Grammy winner Jon Secada will sing in Victoria
Artist bringing his Las Vegas show to town as part of theater's anniversary
March 02, 2007 - Posted at 12:00 a.m.
BY APRILL BRANDON - VICTORIA ADVOCATE
The city of Victoria is poised to do great things and the Victoria community theater is right there with it, according to theater Executive Director Scott Mohon. As such, the organization is bringing in triple Grammy Award winner Jon Secada for a performance as a sign of things to come.
"I'm just so thrilled he is coming," Mohon said. "Watching him perform is just magical. The talent he has and the heart and soul he has, he is an amazing performer. And this is just the beginning of what's to come. We want people to know that we can bring this kind of caliber performers to Victoria, we have the capabilities."
As part of the theater's 30th anniversary season, Secada will be bringing his Las Vegas show to the Leo J. Welder Performing Arts Center on March 23.
"I'll be playing a little bit of everything, new songs from my latest album, "Same Dream," along with the old stuff. My whole band will be there, and it's going to be a rockin' show," Secada said. "This is my first trip to Victoria and I'm looking forward to it."
Secada, who was born in Havana, Cuba, came to the United States at the age of 9. After graduating high school, he went on to earn a master's degree in music from the University of Miami. He started out his musical career as a backup singer for Gloria Estefan, then rocketed to fame after his debut album in 1992 sold 6 million copies worldwide. The Spanish-language version of that album earned him his first Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album.
"I've had so many highlights in my career and have been blessed with so many things and opportunities. The things I've been able to do, from the Grammys that I've gotten, to the duets I was able to do with Frank Sinatra and Pavarotti, it's hard to pick just one," Secada said. "I've been able to travel the world, just so many wonderful things like that. One of the biggest highlights would have to be winning the Grammy Awards, especially the one I received with my first album. That is something I will always remember. It was a very special time in my life."
Secada is also an accomplished songwriter and producer, as well as an acclaimed Broadway performer in shows like "Grease" (where he played Danny Zuko). He has managed to squeeze his Victoria performance into a hectic schedule that will include being a judge on the show "Latin American Idol," which begins filming for three months starting in April. He is also getting ready to record a new Christmas CD.
"I've been pulling back a bit from concerts, only because I need to get back to the studio and I'll be in Argentina for three months for the second season of the show," Secada said. "I'll be in Victoria for two days before I have to fly out again."
Secada will perform and conduct a Q&A session with 2,200 students from Memorial High School on the Thursday before the performance, according to Mohon.
"He'll sing some songs and answer questions. He's going to talk about his education and career. Education has always been very important to him," said Mohon, who worked with Secada when both of them performed in "Grease."
Just recently, Secada was appointed by President Bush to serve on his Advisory Committee on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, which was charged with trying to close the achievement gap between Hispanic students and their peers.
"It's something very important to me, so I was very proud when the president asked me and invited me to be a part of this committee of Latin leaders from all over the country to analyze what's going with education among Latin youth," Secada said.
Tickets for the concert are $155 and $200. Mohon said patrons who purchase the $200 tickets will be invited for a private party after the show with Secada and his band at the Olde Victoria Oak Room. Both ticket amounts get audience members in for the champagne reception and the pre-show.
The Jon Secada concert begins at 7:30 p.m. March 23. For tickets or more information, call 361-576-6277, ext. 5 or go to www.theatrevictroia.org.
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