Gloria Estefan joined Miami Sound Machine on October 25, 1975, soon after starting her college education. Miami Sound Machine, originally named Miami Latin Boys, was founded by another Cuban immigrant, Emilio Estefan Jr., earlier that same year. They met at Hotel Dupont in downtown Miami, which no longer exists, while Miami Latin Boys was performing as a wedding band. Gloria and her cousin rehearsed Cuban songs for the wedding reception they attended as guests. Emilio was impressed by Gloria’s vocal skills, and obviously wanted to have a date with her, he invited Gloria to join the band. Miami Latin Boys changed the name to Miami Sound Machine because of the new female vocalist. Although the beginning of Gloria’s music career was limited to weekends due to her decision to concentrate on her college education, the rest unfolded relatively quickly. The first Miami Sound Machine album, “Live Again/Renacer,” was released in 1977, followed by her marriage to Emilio in 1978, college graduation in 1979, and the birth of their first child in 1980.
In February 1986, a new Miami Sound Machine music video, shot in the iconic Fontainebleau Hotel at 4441 Collins Avenue in central Miami Beach, was aired worldwide. The song featured in the video was “Bad Boy”.
This was the first Miami Sound Machine video I watched in my youth, as mentioned in the introduction.
Miami Sound Machine had already evolved into an international sensation by the time. After selling seven Spanish-language albums, they released their first English album, “Eyes of Innocence,” in 1984. Although “Dr. Beat” gained popularity in Australia and some other countries, it didn’t become a massive hit in the U.S. In 1985, the album “Primitive Love” was released, and Miami Sound Machine, particularly Gloria and Emilio Estefan, achieved both domestic and international stardom with major hits like “Conga” (peaking at #10), “Bad Boy” (#8), and “Words Get In the Way” (#5). The album reached #20 on the Billboard 200 and became a triple-platinum.
This version of “Bad Boy” best represented what Miami Sound Machine was, unlike other videos, including those of Gloria Estefan, mainly filmed in studios. The video showcased a vibrant and upbeat band straight out of sunny Miami Beach, with blue oceans and white sands. While there is another version of the “Bad Boy” promotional video inspired by the musical “Cats,” which is probably more widely recognized, I personally prefer the beach version.
Fontainebleau Miami Beach, opened in 1954, still serves as an executive beach resort in central Miami Beach. Several things have changed since 1986. Back then, it was the Fontainebleau Hilton. You can see it on the sign right behind Gloria Estefan in the video.
Hilton managed the hotel between 1978 and 2006. Additionally, the beginning of the aerial scene shows only one building within the property, but the comprehensive resort has expanded with several more buildings, including luxurious condominiums. The pool area has obviously been greatly enhanced since the video. The video doesn’t depict the hotel having a boardwalk on the beach in 1986, but it does now. Despite these changes, the stunning curbed Miami Modern Architecture building still represents the face of the hotel. The lobby pillars, huge gorgeous chandeliers, and elevators remain unchanged.
SongsMusiCanto had a YouTube video featuring the Estefan couple casually driving around Miami Beach in their Dodge convertible. They started at the Fontainebleau. Initially, they headed north, with a canal visible on the left, as left turns weren’t allowed. They later made a U-turn toward South Beach. The scenery remains similar today. The condo across the large parking lot (Mimosa) still stands, and the canal features numerous gorgeous yachts and large mansions. The following video and photos showcase the area that Gloria and Emilio enjoyed driving through after leaving Fontainebleau.
In South Beach, Gloria and Emilio Estefan participated in another interview discussing the change in the band name, their musical background, and their concept of crossover music.
The hotel behind them read “The Tides” in the opening. Formerly known as “The Tides South Beach Hotel,” located at 1220 Ocean Drive, it was closed and converting into a condominium when I visited. The 4-star historic building was completed in 1936.
Probably young the Estefan couple didn’t imagine they would own a hotel just a block away from The Tides in the future.
At 1300 Ocean Drive, there was a posh art deco hotel named Cardozo South Beach Hotel. Built in 1939, the Estefans added the hotel to their portfolio in 2019.
👆 Cardozo Hotel. The last was the hotel photo I found from my 2010 trip album.
Cardozo had a take-out Cuban restaurant named Estefan Kitchen Express, bearing the owner’s family name, in addition to a fashionable, table-service restaurant called Call Me Cuban. I decided to buy a Classic Cuban Sandwich for my lunch on the beach. Their menu surely comes with a celebrity premium over resort prices…$17 for the Cuban Sandwich! Despite the high price tag for a panini-style sandwich, the taste was quite good. The pork was tender, creating a delightful harmony with fresh cheese.
