Miami Sound Machine

小簡介
    來自拉丁美洲的“邁阿密之音”合唱團(tuán)是多年來少見的在歐美流行樂壇大放異彩的拉丁音樂團(tuán)體。樂隊(duì)主唱格洛利亞·埃斯特范(Gloria ffefah)是整個(gè)樂團(tuán)的靈魂，她是位有著古巴血統(tǒng)的姑娘，不僅相貌美麗、嗓音優(yōu)美動(dòng)人，更重要的是她還有著過人的寫作才能。她創(chuàng)作的歌曲很有加勒比音樂的特點(diǎn)，內(nèi)容多為錯(cuò)綜復(fù)雜的愛情心理，該樂隊(duì)的暢銷曲大多出自她的筆下。
    格洛利亞和她為主的“邁阿密之音”樂隊(duì)已成為近年來美國最出色的藝術(shù)家和樂隊(duì)之一。1990年，樂隊(duì)成員紛紛離開，樂隊(duì)面臨解散的危險(xiǎn)，格洛利亞和她的丈夫只得重新招兵買馬，人們對(duì)樂隊(duì)的前途感到擔(dān)憂。然而一年之后，格洛莉亞仍舊推出專輯《Coming Out Of The Dark(走出黑暗)》并在美國排行榜上連續(xù)幾周名列前茅。“邁阿密之音”樂隊(duì)終于重新站立，再現(xiàn)昔日風(fēng)彩。“邁阿密之音”今日的成功，最重要的是格洛利亞本人那俏麗文弱的外表，略帶傷感的嗓音和充滿個(gè)性、旋律優(yōu)美的歌曲三者完美的統(tǒng)一。
by Craig Harris
One 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.