Condolences: Frank Amadeo
• Over the weekend we were saddened to hear the news that Frank Amadeo, the former PD of WHYI (Y-100)/Miami who went on to became the longtime President of Estefan Enterprises and helped build the careers of Gloria Estefan and Shakira, died at 57. According to various reports, Amadeo suffered a heart attack at his Brickell, FL home and died Saturday at Mercy Hospital. “We lost a great man,” a heartbroken Emilio Estefan said in an email to the Miami Herald.
In an emotional Instagram post, Gloria Estefan (pictured here, left, next to Amadeo and Emilio), remarked, “I am devastated, shocked beyond belief and sad beyond words to share with you the sudden and unexpected passing of Frank Joseph Amadeo, the President of our company, Estefan Enterprises, the most trusted ally we could have ever hoped for and an angel to everyone that had the good fortune of knowing him. To say he will be missed by many is a huge understatement… our lives will never be the same. Thank you for being you, Franklin! You will live forever in our hearts…”
Amadeo started working at Y-100/Miami while a junior at South Broward High, and over the next 12 years worked his way up to the PD chair. In 1984 he was instrumental in helping to break the then-named Miami Sound Machine to the English-language market when he started playing the group’s first English-language single, “Dr. Beat,” on Y-100. In 1992 Emilio and Gloria Estefan brought Amadeo on board to manage their company’s media relations, and within a couple years, he rose to Vice President of Estefan Enterprises. By 1998, he was the company’s President as Estefan Enterprises branched out into production of other major Latin music figures like Jennifer Lopez, Shakira and Carlos Ponce, opening restaurants, properties, Broadway and beyond. Amadeo held that leadership role until his death.
Tragically, earlier this month COVID-19 also claimed the life of the Estefan’s bus driver Ron “Bear” Jones, just days after Gloria announced she had tested positive. The Miami Herald has some excellent coverage of Amadeo’s life and career.
