Interviews

Transcript from Oprah online with AOL

Taken from Don's Jon Secada fan page ex-(www.JonSecada.com)

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Oprah Chat Room 4/13/97

Online Host: Welcome everyone! We will be joined at 9pmET by Grammy
Award winner, Jon Secada! Send your questions to Jon using the INTERACT icon
at the top of your screen. You must use the INTERACT icon for your question
to be received by Jon! We are glad you joined us and will begin in just a
couple minutes!

Online Host: SecadaJ has entered the room.

Online Host: And we are ready to begin! Jon is here and ready to take
your questions! With album sales exceeding 6 million worldwide, Jon Secada
has given us such billboard hits as "Just another day," "Do you believe in
us," and 'I'm free," and "If you go." His new album, "Secada" (with the
single "Too Late, Too Soon" which he co-wrote with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis)
is available now!

Online Host: Jon Secada was born in October, 1962 in Havana, and
immigrated to Miami with his family when he was just nine. His career took
off after meeting Emilio Estefan (years later!) - husband of Gloria. Jon
co-wrote several songs for Gloria, including "Coming Out Of The Dark" and
performed in Gloria's "Into The Light World Tour". We are so pleased he is
here! Welcome everyone! And welcome Jon!

Question: Hi Jon..this is Denise from Ohio...now Florida. I love your
new CD! You are still my inspiration to write lyrics. Do you know when they
are planning to start your concert tour for "Secada"? Congrats to you and
Mari. Love you.

Jon Secada: Thank you very much Denise and we're starting the tour
hopefully between January and March of 1998.

Harpo LIVE: Lartho3 is up !

Question: Jon, I want to know how you are doing after falling into the
same World Cup hole as Oprah? 

Jon Secada: Oh, I'm doing just fine thank you. I can't believe that
happened. Oprah was definitely right, I think we should have sued the World
Cup!

Harpo LIVE: Huskquak has our next question for Jon Secada ......

Question: What is your favorite song to sing?

Jon Secada: My favorite song to sing would probably be "Just Another
Day" because even in the shows it's the one song I get to sing and have some
real interplay with the audience. It was also my first hit.

Question: Hi Jon, are you going to put a video compilation out soon?

Jon Secada: You know, that was in the works and it will probably
happen this year. I was supposed to put one out last year, but maybe by the
holidays.

Harpo LIVE: A common question!

Question: Do you have any plans to go into acting? 

Jon Secada: Yes, I've had a lot of different opportunities but nothing
I've been able to follow through because of my commitments.

Harpo LIVE: HIsands, you are up ....

Question: Jon, I want to know what inspired you to make this new
album, SECADA? Which by the way touches my heart like all your other albums.

Jon Secada: Thank you very much. This album reminds me a lot of my
first album. I think that as I was writing the songs for this album, without
consciously wanting to, it started to resemble a lot the first album, and I'm
glad.

Question: Hey Jon. Lee here. We met in Chicago several years ago
during your first visit here. I am curious about where you are now compared
to where you had thought you would be, and how do you remain true to artistic
goals and still satisfy record execs?

Jon Secada: Hi Lee, how are you? Yeah, I've been very very fortunate
and my record company has always supported what I've done. I can't complain.

Question: Hi, Jon. Have you ever considered reserved seating for your
fan club members like Michael Bolton does for his Gold Club Members? Thanks,
Deb

Jon Secada: Deb that's a great idea!! I'll consider that. I've never
thought about it.

Question: So how does it feel to be a married man?

Jon Secada: It feels good. I'm very very happy.

Harpo LIVE: LittleEwk, here you go!

Question: My voice always gets dry after singing for a little
while.....how can I prevent this? Have you got any tips?

Jon Secada: Well, drink lots of water. Sometimes your voice gets dry
too because of the weather you are in at the moment. In other words, there's
a lot of conditions that makes the voice dry. A lot of them! The best way
to alleviate the condition is by drinking a lot of water.

Harpo LIVE: Our next question comes from Qstrokes .....

Question: Is Darren still singing backup for you?

Jon Secada: Not right now. Maybe when I start on the tour next year.

Harpo LIVE: Good question from Roomies41 ....

Question: Do you feel your music education has opened doors for you in
the industry or do you feel it has hindered you?

Jon Secada: It has only helped me in everything I've done and wanted
to do -- as a writer, singer, as a producer, as an arranger. And most of the
people that I work with -- colleagues of mine -- have that kind of
background also.

Harpo LIVE: Bucklady has our next question .....

Question: Jon, are you and Gloria Estefan good friends? I love your
music!

Jon Secada: Thank you very much and yes, Gloria Estefan and I are
still good friends.

Question: Jon which audience do you like better Spanish, or English
speaking audiences?

Jon Secada: There's no difference for me. The music really connects
everybody for me. And I grew up completely bilingual.

Harpo LIVE: ABleam has our next question ....

Question: Jon, Alex Bleam here, thanks for performing in DC with
Gloria. It was a VERY special treat! Are you making plans to duet with her
on an album? Maybe a remake of "I Can See Your Smile"?

