In 1990 Gloria Estefan and her family were involved in a major motor accident when the Estefans' tour bus was hit by a semi-truck and crashed into a tractor trailer in Pennsylvania. Her husband and son received minor injuries but Gloria was critically injured with a broken vertebra. She took a year to recover and this song was written by her about her recovery.
The title was inspired by a phrase her husband had written on a piece of paper as a helicopter transported her for delicate surgery to repair her broken back. Gloria explained to Billboard: "My husband had been in one of the helicopters traveling from one hospital to the other. It was really dark and gray, and he was traumatized. He got this ray of light that hit him in the face, and he got the idea for 'Coming out of the Dark.'"
It was the first song that Gloria performed and also the first single she released after her near-fatal accident. She debuted the song at the American Music Awards, held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, on January 29, 1991.
Included in the backing choir are Jon Secada (who co-wrote the song) and R&B singer Betty Wright.
Gloria was careful not to turn Into the Light into a pity party. "I hate pity," she told the Los Angeles Daily News. "I'm very self-reliant and independent, and I'm used to that role. I don't like people feeling sorry for me. So I wrote 'Coming Out of the Dark' to let the people around me know how important they are to me. But that was as far as I wanted to go with the accident. I didn't want this to become 'the album on the accident.' What am I going to sing - 'Oh, this bus hit me'?"
The 2015 biographical Broadway musical On Your Feet!, which tells the Estefans' story through some of Gloria's biggest hits, ends with a re-creation of the singer's 1991 AMA performance of this song. Ana Villafane, who plays Gloria, even dons a replica of the backless blue dress she wore that night.
Of the song, Gloria told Entertainment Weekly: "We wanted to share that we're a family like everybody else. Things happen, you go through stuff, and you come out stronger."
Barry from Sauquoit, NyAs stated above, on January 29th, 1991 at the American Music Awards, Gloria Estefan performs live for the first time since a tour bus accident 10 months earlier where she seriously injured her back... At the Award show she performed "Coming Out Of The Dark"; and at the time the song was at #38 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart, a little under eight weeks later on March 24th it would peak at #1 {for 2 weeks} and it stayed on the chart for 19 weeks... And the song also reached #1 {for 2 weeks} on March 10th, 1991 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart... She also released a Spanish version of the song, ""Desde La Oscuridad", and it peaked at #5 on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart... Ms. Estefan, born Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García, will celebrate her 59th birthday this coming September 1st {2016}.
David from Honolulu, HiI was sitting here thinking about Gloria Estefan's near-fatal bus accident that occurred 22 years ago last month. I'm happy she survived the accident & was back on her feet performing in concert several months later. Gloria had two metal rods supplanted into her lower back, & she was eventually able to walk again. "Coming Out Of The Dark" was Gloria's first recorded song after her accident, & made it to #1 on the singles chart. Way to be a fighter, Gloria!
Jorges from Oaxaca, MexicoSony released tv advertising CD Turnables using this song - excellent choice to link "sound quality" (?)
Mike from Norwalk, CtAt the time I was part of a Bible study where when we heard of this, we prayed for Gloria. We were very pleased to see she recovered and I love the song!
Jan from Antwerp, --At the time Gloria Estefan had the accident, I was 14 years old and a huge fan of her. I literally became ill after I heard the news of her serious injuries. So, I was very glad when she released this song and the accompanying album. After that, I kinda lost track of her as she was going in the latin pop direction and I was seriously getting into alternative rockmusic and metal and stuff, so it was not 'cool' to be a fan of Gloria Estefan anymore :-( Untill a few years ago I got completely hooked on latin music thanks to Shakira and Juanes and co. and I also 'rediscovered' Gloria Estefan. It was like meeting an old friend after several years and discovering that you're still getting along after all this time.
Larry from Coral Springs, FlYes..i do remember hearing about her accident when i was at work. A friend of mine asked me should we call the hospital as to where she was at..but I can't recall if she got thru or not or as to ay info on her condition. yes this song is a masterpiece and Gloria Estefan is very strong in character and in spirit.
