Estefan Writes Memoir

Estefan has opened up about his rise to fame as an impoverished Cuban refugee in his memoir, The Rhythm of Success.

The 56 year old music producer, and husband of singer Gloria Estefan, fled Cuba to Spain as a teen, where he earned dinner by playing the accordion at a cantina before moving to the U.S. and finding fame with the Miami Sound MAChine.

Estefan hopes his story will inspire other Latins to reach for the stars.

He says, "This generation of Hispanics has to know its history, everything Latinos who came before them have done to open the doors and to see what they can achieve. That's why I've dedicated the book to the first Latino president. Maybe it won't happen now, but it will happen.

"When I left my mother at the airport, I thought I will probably never see her or my brother again. I got on the plane, and I saw all these families, and I cried the whole way to Spain. To go from a family, based with grandparents and so many relatives to being almost homeless in a strange country, it was a drastic change. Music was the one thing, even in the hard times, that always made me happy."

The Rhythm of Success is scheduled to hit shelves later this month (Jan10).