Jon Secada: Thanks Alex. I probably do something with Gloria
somewhere along the way....probably soon, but I don't know when.

Harpo LIVE: GBenav is up next in this event with Jon ....

Question: Jon: What inspired you to go after music as a career?

Jon Secada: It's the only thing that I thought I could do well. I
always knew I could sing and because of my music teacher in high school, she
inspired me to go ahead and study music in college.

Harpo LIVE: MpnTJ asks a good one .... hope you all are well too!

Question: Jon, how's life for you at the present time?

Jon Secada: Life for me at the present time is fantastic. I'm having
a great time.

Harpo LIVE: SeasMisty, here is your question .....

Question: Jon your new CD is wonderful...the songs are so meaningful.
Can I ask you what was the inspiration for "Too Late, Too Soon"?

Jon Secada: Well "Too Late, Too Soon" is a true story. I completed
the song with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis after talking about something that
had happened to me years ago -- a song I never completed which dealt with the
issue of a guy coming home and finding his woman with somebody else in bed.
Jimmy and Terry actually had a working title which is "Too Late, Too Soon"
of a song dealing with the same issue. So my story of despair and doom was
meant to be for this album!

Harpo LIVE: Mlpheiffe has our next question for Jon Secada ......

Question: How would you describe the effect that your cultural and
ethnic background has had on your music?

Jon Secada: I would say I'm very proud of my heritage and my culture
and it's been great for my career as well. I feel very lucky and blessed
that I have been able to record in Spanish, even though I was signed as an
Anglo artist.

Question: Jon, I heard you and Gloria Estefan might do a little tour
thing around x-mas doing all x-mas songs. What's up with that? Have you
guys decided what you're doing? Are you guys definitely doing this tour?

Jon Secada: That's a good rumor, but no we're not, unfortunately.
What I can tell you is that me and Gloria will do something together along
the way.

Question: Do you plan on ever doing a duet with maybe Luther Vandross
or anyone else?

Jon Secada: There's so many people I respect and would love to work
with. I love Luther. I think he's great. I would love to do something with
him if the opportunity came up, sure.

Question: Do you still have family in Cuba? I do!

Jon Secada: Oh yeah, sure do. I still have a lot of family there.

Question: Who was your inspiration to the song, "Forever, As Long As
It" lasts?

Jon Secada: Forever came after a conversation that I had with Jimmy
and Terry over lunch and we were talking about what the word "forever" means
in terms of a relationship, and for Terry because of the things he's going
through at the moment, forever means ... as long as it lasts. You never
really know.

Harpo LIVE: JCrock is up!

Question: Do you think you will go back to do Grease on Broadway
again?

Jon Secada: Boy, I don't think any time soon only because I want to
tour, and I'll be working with an album for at least two years with promoting
and the concert tour, but I love theater and I would love to do another
Broadway show somewhere along the way in my career.

Question: Good evening, Mr. Secada. I was wondering: what type(s) of
music you like to listen to in your spare time? I just love your music.

Jon Secada: Well thank you very much. I would say that in my spare
time I would probably be listening to my old Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Elton
John, and Earth, Wind and Fire albums.

Question: You always seem so down-to-earth and sincere -- How has fame
changed your life?

Jon Secada: Well I think my fame hasn't really changed my life, at
least it hasn't changed my life in the things that really matter to me, which
is my family, my relationship with God and my genuine love for music. It's
just the pacing of my life is a lot faster than ever. That's the only thing
that's changed.

Harpo LIVE: LAU312 has a question about the new song .....

Question: The slow version of "Too Late, Too Soon" and the fast
version both have really great music and are so pretty. How come you decided
to put out two different versions of it and will you be doing it again in the
future with others songs?

Jon Secada: Well now days, remixes of songs like the fast version of
"Too Late, Too Soon" are very important for radio. A lot of people and a lot
of radio stations love to hear up-tempo versions of slow songs. And that's
the reason I did that.

Question: Jon, have you been back to visit Cuba since you left as a
child?

Jon Secada: No, I have not, and I won't either. I will not until the
day Cuba is free.

Question: Could you say hi to my sick son who is 10 and loves all your
music thanks.

Jon Secada: Hi J.C.! I hope you feel better.

Question: Jon, I think you are an unbelievable talent! I'm wondering
if any of your songs have personal meaning to you, such as being written for
a loved one?

Jon Secada: Most definitely. There's always personal references to
people or feelings or situations in all of my songs.

Question: Hi Jon, it's Fran-Jolie from Miami. I wanted to know if you
and Maritere are planning to have any children in the future?

Jon Secada: Yes, maybe not right now, but soon.

Question: I love the song "After All Is Said and Done" on the new CD,
that must have been great making it with the big band!!

Jon Secada: Yes, that was a fun song to record! The actual recording
session for that was a lot of fun because of the live horns and all of the
live aspects of the song.

Harpo LIVE: Lots of aspiring artists out there....

Question: What advice would you give to a person pursuing a career in
music, or any other art?

