Grammy winner comes to Iowa for "Dreamcoat"

A two-time Grammy Award-winner who’s sold more than 20-million albums is in Iowa this week for the first time, performing in the title role of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Cuban-born Jon Secada says he’s relishing the diversity of his musical life — as a singer, an actor, a record producer and as a songwriter for many other stars including Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez. Secada says he’s enjoying the fact he’s able to encompass so many things into his craft and “I’m getting more and more encouraged as I go along.” Many people associate the role of Joseph in this show with Donny Osmond, who played it on the road for several years during the 1990s. Secada says he got to work with Osmond a few months ago before donning the coat and got some good advice from the former child star. The 42-year-old Secada says “The whole cast is tremendous and each production of this show, as popular as it is, each cast and the chemistry of each cast brings something different to it.” He says Osmond said to enjoy the synergy of working with such a talented group of people, traveling the country, staying healthy and just to enjoy the process. Secada’s parents moved from Cuba to Miami in 1971 when he was nine-years-old. Last year, Secada was appointed by President Bush to the Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, what he calls a “flattering” honor. Secada says “As a celebrity, I’ve always felt a responsibility to do what I can especially when you’re dealing with being an example for children and trying to do the best for the future of our children. As a Latino I was very, very proud to be included as part of that commission and to see an overview what’s going to happen over the next ten to 15 years to the growth of our Latin community.” “Joseph…” is at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines through Sunday. For more information, surf to “www.civiccenter.org”.