Editing Miami Sound Machine (section)

===1970s===
In 1975, Gloria and her cousin Mercedes "Merci" Navarro (1957–2007)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/alt.obituaries/NoP1roy_xFA/TXIR2gsE7hcJ|title=Mercedes Navarro Murciano, 50, original member of Miami Sound Machine dead|website=groups.google.com|access-date=2018-10-09}}</ref> met [[Emilio Estefan|Emilio Estefan Jr.]] while performing at a church ensemble rehearsal. Estefan, who had formed the band The Miami Latin Boys earlier that year, learned about Gloria through a mutual acquaintance.

While The Miami Latin Boys were performing at a Cuban wedding at Hotel Dupont, Gloria and Merci (who were wedding guests) performed two Cuban standards impromptu. They impressed The Miami Latin Boys so much that they were invited to join the band permanently; thereby, the band's name was changed to The Miami Sound Machine. Gloria, who was attending the University of Miami at the time, only agreed to perform during the weekends so that her studies would not be interrupted.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/gloria-and-emilio-estefan-build-a-music-empire-and-a-family-compound-1448988567|title=Gloria and Emilio Estefan Build a Music Empire and a Family Compound|date=December 1, 2015|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2018-10-09|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}</ref>

In 1977, Miami Sound Machine began recording and releasing various albums and 45s on Audiofon Records in Miami, Florida.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iPvkDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA215|title=Life on the Hyphen: The Cuban-American Way|last=Firmat|first=Gustavo Pérez|date=May 1, 2012|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=9780292735996|language=en}}</ref> The group's primary lineup consisted of six Cuban-born Americans:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/miami-sound-machine-mn0000449578/biography|title=Miami Sound Machine {{!}} Biography & History |website=AllMusic|access-date=2018-10-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.miami.com/funny-stories/these-old-photos-of-the-estefans-remind-us-why-theyre-miami-royalty-189881/|title=These old photos of the Estefans remind us why they're Miami royalty|date=May 24, 2018|work=Miami.com|access-date=2018-10-10|language=en-US}}</ref>

* Emilio Estefan Jr. (percussion and accordion) 
* Gloria Fajardo (lead vocals and hand percussion) 
* Merci Navarro (lead vocals) and her husband Raul Murciano (keyboards) 
* Enrique "Kiki" Garcia (drums) 
* Juan Marcos Avila (bass)

====''Live Again/Renacer'' ====
In 1977, Miami Sound Machine's first album ''Live Again/Renacer'' was released with two different covers. The group had several more releases on the Audiofon label, the RCA Victor label, and subsequently Miami Sound Machine's own label Miami Sound Machine Records.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Estefan's Discs Across The Decades|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GREEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA40|magazine=Billboard|date=October 11, 2003|issn=0006-2510|volume=115|issue=41|page=40|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en}}</ref> In 1978, Gloria married Emilio Estefan Jr. after two years of dating.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gloria-estefan-life-career-meeting-her-husband-emilio-estefan/|title=Gloria Estefan reflects on her hardships, career and the day she'll "never forget"|access-date=2018-10-10|language=en}}</ref> In 1979, Miami Sound Machine added American guitarist and native Miamian, Wesley B. Wright, and Cuban-born Fernando Garcia on trumpet (unrelated to "Kiki" Garcia).<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ruidiaz|first=Armando Rodriguez|title=Los sonidos de la música cubana. Evolución de los formatos instrumentales en Cuba|url=https://www.academia.edu/18302881|language=en}}</ref>

====''Miami Sound Machine''====
By the end of 1979, the band was signed to Discos CBS International. Miami Sound Machine then released several albums, 45s, and [[twelve-inch single]]s beginning with the 1980 self-titled ''Miami Sound Machine''.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Lannert|first=John|title=Frank Welzer—The Billboard Interview|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fwgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58|magazine=Billboard|date=November 20, 1999|issn=0006-2510|volume=111|issue=47|page=58|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en}}</ref> The combination of traditional Latin rhythms and American R&B grooves combined with the songwriting of Gloria Estefan, "Kiki" Garcia, and Wesley B. Wright) set a crossover musical standard for the next two decades to come.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-18-124/international-superstars-emilio-and-gloria-estefan-named-recipients-of-the-library-of-congress-gershwin-prize-for-popular-song/2018-09-24/|title=International Superstars Emilio and Gloria Estefan Named Recipients of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song|work=The Library of Congress|access-date=2018-10-10|language=en}}</ref>