Jon Secada

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title: "Jon Secada" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1961-births", "living-people", "afro-cuban-culture", "american-entertainers-of-cuban-descent", "american-latin-pop-singers", "american-people-of-afro-cuban-descent", "american-record-producers", "cuban-emigrants-to-the-united-states", "cuban-male-singer-songwriters", "cuban-record-producers", "grammy-award-winners", "hialeah-senior-high-school-alumni", "latin-grammy-award-winners", "miami-sound-machine-members", "singers-from-miami", "singers-from-havana", "people-of-afro–cuban-descent", "university-of-miami-frost-school-of-music-alumni"] description: "American singer (born 1961)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Secada" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American singer (born 1961) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

Field	Value
name	Jon Secada
image	Jon Secada Headshot.jpg
alt
caption	Secada in 2017
birth_name	Juan Francisco Secada Ramírez
birth_date
birth_place	Havana, Cuba
education	University of Miami
occupation	{{flatlist
years_active	1991–present
spouse	{{plainlist
* {{marriage	Jo Pat Cafro
children	2
website
module	{{Infobox musical artist
origin	Miami, Florida, U.S.
genre	{{flatlist
instrument	Vocals
label	{{flatlist
::

| name = Jon Secada | image = Jon Secada Headshot.jpg | alt = | caption = Secada in 2017 | birth_name = Juan Francisco Secada Ramírez | birth_date = | birth_place = Havana, Cuba | education = University of Miami | occupation = {{flatlist|

• Singer
• songwriter
• actor
• record producer | years_active = 1991–present | spouse = {{plainlist|

| children = 2 | website = | module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes | origin = Miami, Florida, U.S. | genre = {{flatlist|

• Pop
• Latin
• Latin pop
• R&B
• funk
• pop rock | instrument = Vocals | label = {{flatlist|
• SBK
• EMI
• 550 Juan Francisco Secada Ramírez (born October 4, 1961), better known as Jon Secada, is a Cuban-born American making him one of the best-selling Latin music artists. His music fuses funk, soul music, pop, and Latin percussion.

Secada has written songs for Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, and Jennifer Lopez. He has toured with Luciano Pavarotti and recorded duets with Jim Brickman, Olivia Newton-John, and Frank Sinatra.

Secada has performed several times at A Capitol Fourth, an annual Independence Day concert from the United States Capitol.

Early life

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

Education

In 1979, Secada graduated from Hialeah Senior High School in Hialeah, Florida. 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.

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. He graduated cum laude and was later inducted into the Iron Arrow Honor Society, the highest honor bestowed by the University of Miami.

Career

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/6.2.11JonSecadaByLuigiNovi18.jpg" caption="Jon Secada with his Plaza's Walk of Fame in Union City, Jersey"] ::

From 1986 to 1991, Secada was a teacher at Miami Dade College.

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

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. In 1992, he released his self-titled debut album, which sold 7 million copies.

In 2003, he performed in Cabaret. In 2007, he co-wrote three songs, and performed in one, on Lilian Garcia's album ¡Quiero Vivir!.

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

In January 2025, Secada began teaching at the Wertheim School of Music of Florida International University.

Personal life

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 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.

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.

Discography

Main article: Jon Secada discography

• 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)

Awards and nominations

::data[format=table title=""]

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Ref.
1993	BMI Awards	Most Performed Latin Song	"Otro Día Más Sin Verte", "Sentir", and "Cree en Nuestra Amor" (Do You Believe in Us)
The World Music Awards	Best-Selling Latin American Recording Artist	Himself
The Caribbean Music Awards	Best New Latin Pop Album	Otro Día Más Sin Verte
Billboard Latin Music Awards	Best Latin-Pop Album of the Year	rowspan="3"
Best Latin-Pop Artist	Himself
Best New Latin-Pop Artist of the Year
Rolling Stone Magazine	Best Male Vocalist
1994	Asian Music Awards	Best Pop Song	"Mental Picture"
::

Television series

• Alice's Wonderland Bakery as King of Hearts

References

References

1. (September 11, 2002). "Vuelve Jon Secada a los escenarios". [[El Universal (Mexico City).
2. "Jon Secada". [[Bergen Performing Arts Center]].
3. (1997-06-29). "MUSIC FILLS THE AIR TO CELEBRATE AMERICA'S BIRTHDAY".
4. (April 7, 1995). "JON SECADA SEES SUCCESS FROM ALL SIDES". [[Orlando Sentinel]].
5. Capretto, Lisa. (January 31, 2017). "Latin Superstar From The '90s Shares His Powerful Immigrant Story". [[HuffPost]].
6. (September 16, 2005). "A little of everything: Since days with Sound Machine, Jon Secada has built a diverse career". [[Las Vegas Sun]].
7. BENN, EVAN. (July 31, 2018). "Grammy winner Jon Secada goes back to Hialeah with INDULGE". [[The Miami Herald]].
8. (January 28, 2011). "Jon Secada interviewed on Brazilian television show at University of Miami Frost School of Music". [[Frost School of Music]].
9. "Jon Secada: Bio". Jon Secada.
10. (May 2009). "Learning the ropes with Professor Secada". [[Miami Dade College]].
11. Walker, Michael. (June 12, 1994). "POP MUSIC: Mr. Melting Pot: Using his Latino and African American heritage as a springboard to multicultural music, singer Jon Secada is realizing his crossover dreams while promoting integration 'because that's what America is about'". [[Los Angeles Times]].
12. LANNERT, JOHN. (May 3, 1992). "ESTEFAN BACKUP FINALLY COMING INTO HIS OWN". [[Sun-Sentinel]].
13. (March 21, 2006). "Jon Secada blends careers and a cause". [[Orange County Register]].
14. "Ricky Martin – She's All I Ever Had". [[Discogs]].
15. (January 13, 2006). "Lilian Garcia records duet with Jon Secada". WWE.
16. Flores, Griselda. (February 1, 2017). "Listen to Jon Secada's New Single 'Como Fue,' Feat. Beny More: Exclusive Premiere".
17. (October 30, 2024). "3-time Grammy winning artist Jon Secada to teach at FIU’s Wertheim School of Music". [[WSVN]].
18. (March 10, 1997). "True Amor". [[People (magazine).
19. Vogel, Mike. (March 25, 2015). "Where celebrities live in Florida". [[Florida Trend]].
20. Wedekindt, David. (September 7, 2005). "Evening with the Stars: Jon Secada, Scott Celani". [[University of Buffalo]].
21. Pesselnick, Jill. (May 20, 2000). "Pérez Honored at 8th El Premio ASCAP Gala".
22. (May 30, 1992). "Billboard".
23. (May 21, 1994). "Billboard".
24. (May 27, 1995). "Billboard".
25. (January 27, 2009). "Gloria Estefan to be Named BMI Icon at 16th Annual Latin Awards Ceremony".
26. (April 20, 2001). "BMI Honors Top Latin Songwriters and Publishers at 8th Annual Awards Ceremony".
27. (July 16, 1994). "Billboard".
28. (June 1996). "Billboard".
29. "Discography & Awards".
30. "Winners Database".
31. (December 15, 1958). "Billboard".
32. (December 31, 1994). "Cash Box".
33. (November 23, 2020). "Jon Secada".
34. (August 28, 1993). "Pop 'war' hotting up". [[South China Morning Post]].
35. (March 13, 1993). "Billboard".

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