In a recent Associated Press interview Estefan explained that the key to his success is to “be unique.”

“That’s what I tell people. Even if they say it won’t work. Keep doing it,” he said. “Because in the end, no one else is going to be your cheerleader.”

 “The Rhythm of Success,” which was released earlier this month by Penguin Group’s Celebra division, tells Estefan’s story from his journey to the U.S. as a Cuban teenager to where he’s at now, including making the headlines last year for signing on as one of the Miami Dolphin’s minority owners.

Estefan left Cuba with his father at the age of 14, leaving behind his mother and other brother. His brother was enrolled in university and the communist government refused to let him leave because he was of military age. His mother refused to leave her eldest son or parents. Because it was hard to get into the U.S. from Cuba, Estefan and his father first headed for Spain, where he survived by eating at soup kitchens and paying for other meals by playing the accordion at a cantina.

A year later, Estefan immigrated to the United States on his own. His father, mother and brother would eventually join him. His attended night school, worked in the mailroom of the Cuban-exile owned Bacardi liquor company and borrowed money from his uncle to buy an accordion and form a band.

The Miami Sound Machine added a singer named Gloria Rajardo Garcia whom Emilio fell in love with and who the world now knows as Gloria Estefan. The band earned a place on the top of the charts with hits like “Anything For You,” “1,2,3” and “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” eventually being billed just as Gloria Estefan.

In addition to helping shape his wife’s and the Miami Sound Machine’s career, Estefan has also produced songs for Ricky Martin, Shakira, Lenny Kravitz and Madonna.

“The hardest thing was to convince Shakira she could do the crossover because when I met her she didn’t know any English,” he said. “She was a genius, but she was still a child.”

If you’re a fan of award shows, you can thank Estefan for the part he played in launching the Latin Grammys 10 years ago, giving Spanish and Portuguese music a chance to shine on its own. Estefan doesn’t just do music – as the CEO and founder of Estefan Enterprises, he oversees work in the worlds of hotels, restaurants, real estate, TV and film production, as well as music publishing and artist management.

Estefan wrote his memoir especially for his fellow Hispanics, explaining that “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.”

Click here for the AP article.