Oprah has nothing on me. . . .

The People Page of today's Miami Herald has an article on "The Estefans get Oprah-ed".  I'm not sure I've ever watched Oprah's new cable network, but I do have my own memories of Gloria and Emilio, and the article got me to reminiscing.

Today, the couple are important members of South Florida's philanthropic community as well as active partners in the Miami Heat and Miami Dolphins.  But when I first came in contact with them they were none of the above..  It was the mid-80's and the musical group called The Miami Sound Machine was yet to make a name for itself or its lead singer.  As a matter of fact they were simply one more name on the list of local bands I would consider hiring for the many different events that my pr firm was constantly staging for our various clients.

The Miami Sound Machine was being touted by Emilio himself in those days, and the going rate was $200 for a 2 hour gig.  I remember very well one real estate client for whom we were planning the opening of a new community who nixed hiring them as "Too expensive!"   I believe I found that client another group that only cost $175.

My next contact with both the Estefans came in early 1991.  The couple were already pretty famous as the forefront of crossover Latin-flavored music into the pop music scene when Glorida was seriously injured in an accident when her tour bus was rear ended by a huge semi-tractor   Her very serious back injuries were treated by the University of Miami's famed Dr. Barth Green and through that successful relationship both Gloria and Emilio became benefactors of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, founded by former Miami Dolphin Nick Buoniconti and his son Mark..

Our firm had been hired to do publicity for the Miami Project's "Wheels Across America" fund rasing project with Andrea actually going out on the road periodically to handle press for a young wheelchair-bound man who was wheeling his way from California to New York City.  It was a highly successful fund raiser and we continued to do pro bono work for the Miami Project on several occasions.

One such occasion was a call to handle the making of several PSA's (Public Service Announcements) in which Gloria Estefan, who had experienced the real possibility of paralysis when she was so badly injured, had volunteered to serve as spokesperson.  Our office wrote the script for the announcements and worked with the film crew to set up an area in Emilio's private recording studio where the PSAs would be filmed.

Gloria could not have been more cooperative or easy to work with.  When she finished filming the  spot we had prepared, she turned to me and said "Why don't we also do this in Spanish so you can air it on Univision?"  I thought it was a great idea but mentioned that it might take me a little time to find a translator for the copy.  Her answer?  "No problem.  I'll translate it for you."

Needless to say, I was thrilled and the entire filming was wrapped up in another hour.  As we left  the Estefan's building one of the camera men came up to me and asked who translated the script into Spanish.  I could tell by the look on his face he wasn't happy with the translation and I asked why.

"The worst Spanglish I ever heard," he said with a grimace.  "We don't talk that way in Argentina."  That's when this "gringo" learned that being Latin doesn't always mean you speak Spanish quite the same way.  Yes, she's very Americanized, but Gloria is definitely Cuban and proud of it.  She and Emilio are a remarkable couple. I'm proud to have also worked with them.

So there, Oprah!
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