Best known for her 1986 club smash "Funky Little Beat," Latina singer Connie was among the first artists to come out of Latin freestyle -- a style of dance-pop that incorporates Latin elements. The South Florida native, who was born in Miami but grew up in Hialeah, FL, wasn't as well known as Exposé or the Cover Girls, although "Funky Little Beat" is regarded as one of the important Latin freestyle singles of its time. Born Consuelo Piriz on July 30, 1964, Connie is the daughter of Latino immigrants -- her father was from Cuba, while her mother had moved to South Florida from Ecuador. Connie was in her early twenties when, in 1986, she signed with Sunnyview and recorded "Funky Little Beat." It was also in 1986 that she recorded her second single, "Experience," and provided her self-titled debut album for Sunnyview. But after that, she faded into obscurity and disappeared from the music scene. ~ Alex Henderson