SAN ANTONIO -- Latin legend Gloria Estefan arrived early in San Antonio to visit Winston Elementary on the city's west side and thank her music teacher, Dorothy Collins.
Estefan learned English at the school and it's where her taste in music developed, she said. Collins was not expecting to see Estefan until Saturday night when Estefan performs for the People en Espanol event.
The two-day concert at the Alamodome is somewhat of a homecoming for Estefan.
San Antonio represents joy for me: The joy of the Spencerian of Ms. Collins in school, the joy of my baby sister coming into my life and the first time we lived as a family, because my father had been a political prisoner in the Bay of Pigs and this was the first time we really lived as a family together, Estefan said.
Estefan said Collins played a role in developing her taste in music. The two still keep in touch.
I have Gloria's cell phone number, Collins said. I try not to bother her.
Although the Latin legend is deeply rooted in South Beach, her South Texas roots still serve as her anchor.