South Beach is the melting pot of the entire Miami area’s entertainment, travel, pop culture, and people from all over the world. Posh hotels, trendy restaurants, and crazy club parties open until 5 a.m… all the excitement is there in the southern end of the American continent. Most importantly, South Beach is the place where people can feel free in front of the vast, wide blue ocean, white sand beach, and under the big, bright sun. The atmosphere and positive energy have the power to empty your brain of stress. And the beach absolutely deserves to be one of the world-famous ones (the beach becomes clearer as you head north). Clear, coral-colored water is continuously shallow up to an adult’s shoulders, so there’s no need to worry about drowning. The water is mostly calm and warm, with high tides being rare, and the sand is as white as you imagine paradise to be. There is no place like Miami Beach for experiencing that feeling of release.
Gloria and Emilio Estefan are the epitome of the American Dream in Miami, having fled their motherland and navigated long, challenging roads. Particularly, Gloria Estefan gained worldwide fame with numerous hit songs and albums, both with Miami Sound Machine and in her solo career after 1989. They founded Estefan Enterprises, Inc., engaging in a broad spectrum of successful business ventures. Their pursuits extend beyond entertainment, encompassing hospitality management.
👆 The headquarters of Estefan Enterprises, Inc. is on 5th Street and Jefferson Avenue, close to the southern edge of South Beach.
Situated just across the bridge from South Beach, Gloria and Emilio Estefan reside in a lavish mansion on the renowned Star Island. Star Island is a small enclave of jewels nestled between the mainland and Miami Beach, where only celebrities like Sean Combs and Shaquille O’Neal can own a house.
👆 Star Island and South Beach
The achievements of Estefan’s career are enormous. On the music side, if Miami Sound Machine didn’t exist, the current American music scene would be vastly different. While Latino music has gained immense popularity in the U.S. today, Miami Sound Machine, including Gloria Estefan, stands as the Latino pioneers who made a breakthrough with their crossover Latino beats. Certainly, their music isn’t strictly pure Latino; as the Estefans have repeatedly noted, their Latino roots were artfully blended with American rock, pop, and dance music. This crossover succeeded in breaking musical barriers, capturing the interest of not only many non-Latino fans domestically but also internationally. Their talent extends beyond their personal careers. They demonstrated a knack for discovering hidden Latino artists and propelled them into worldwide stardom through their music productions, notably contributing to the success of artists like John Secada and Shakira.
The couple has also served as the greatest “unofficial” ambassadors of Miami, promoting the idea of “Miami nice, not Miami vice.” As self-proclaimed beach enthusiasts, this was a message the couple consistently conveyed to counter the notorious image of Miami portrayed by gangs and TV dramas. In the 25 years since my first visit, both Miami Beach and Miami have undergone significant transformations, especially with the City of Miami making dramatic changes through new developments over the past decade.
They passionately represented Miami as a positive place filled with lively beach culture, vibrant music, and exciting nightlife. Far from the stereotypes and gossip, Miami Sound Machine and the Estefans arguably stand as the best representatives of a city always radiating positive vibes and serving as a remarkable example of dreams coming true.
OUTTAKE: STREET MUSICIAN
Especially along Lincoln Road in the heart of South Beach where many restaurants and shops targeting tourists, you’ll find many street musicians and performers. Don’t judge, as sometimes you’ll discover exceptionally talented musicians on the street. During my visit to Miami Beach in 2022, while having dinner, I stumbled upon a singer/guitarist named Mike Michel on Lincoln Road. Even two blocks away, upon reaching the entrance of Lincoln Road, his beautiful voice, accompanied by a flowing acoustic guitar sound, reached my ears. As I walked closer, it became evident that everyone listening was applauding his soulful yet emotional voice. “Smooth soul” was for his voice. Yet emotional. Mike’s rendition of cover songs was impressive, as he managed to infuse his original arrangements without losing the essence of the originals. His performance of “Stand By Me” by Ray Charles, which contained a lot of mellow reggae flavors (Mike told me he was of Haitian descent), echoed the legendary Ray Charles with a unique twist. As Mike sang the line, “If the sky that we look upon,” his voice seemed to reach the sky from beneath the ground. It was clear – this guy knew how to sing!
When Mike sang “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradly Copper, Mike’s acoustic serenade felt like an homage to southern stars in the night sky, deviating from the original rusty yet dramatic ballad. When he sang “I’m falling” with his sweet voice, surrounding listeners, especially the ladies, seemed to fall in love with the sentimental combination of his voice and guitar. Passersby couldn’t resist stopping to drop cash into his guitar case. Beyond his vocal prowess, Mike showcased thrilling guitar skills. In the spirit of the original version of “Shallow,” I couldn’t help but feel that I was witnessing a star being born.
Mike Michel’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/michelmikeofficial
