Records |
| October 1, 1995 | Whipped | Capitol |
| February 25, 1997 | Too Late Too Soon | SKU, Capitol |
| August 8, 2000 | Stop | EMI International, Sony |
| January 07, 2003 | Si No Fuera por Ti | Sony BMG Latin |
Compilations & Live Releases
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Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Contemporaries
Trivia
- Jon attended Hialeah High School in Hialeah, FL.
- At the age of nine, he left Cuba with his family for Miami, where his parents opened a coffee shop.
- He had a hit with the song: Just Another Day (Without You)
- Started musical career as a backup singer for Gloria Estefan & The Miami Sound Machine, and also wrote songs for Gloria, including his first for Gloria Estefan "Coming Out of The Dark", which was Gloria's return from her tragic bus crash.
- Attended University of Miami, earned a degree in Jazz Vocal Performance.
- In 1993, Playboy magazine named him one of the 10 sexiest male rock stars.
Reviews
External Links
Categories: R&B | Soul Music | Contemporary R&B Music | Rock Music | Classical Music | Adult Contemporary Rock Music
