My first Gloria Estefan experience was the beach version of the “Bad Boy” promotional video, followed by the “Cats” inspired version. ‘Conga’ came soon after. That was around 1986 or 1987. They were still simply named Miami Sound Machine right before becoming Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine.
Miami Sound Machine meant a lot to my formative years. As an early teenager of Asian descent, “Conga” was my first encounter with funky Latin beats, and I instantly liked it! The band’s name introduced me to the concept of Miami, a southern tropical city, before I even watched “Miami Vice”. I loved the name Miami Sound Machine, and I still do. It’s one of the coolest band names in history, perfectly representing who they were and where they were from. This created a positive and upbeat impression of both Miami and the band. Gloria Estefan remains, in my mind, a part of Miami Sound Machine, even though she went solo in 1989. My first impression of Miami was shaped by the band’s music and images, portraying the city as a fun place with a beautiful beach. This was contrary to the notorious reputation of the 80s and 90s (though, of course, I didn’t know the difference between Miami and Miami Beach in my childhood).
Time flies; 12 years later, I visited Miami Beach for the first time. Miami Beach was indeed paradise and still is. Since then, I don’t know how many times I visited Miami Beach. I love Miami Beach. On the beach side, a clear blue ocean, white sand, palm trees, and a beautiful blue sky always welcome me. On the street side, a lot of excitement is rolling. Miami Beach is another city that never sleeps, besides New York City. It’s also a deep melting pot of people and cultures—American, Hispanic, and Caribbean.
Most importantly, I am free in Miami Beach. I always feel free with the tropical breeze filled with free spirits in front of the wide blue ocean. Out of reality, out of trouble. The paradise city remains my dream city despite my frequent visitations. There’s no place like Miami Beach in the U.S.
Miami also boasts its own unique music scene, especially the vibrant hip-hop scene of the ’90s featuring artists like Luke Campbell, Trick Daddy, Trina, and Rick Ross. However, when I think of Miami, it’s always Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine that inspire me
I would like to introduce the beauty of Miami and Miami Beach through the lens of Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine’s career.
While Gloria Estefan hasn’t released an official autobiography or biography, I came across a valuable collection of interviews with Gloria and Emilio during the Miami Sound Machine era on YouTube (SongsMusiCanto). These interviews featured many scenes of Miami and Miami Beach from 1986 that still exist today. Gloria has also shared insights about her life in various interviews.
This TRIPMUZE’s “Music Trip” series Number 4 serves as a digest version based on those interviews, comparing it with the full versions of the last three series. I am confident that you will enjoy gaining a new perspective on Miami and Miami Beach through the journey of Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine.
NOTE: The trip was conducted in May 2023. All photos were taken by the author except the screenshots from YouTube. Many photos are enlargeable by clicking.
