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The Cuban-American music producer Emilio Estefan shared an anecdote about the challenges he faced in maintaining his Latin identity in the United States during his participation in the forum “Icon Q&A” at Billboard Latin Music Week, which took place last October at The Fillmore Miami Beach.
In the conversation, organized by Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) and moderated by Jesús González, vice president of the company's Latin division, Estefan recounted how, in the early days of her career, an executive suggested that she change her last name in order to succeed in the U.S. music industry.
"He told me, 'You have to change your last name.' I stood up and replied, 'I’m not going to change anything at all.' Then he said, 'If you feel that way, go back to your country.' I responded, 'Whether you like it or not, this is how America is going to look, this is how America is going to sound,'" the producer recalled, eliciting applause from the audience.
Estefan added that that conviction drove him to move forward despite the prejudices, eventually becoming president of Sony Music years later, one of the most influential companies in the world.
"Seven years later, I was the president of Sony... And what I loved the most was passing by the gentleman who wouldn't let me in and saying to him, 'Do you remember me?'" he recounted with laughter.
The video with his statements was shared by Billboard Latin on their official Instagram account, where it generated messages of support for his message of pride and perseverance.
The event also featured the participation of Gloria Estefan, who spoke about her artistic legacy, the importance of Miami in her career, and the release of her album Raíces.
The conversation between both artists focused on their joint career, their influence on Latin music and the role that their cultural identity has played in their international success.
The Icon Q&A at Billboard Latin Music Week brought together figures from the music industry, executives, and media in a conversation that celebrated the journey of the most influential couple in Latin music and their contribution to the global projection of Hispanic talent.
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