MIAMI – It’s October, but it’s never too early to get into the Christmas spirit.
International superstar Gloria Estefan and her family are getting us there with a Christmas album that features songs in English and Spanish.
The Estefan family put their spin on some Christmas classics and also created some new ones.
The idea for the album came during a Thanksgiving tradition three years ago.
The 17-track album stars Gloria, her daughter Emily, and her grandson Sasha.
“He’s been singing since he was a baby,” Gloria Estefan said. “We’ve been putting on shows for Thanksgiving and Christmas since he was a toddler, literally. I got the idea. I go, ‘Oh my gosh, I would love nothing more than to put our three voices on one record.’”
But it ended up being more than just the Estefan 3 as they call themselves.
Gloria’s husband, Emilio, also makes a guest appearance, and they couldn’t leave out the furry family members.
“Working with them, creating with them, it’s a gift,” Emily Estefan said. “Being able to be with your family, the people you love, create and be on the same page. Every single moment we were recording was my favorite moment.”
The album is welcoming you inside the Estefan’s Christmas party with skits and soothing vocals.
Two original songs, three in Spanish, fill up this track.
And of course there are the ones that you already know, but haven’t heard this way before.
Their multi-generational musical talents shine in the album, celebrating the peace and love of the holiday season.
“We want to take people back to a simpler time, to a nostalgic feeling,” Gloria Estefan said. “So we’d love to incorporate the 50s, early 60s, some Beach Boys that we did. We actually did a mashup with a Beach Boys’ tune and Chuck Berry, which worked so well together.”
The album was produced by Gloria Estefan and the dean of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.
It’s available now digitally, and if you want the CD, you can get that on Dec. 2.