Miami Sound Machine
来自拉丁美洲的“迈阿密之音”合唱团是多年来少见的在欧美流行乐坛大放异彩的拉丁音乐团体。乐队主唱格洛利亚·埃斯特范(Gloria ffefah)是整个乐团的灵魂,她是位有着古巴血统的姑娘,不仅相貌美丽、嗓音优美动人,更重要的是她还有着过人的写作才能。她创作的歌曲很有加勒比音乐的特点,内容多为错综复杂的爱情心理,该乐队的畅销曲大多出自她的笔下。格洛利亚和她为主的“迈阿密之音”乐队已成为近年来美国最出色的艺术家和乐队之一。1990年,乐队成员纷纷离开,乐队面临解散的危险,格洛利亚和她的丈夫只得重新招兵买马,人们对乐队的前途感到担忧。然而一年之后,格洛莉亚仍旧推出专辑《Coming Out Of The Dark(走出黑暗)》并在美国排行榜上连续几周名列前茅。“迈阿密之音”乐队终于重新站立,再现昔日风彩。“迈阿密之音”今日的成功,最重要的是格洛利亚本人那俏丽文弱的外表,略带伤感的嗓音和充满个性、旋律优美的歌曲三者完美的统一。by Craig HarrisOne of the most successful Latin crossover acts of the 80s, Miami Sound Machine was formed in 1975 as the Miami Latin Boys, by keyboardist Emile Estefan, Jr. Performing at a wedding shortly afterwards, the group was joined by guest vocalists Gloria Fajado and her cousin, Merci Navarro Murciano. The two singers impressed the band so much that they were invited to become members, and with their acceptance, the band was renamed Miami Sound Machine. After recording four all-Spanish albums released by CBS Discos, Miami Sound Machine broke through to a much larger audience with their first English album, Eyes of Innocence, in 1984. The album included the dance hit single Dr. Beat. Their next album, 1986s Primitive Love, included the tune Conga!, which became the first single to be simultaneously included on Billboards pop, Latin, soul, and dance charts. Two other singles, Bad Boy and Words Get in the Way, joined Conga! in the pop Top Ten that year, while several singles approached number one during 1987-88, all of which — 1-2-3, Rhythm Is Gonna Get You, Anything for You, Cant Stay Away From You — featured emerging star and lead vocalist Gloria Estefan with top billing.Miami Sound Machine and Estefan were at their commercial peak when a semi-truck slammed into the back of their stopped tour bus on March 20, 1990. Estefans back was so severely broken that her surgery required 400 stitches, and two titanium rods were placed along both sides of her spine. The setback inspired a new direction for Estefan and Miami Sound Machine. After a year-long hiatus, the group returned to the stage with a renewed enthusiasm for traditional Latin music. Their comeback album, Mi Tierra, featuring original tunes based on Cuban music of the 30s, 40s, and 50s, received a Grammy award as best tropical Latin album of 1993. Its success was followed by the Grammy-winning album, Abriendo Puertas, two years later. The personnel of Miami Sound Machine shifted considerably during their time together; Murciano left in 1982 and original guitarist Wesley B. Wright and bassist Juan Marcos Avila left three years later. Estefan Jr. retired from active performing and serves as the groups manager, producer, and songwriter.