Latin pop music icon Gloria Estefan and her producer husband Emilio Estefan were honoured Thursday as two of the first ever inductees to the Miami Beach Hall of Fame.
The couple, who have amassed more than two dozen Grammy Awards, were on hand at the Miami Beach Convention Centre to witness the unveiling of a plaque.
“We feel honoured and privileged,” said Gloria. “Never did I imagine in my entire life that this day would come … we’re just beyond blessed and honoured.”
The singer behind hits like “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “Get On Your Feet” and “Coming Out of the Dark” recalled coming to Miami from Cuba as a little girl and quickly becoming enamoured with the city across the causeway thanks to daily visits to the beach with her grandfather José González.
“I remember standing on the sand looking towards Ocean Drive, and I remember seeing people rocking their chairs on those terraces at the hotels and it would fascinate me to watch them,” said Gloria. “I fell in love with Miami Beach.
“I have now officially been a resident of Miami Beach longer than of Miami, so that’s a wonderful thing. It always felt like home to me.”
The Estefans have lived for many years on Star Island, a tony community in Biscayne Bay.
“When we got married and we started getting bigger hits and we would drive by Star Island just to look – ’Whoa look at those houses on Star!’ – never imagining that we would one day live there,” Gloria recalled.
The couple, who also own the Cardozo Hotel on South Beach, is currently selling an estate they own near their home for a whopping $32 million U.S.
“This is the best place to live,” Gloria said of Miami Beach. “We live in paradise.”
Disclosure: The author of this article is a recipient of The Key to the City of Miami Beach.