Bio Full Biography »

Formed in Miami, Florida, USA in 1973, this Latin/funk/pop group was originally a trio called the Miami Latin Boys, comprising Emilio Estefan (b. 4 March 1953, Cuba; keyboards), Juan Avila (bass) and Enrique ‘Kiki’ Garcia (drums), each of whom was born in Cuba and raised in Miami. The following year the group played at a friend’s wedding where they were joined onstage by singer Gloria Fajardo (b. 1 September 1957, Havana, Cuba). The latter at first refused to join the group, then agreed to sing with them part-time as she pursued her studies. In 1975, the quartet changed its name to Miami Sound Machine. They recorded their first single, ‘Renecer’, for a local Hispanic company that year. Emilio and Gloria married in 1978. In 1979, the group recorded its first album, sung entirely in Spanish; it was picked up for distribution by CBS Records International. They recorded seven Spanish-language records during the next six years, becoming successful in predominantly US Hispanic areas, Central...