Secada relishes role in Latin music explosion

John Secada performs during the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, on Wednesday, August 2, 2000

By From Michael Okwu
CNN Showbiz Today Correspondent

NEW YORK (CNN) - Well before Ricky Martin or Enrique Iglesias smiled and drove the girls wild in standing-room-only arenas everywhere, there was Jon Secada.

Secada was already on the pop charts when the two heartthrobs brought their Latin-style music to the American mainstream.

Now, the Cuban-born artist is back with "Better Part of Me," his first album in three years. Even diehard fans may not recognize him on his new Latin- and R&B- infused single, "Stop," which signals a change in direction for the Grammy- winning balladeer.

"It's very different for me," he said. "It's got a combination of a lot of different flavors, but it's a really hot, very spicy type of track."

Secada has been making hit records since the early `90s, first writing and singing backup for Gloria Estefan, and then as a solo artist whose "Just Another Day" and "Angel" put him atop the charts.

For his latest album, Secada spent the past three years sequestered in a Miami studio.

"I have never written so many songs in the last three years," he said. "We came up with about 70 songs for this record, and we did about 50 demos of all these songs, and we had so much music."

Since he couldn't use them all, he decided to share with the likes of Jennifer Lopez -- she used his song "Baila" -- and Martin.

"He fell in love with the demo, and he called me and said, 'Look,' and I was in the process of still working on my album, so I didn't mind at all, and he did a great job," Secada said.

Secada, who performed Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention, enjoys being in on Latin music's soaring success.

"It's a good feeling to see what's going on and to see the respect that the music is getting, that the culture is getting in general," he said.

Latin pop: A new international music language
October 22, 1999

Jon Secada
Ricky Martin
Jennifer Lopez
Gloria Estefan

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