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PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 7 February 2017
Happy to be an Estefan, Gloria’s daughter charts own path

ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON into a star. The younger Es- parts of her mother’s “The
Associated Press tefan had learned guitar, Rhythm is Gonna Get You.”
MIAMI (AP) — Emily Este- keyboards and drums and One ticket-buyer, Mark Sol-
fan was so self-conscious enrolled in Boston’s pres- loway, said he came be-
about being the daugh- tigious Berklee College of cause he loves Gloria Es-
ter of Cuban-born super- Music. tefan but he left impressed
star Gloria Estefan that she But after that night when by her daughter: “I am
avoided singing in front of she let herself go, inspira- blown away. She has such
anyone until she was 18. tion to become a singer stage presence. She plays
Then, one winter night at and songwriter kicked in. all the instruments. She is in-
the family’s Florida beach When she returned to Berk- credible, 22 years old. She
house, she finally sang for lee after her winter break, just grabs the audience
her mother. First she asked she began to spend her and brings them in.”
her to look away. early morning hours writ- Listeners may find a com-
“I was like shaking, shaking, ing feisty songs about mon vibrato in Emily’s first
shaking, shaking. Every- freedom, penning the lyr- single, “Ask Me To,” to her
thing in my body was shak- ics and the music of every mother’s early boleros such
ing. But I did it,” said Emily instrument for her soul and as “If We Were Lovers.” Em-
Estefan, now 22. jazz-influenced album. ily sings in a different way,
Then Gloria looked at her, In an interview at her late but both voices are rich,
and she cried— the two grandparents’ mansion This photo taken Jan. 20, 2017, shows Emily Estefan in Miami. and crisp, especially in fal-
things her daughter had in an exclusive island be- Estefan, the daughter of Gloria and Emilio Estefan released her settos.
asked her not to do. tween Miami and Miami debut album,” “Take Whatever You Want,” on Feb. 3. “When people say ‘Oh,
Associated Press
Four years later, the young- beach, Estefan talked you have terrible similarities
er Estefan is releasing her about “huge shoes to fill,” then stepped out for a he flipped.” to your mom.’ I say ‘Yes. I
debut album, “Take What- born the heiress of the per- chat. Emily Estefan is, at least lived in her womb for nine
ever You Want,” which former of such hits such as “There’s soulfulness, there’s right now, more shy than months,’” she said. “That’s
came out Friday like a dec- “Conga” and “1-2-3.” R&B influences, there’s her famous mom onstage, cool. If that comforts you,
laration of independence. Of her parents she said: “I depth. She sounds like, preferring to be shielded that’s OK. But listen to me
“I am honored to come will never be them.” But she honestly, a 40-year-old by drums or with a guitar also.”
from this family. went on to say: “The mo- singer who went through around her neck. Gloria Estefan said that
I would love to yell it from ment when you say none hell. It comes out, all this She dresses all in black when she was pregnant
the mountains and also be of that matters is when you emotion in her music,” Glo- with bulky military boots, and recording the music to
recognized as a person,” realize that you love it, and ria Estefan said. and her dark black hair is the video of “Turn the Beat
she said. you love it enough to dedi- Gloria Estefan thought pulled to one side, the rest Around,” her baby kicked
Emily already had been cate yourself to it. maybe she was just a proud shaved. so hard she knocked the
following in the musical It doesn’t matter what mom, blinded by love. So, At a concert on Thursday microphone down.
footsteps of her parents. comes out, as long as it is Gloria played a track to her at the University of Miami, Maybe, she thinks, Emily’s
Her father, Emilio Estefan, is honest.” husband without telling him Estefan performed a med- obsession with percussion
one of the biggest names At the mansion’s garage, who performed it. “He said ley of songs by Alanis Moris- started before she was
in Latin music production her mother watched her ‘Oh my God. She is amaz- sette, Beyonce, Whitney born. “I told myself ‘This is
and founder of the band rehearse with her band for ing. Who is that?’ ‘She is Houston and then drew definitely a girl who loves
that turned Gloria Estefan her first solo concert, and your daughter,’ I said, and cheers when she included rhythm,’” Gloria said.q

Woman captive for decade hopes

new TV role helps the missing

CLEVELAND (AP) — A wom- ones who are looking for ry. I’ve been kidnapped,
an who escaped a home them.” and I’ve been missing for
where she and two others The segment will air on 10 years, and I’m here. I’m
were held captive for a de- news broadcasts through- free now.”
cade is joining a Cleveland out the day. Berry, 30, will Berry, Gina DeJesus and
television station to bring discuss details of a different Michelle Knight had been
attention to other missing- northeastern Ohio missing- abused and held by Ariel
persons cases in a daily person case each day and Castro for years.
segment. talk about how viewers Berry also had given birth to
As the new host of the seg- can help the families of the Castro’s daughter in 2006.
ment on WJW-TV, Amanda missing and the investiga- Berry and DeJesus wrote a In this May 6, 2014, file photo, Amanda Berry, on the anniversary
Berry said she wants to help tors searching for them. book together about their of her escape from a Cleveland home where she and two oth-
locate missing people and Berry, who disappeared a ordeals. ers were held captive for a decade, is honored at the National
support their families. day before her 17th birth- Knight, who legally Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s annual Hope Awards
dinner in Washington.
“When I was missing, the day in 2003, has become changed her name to Lily Associated Press
people who were looking an advocate for the miss- Rose Lee, wrote a separate
for me never gave up,” she ing since she escaped her book about her experi- cell after he pleaded guilty of normal activities like gro-
said. “My wish is that this captor’s shuttered home ence. to a long list of charges cery shopping, dealing with
segment will not only help in May 2013 and made a Castro, who kidnapped the and was sentenced to life her daughter’s school and
find those who are missing dramatic call to authorities: victims between 2002 to plus 1,000 years in prison. appointments, and spend-
but offer hope for the loved “Help me! I’m Amanda Ber- 2004, hanged himself in his Berry said her life now is full ing time with family.q