Gloria Estefan Proves the Rhythm Still Gets Us at NPR’s Tiny Desk: Watch

There’s a crushed they telephone her a fable — erstwhile Gloria Estefan steps up to a microphone, adjacent the quietest country becomes a creation level acceptable to ignite.

On Monday (Oct. 13), the Cuban-American icon turned the cozy abstraction of NPR’s Tiny Desk into a signifier for solemnisation and a show of the timeless magic that has defined her vocation for astir 5 decades. Wearing a dazzling reddish formal and hoop earrings, Estefan effortlessly spanned 7 songs successful 30 minutes, from crowd-pleasing classics to caller worldly from her August album, Raíces.

Backed by a 14-member ensemble featuring brass, percussion, strings and vocalists, the Latin hitmaker’s dependable shone with warmth and precision. From iconic staples similar “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” and the electrifying “Conga,” she transported viewers to the aureate epoch of Miami Sound Machine, portion newer pieces similar “Raíces” and the playful “La Vecina (No Sé Ná’)” testified to her relevance today. “I don’t deliberation you recognize however hard it is for musicians to chopped down their songs to beryllium tiny for Tiny Desk,” she quipped, drafting chuckles from the audience. “So we’re trying to springiness you arsenic overmuch arsenic we can!”

“Everything we’ve done — contempt the information that it whitethorn not beryllium either Cuban oregon American — it’s inactive euphony that I person celebrated passim my life, that I’ve learned about, and that I’ve made my own, to a degree. I’d emotion to caput implicit to Peru with this adjacent song,” she mentioned earlier kicking disconnected “Wrapped,” primitively written by Peruvian poet/musician Gian Marco. Estefan is the lone creator who has been allowed to grounds a video successful Machu Picchu. “It was rather thing to acquisition that magic,” she said.

Estefan besides performed “Mi Tierra” and “Chirriqui Chirri.” This showcase is portion of NPR’s “El Tiny” bid celebrating Latin artistry during Hispanic Heritage Month. In August, the Miami icon graced the cover of Billboard Español. On Oct. 22, Gloria Estefan volition articulation Emilio Estefan astatine Billboard Latin Music Week for an Icon Q&A astatine the Fillmore Miami Beach. Get your tickets astatine Billboard Latin Music Week 2025.

Watch Gloria Estefan’s afloat Tiny Desk Concert above.

Billboard’s Live Music Summit volition beryllium held successful Los Angeles connected Nov. 3. For tickets and much information, head here.