Music legend Gloria Estefan shares a deeply personal moment on her latest album, Raíces, with an emotional song inspired by her grandson, Sasha. The Grammy-winning artist was struck by a wave of longing after a family trip to Vero Beach, Florida, and poured her emotions into a track titled “My Beautiful Boy (For Sasha).”
Estefan, 67, said she missed the 12-year-old so much that the song came naturally, and when Sasha first heard it, he was moved to tears.
Speaking to PEOPLE, she said: “We had been in Vero Beach, him and I, on a little vacay at our home there, and he had to go back home. I was there writing, and I missed him so much.”
“I knew that that moment would come. I didn’t want to ever push it because it had to be inspiration. I grabbed my guitar, and I wrote the song, and I called him.”
Gloria was desperate for Sasha to be the first to hear the tune, which prompted the youngster’s emotional response. She added: “I wanted him to be the first to hear it.”
And he, my son, and his wife, Lara, were on the phone crying. So, I told them, ‘Baby, one day I’m going to record this.’“
“He’s the latest gift in our family and one that is the joy of my life.”
© Nina WesterveltWhen Gloria did get around to recording the song, she realized it was a “perfect fit” for her new album ‘Raíces’.
She explained: “I go, ‘Oh my God. It’s just a perfect fit because we’re talking about our roots, where we come from,’ and these are the things that I want to pass on to him.”
While she penned ‘My Beautiful Boy (For Sasha)’, Gloria’s husband of 45 years, Emilio Estefan, wrote most of the tracks on the record, which she says is a “very personal love story”.
She explained: “It’s a very personal love story.”
“Raíces’ reminds us that we all are where we came from, and those people that nurtured us and loved us will always be with us. Our culture is important to celebrate.”
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