Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan: Secret to 4-Decade Long Marriage of Cuban-American Music Industry Power Couple

Gloria Estefan recalled how she met her husband, Emilio Estefan, at a friend's house in the mid-1970s. The "Conga" singer told USA Today that her husband showed up in very short shorts and an accordion, which made him look like "he was naked."

The Cuban-American singer said she remembered that her husband had great legs and that his hands drew her attention. When Emilio played his accordion for them, Gloria said she was mesmerized.

In the same year or in 1975, she joined Emilio's band, and he became her boss for a year. Gloria Estefan said Emilio Estefan had an older girlfriend at the time and that they did not want to ruin the "professional thing."

However, it eventually happened, and they started dating a year later. They'd walked down the aisle together in 1978.

Who Is Emilio Estefan?

Emilio Estefan is known as the "godfather of the Miami sound" and is a five-time Grammy winner. He has also brought Latin music and musicians into the mainstream of American culture, making him one of the most influential voices in contemporary music with his signature combination of Latin music and rhythm along with English lyrics.

Emilio has also produced music for some of the biggest and most popular music stars in the music business, such as Shakira, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Jon Secada, Alejandro Fernandez, Thalia, and Jennifer Lopez.

According to his website, Emilio also became the first Cuban-American to become a minority shareholder in an NFL franchise, joining the ownership of the Miami Dolphins.

Emilio first arrived in Miami as a refugee from Cuba at the age of 14. He started to work as an office boy for the rum importer Bacardi when he first arrived in Miami.

At night, he would attend school and stop in a restaurant to play music almost daily. Emilio Estefan became the first-ever recipient of the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences.

Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan's Marriage

The two had their own challenges when it came to their marriage. Gloria Estefan's mother, Gloria Fajardo, spent 12 years before she finally gave them her blessing on their marriage.

According to Nicki Swift, Gloria said her mother "tortured" Emilio Estefan during their early courtship, mainly because his choice of career was "synonymous with womanizing."

Gloria noted that her mother would not have been convinced by anybody, adding that nobody is good enough for a Cuban mother.

The couple first became parents in 1980 with the birth of their son Nayib, who is now an occasional actor and composer. In 2012, Nayib became a father himself. Gloria and Estefan admitted that conceiving a new addition to their family was something "of a struggle."

One of Gloria's fallopian tubes had shifted, and it was only after surgery it was corrected. She had been in a bus crash that fractured the Cuban-American singer's spine. In 1994, Emily Marie Consuelo Estefan was born and followed her family's musical footsteps.

According to reports, Emilio Estefan did not have any qualms about letting his wife surpass his level of fame when Gloria Estefan joined his band Miami Sound Machine.

He even insisted that Gloria's name should also be in front of the band too. The Cuban-American singer noted that she initially relented to the idea.

Gloria Estefan said this lack of ego helped their relationship endure - professionally and personally.

"That's why we've been able to have a successful marriage and a successful career. He does what's best for the artist, and that's why people love working with him... He doesn't need the accolades," Gloria told Artspod.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Gloria Estefan's Husband Keeps Forgetting Her in Shops - From BBC