Jon Secada performs at the 2000 GOP Convention

In-Depth Coverage of the Republican National Convention

(CNN) -- Latin singer-songwriter Jon Secada performed at the Republican Convention August 2. Secada has twice won Grammy Awards for Best Latin Pop Album. His first solo album, Jon Secada, sold over six million albums worldwide and was certified triple platinum in the U.S. Secada, born in Cuba and raised in Miami, Florida, has co-written songs for Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez.

Secada is the creator of the Jon Secada Music Scholarship at the University of Miami, his alma mater. He is also active in the "Keeping Music In The Schools" campaign sponsored by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS).

Chat Moderator: Thank you for joining us today, Jon Secada, and welcome.

Jon Secada: Hello to everybody out there. How's everybody doing tonight?

Chat Moderator: How were you approached about performing at the convention?

Jon Secada: I was actually invited by people organizing the convention to be a part of it. Through Emilio Estefan, my manager, we put the whole thing together. I took it as an honor and it's my first time doing anything like this. It's been a great experience.

Question from Sunny1-CNN: Jon, were you able to pick your material for your performance tonight?

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Jon Secada: Yes, I actually was. They gave me the opportunity to go ahead and choose the song I wanted to do, which I thought was very cool.

Chat Moderator: With your work in the "Keep Music In The Schools" campaign, have you been involved in politics before?

Jon Secada: Because of the arts, through NARAS, we've actually been to Congress a couple of times to discuss, and to get into open discussions about, the arts in the schools.

Question from Haley-CNN: Which song will you perform tonight, Jon?

Jon Secada: My first single from my new album. It's called "Stop." I think I might do another song from my first album. I think I might do "Angel" tonight as well.

Question from TheFrank: Jon, do you realize that because of TAAS (Texas Assessment of Academic Skills) testing in Texas, the music programs have been significantly cut?

Jon Secada: Well, that's something that I hope through the continuing efforts of artists like myself and other artists, whether a Democrat or Republican, to go ahead and keep the pressure on.

I think that with this administration, and with other administrations, we'll always have to keep the pressure on. Overall, nationwide, we can always let legislators and administrators know, including Bush, of course, of the importance of arts in the schools.

I think if this administration is chosen, I think they will listen.

Question from Airtrafficcontroller: Do you feel that instrumental music in the schools is a dying art?

Jon Secada: It can be, and that's one of the problems. So, that's definitely something we're trying to keep the pressure on, the importance of young instrumentalists in the schools.

Question from Sunny1-CNN: How did you decide what to sing?

Jon Secada: I definitely wanted to do something from the new album, and I like this first song a lot. The song I'm doing tonight, it really represents the style of the album and the mood of the album.

Question from Bryan: What do you think of Napster, the Internet music sharing facility?

Jon Secada: I really believe that, as a composer and songwriter, I have nothing against Napster until songwriters' rights are not protected. I can understand how the relationship with record companies and Napster is, but I think the position with songwriters is definitely something that is going to be looked at, because songwriters have to get paid.

Question from Haley-CNN: Will both of the songs you are performing be in English or Spanish or both?

Jon Secada: One will be in English and the other one is half-English, half-Spanish.

Question from CSeeman: Why do you think " the arts" are so important in a child’s development that they should be taught alongside math and reading?

Jon Secada: It has been proven that the arts enhance other fields of education. They enhance math skills; they touch every other field of a child's well-rounded education.

Question from OrlandoCA: Mr. Secada, do you yourself support Governor Bush ?

Jon Secada: I like the guy, yes, I do. I respect his diversity, I respect his views on education and I think he's a straight shooter. I think he talks from the heart.

Chat Moderator: Do you have any final thoughts you would like to share?

Jon Secada: I just want to say hello to everybody out there, and thank you to all my fans. Hope you like the new album, and I'll be seeing everybody out there on tour real soon.

Chat Moderator: Thank you for joining us.

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