Psicopedagogia

How this ‘Cubanito’ from Miami conquered
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Who says patience doesn’t pay? It definitely paid off for music superstar Jon Secada. He started as a background singer for Gloria Estefan. Secada has become a big star. He is also very popular in the mainstream English-language market.
Secada is an only child. He came to the US when he was eight years old. His successstory was like many Cuban immigrants who came to Miami after Cuba’s Communist revolution. “I worked in my parents’ diner,” Secada says. “I was really a good kid. We all had to do our share to progress, to get the family back on its feet and succeed in our adopted country.”
But music soon became more interesting to Secada. “By the time I was in high school, I knew that I was going to have a careerin music,” he says. He got his master’s degree in jazz vocal performance from the University of Miami, the country’s top university in that field.
After graduation, Secada taught voice and singing at local clubs. “It was then that lightning struck,” Secada says. “Emilio and Gloria Estefan discovered me. They hired me as a songwriter. I knew this was my ticket to bigger and better things.” Secadawas on his way to becoming a star. The chemistry with the Estefans could not have been better. Secada wrote hit song after hit song for Gloria, and Emilio helped him start his solo career.
Emilio is an excellent businessman. Many people think that he is a promotional and organizational genius. Emilio took Gloria from playing Quince parties (similar to ‘Sweet 16’ birthday celebrations) in Miamito becoming a superstar. Emilio also knew Jon could be a star. Emilio followed a similar formula for success that he used with Gloria.
He helped Jon begin his career as a solo artist in 1991. In 1993, Jon Secada went on to win a Grammy Award, music’s highest honour, for ‘Best Latin Pop Album’ for Just Another Day Without You. Three years later, he won his second for Love.

Jon’s albums show hismaturity as an artist. “I wrote the songs on the albums when I was engaged to Maritere. The songs on the album are uplifting, relationship songs. Some songs are about loss, but they are also about new beginnings,” he says.

It has been a long road from his parents’ diner to performing in the world’s most important concert halls. “I’ve never forgotten where I started and where I came from,”Secada says. “Music was always my world. I was good at music and I always loved it. All I ever wanted to do was write music and make my family and community proud.” By all accounts, Jon Secada has achieved his goal. |
GLOSSARY |
paid off for: le dio frutos a, le rindió a
diner: restaurante económico
share: participación, cooperación
field: terreno
taught: enseñó, dictó clases de
lightningstruck: cayó el relámpago
hired me: me contrataron
solo career: carrera solista | quince parties: fiesta de quince (años)
around that time: por esa época
msturity: madurez
engaged to: comprometido con
uplifting: positivos, estimulantes
proud: orgullo
by all accounts: sin lugar a dudas
achieved his goal: logró su objetivo |
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WRITING COMPREHENSION ACTIVITY  |
COMPLETE THE FOLLOWINGSENTENCES WITH THE CORRECT FORM OF THE VERB IN BRACKETS. THEN CHECK HERE YOUR ANSWERS.    |
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1.  It definitely off for music superstar Jon Secada. 
     [ PAY ] |
2.  Emilio also knew Jon be a star. 
     [ CAN ] |
3.  Secada hit song after hit song for Gloria. 
     [ WRITE ] |
4.  After graduation, Secada voice and singing at local clubs. 
     [ TEACH ] |
5.  Secada was onhis way to a star. 
     [ BECOME ] |
6.  He wrote the songs when he to Maritere. 
     [ ENGAGE ] |
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