Jon Secada: I would say the first thing would be -- my first piece of
advice is always education. The more you know about music and the business
of music, the better.

Question: Is there a project in a closet somewhere waiting to be
gotten back to, some masterwork?

Jon Secada: Not really. I'm still happy with everything I've done up
to now. And musically, I am very fulfilled with everything that I have
recorded.

Question: Jon -- It's Manny Perez from the University of Miami.
Remember "The Turk In Italy?"

Jon Secada: Yes Manny, I remember. And I sure remember the Turk in
Italy. How are you doing?

Harpo LIVE: LEE9695 is up .....

Question: I think that your music is great, I was wondering does
anyone else in your family sing?

Jon Secada: I had an aunt in Cuba that was a singer. She died many
years ago, and my father used to sing a lot. He actually had a very good
voice.

Question: Jon, did you ever sing at a club called the Forge in Miami?

Jon Secada: No I never sang at the Forge. I sang in a lot of other
clubs, but never the Forge.

Harpo LIVE: MsLILY is up .....

Question: Hi Jon from SC...what was your first experience when coming
to the United States...good or bad? 

Jon Secada: Only good. Only good experiences. And even though me and
my family had next to nothing to call our own in terms of money or anything,
we were always happy.

Question: I remember you played in Brazil in 1994. It was incredible.
Do you plan to visit my country again for performances?

Jon Secada: Thank you very much. Yes I will actually be in Brazil
promoting the next album in about two weeks. I will be there for about a
week, and I will most definitely visit Brazil on a concert tour. I think
that one of the most exciting audiences I ever had was in Rio De Janeiro.

Harpo LIVE: RosieV1 - here is your question for Jon!

Question: Jon, what inspired you to write the song "I'm Free". It
really moved me and turned me on to your music.

Jon Secada: Thank you very much. That's one of my all time favorites
that I've written. The inspiration came from something my father told me.
That your problems are only as big as you make them.

Harpo LIVE: Knfused1 has our next question ....

Question: As a child what was your biggest dream about your future and
have you been able make your all your dreams a reality?

Jon Secada: To be completely honest, I have surpassed my dreams. I
never thought I would accomplish as much as I have. I feel very lucky, very
blessed.

Question: Jon: How did you like being on the Oprah show?

Jon Secada: I had a great, great time! It's good to finally resolve
my "in the hole" experience with Oprah.

Question: What do you do in your spare time now?

Jon Secada: My spare time for me means spending time with my friends,
my family, at home. I live by the beach in Miami -- just relax, don't do
much of anything.

Question: Jon, if you don't mind me asking, how did you meet your
wife?

Jon Secada: She used to be the assistant to the Vice President of
Estefan Enterprises. So we worked together for a couple of years, and that's
how the friendship started.

Question: Do you enjoy playing all types of music or do you have
preferences?

Jon Secada: I enjoy playing all kinds of music that deals with my
influences, which are many... from rock to pop, R&B, to Latin music. I grew
up listening to a lot of different styles of music.

Harpo LIVE: FSUAnne -- you've got us laughing!

Question: What went through your mind when you fell through the stage
at the world cup?

Jon Secada: I was embarrassed, and the only thing that went through my
mind was to KEEP SINGING!

Question: You came to Boston a few years back. Any plans to return?
You also stopped by Children's Hospital here and made a lot of kids really
happy!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!

Jon Secada: Yes, I would most definitely go back to promote my music
and go on a concert tour as well.

Harpo LIVE: Martard is up next ....

Question: Hi Jon, just a radio DJ wondering what your favorite song on
"Secada" is, and what should we look forward to as the next release?

Jon Secada: My favorite song in Secada is probably "Too Late, Too
Soon" because it opened up -- it was the example for the rest of the album as
to the sound and production. And the next release will most probably be a
song called "Believe."

Question: Jon will you ever record reggae?

Jon Secada: Reggae is not one of my direct personal influences, so I
don't think I would ever do a complete reggae record. I might use indirect
influences from it, but that's it.

Question: What inspired you to write "Believe"?

Jon Secada: Believe is a song that I wrote a long time ago, and it's
just an inspirational song about holding on to your dreams. And believe in
love and believe in holding on to your loved ones.

Question: Did you know "I'm Free" was used on the soap "One Life to
Live" for a GREAT montage scene between two characters shot in NY?

Jon Secada: I think I heard something about that, yes.

Question: "Amor" seemed to be a real departure from your other works.
Will we see more beautiful ballads like those?

Jon Secada: Thank you for liking that record. I would love to do more
stuff like that, yes.

Question: I know you were a teacher . What did you teach?

Jon Secada: I taught voice training. I taught music theory,
humanities. 

Jon Secada: That's it?! Thank you to everybody that's been online with
Oprah and myself and I'll see you in a nearby city where you guys are at.
I'll try to go there, and God bless you all.

Online Host: Unfortunately we are out of time -- but want to thank you
all for being here with us. Thanks to Jon for making the time - and we wish
you all the best with the new album, "Secada." As Oprah said, "It's
fabulous!" Thanks again everyone - goodnight from Harpo Studios!