Editing Gloria Estefan (section)

=== 1975–1988: Miami Sound Machine ===
{{Main|Miami Sound Machine}}

In 1975, Estefan 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=9 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513034656/https://www.skepticfiles.org/rumor/j-renotn.htm#!msg/alt.obituaries/NoP1roy_xFA/TXIR2gsE7hcJ|archive-date=13 May 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> met [[Emilio Estefan]], Jr. while performing at a church ensemble rehearsal. Emilio, who had formed the band the Miami Latin Boys earlier in that year, learned about Estefan through a mutual acquaintance. While the Miami Latin Boys were performing at a Cuban wedding at the Dupont Plaza Hotel, Estefan and Navarro, 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 with the band's name changing to Miami Sound Machine. Estefan, 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" />

In 1977, [[Miami Sound Machine]] began recording and releasing various albums and 45s on the Audiofon Records label in Miami. Their first album was titled ''Live Again/Renacer'' (1977). After several more releases on the Audiofon, RCA Victor, and MSM Records labels, the band was signed to Discos CBS International and released several albums beginning with the 1978 self-titled album ''Miami Sound Machine''. In 1978, Gloria married Emilio Estefan Jr. after two years of dating. Growing in popularity in both the U.S. and around the world, the group continued recording and issuing various works for Discos CBS International through 1985.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ramentertainment.com/gloria-estefan|title=Gloria Estefan|work=RAM Entertainment|access-date=10 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011013759/https://ramentertainment.com/gloria-estefan|archive-date=11 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1984, Miami Sound Machine released their first Epic/Columbia album, ''[[Eyes of Innocence (Miami Sound Machine album)|Eyes of Innocence]]'', which included the dance hit "[[Dr. Beat]]" and the ballad "[[I Need Your Love (Miami Sound Machine song)|I Need Your Love]]".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qE-LBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA252|title=Latin Music: Musicians, Genres, and Themes [2 volumes]|last=Stavans|first=Ilan|date=29 July 2014|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-34396-4}}</ref> Their more successful follow-up album ''[[Primitive Love]]'' was released in 1985, and contained three Top 10 hits on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]: "[[Conga (song)|Conga]]" (U.S. No. 10), "[[Words Get in the Way]]" (U.S. No. 5), and "[[Bad Boy (Miami Sound Machine song)|Bad Boy]]" (U.S. No. 8), as well as "[[Falling in Love (Uh-Oh)]]" (U.S. No. 25). "[[Words Get in the Way]]" reached No. 1 on the US [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks]] chart, establishing that the group could perform pop ballads as successfully as dance tunes. The song "Hot Summer Nights" was also released that year and was part of the film ''[[Top Gun]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GgoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA106 |title=Emilio Estefan 20th anniversary |date=26 September 1998 |page=106 |publisher=Billboard |access-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705205623/https://books.google.com/books?id=GgoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA106#v=onepage&q&f=false |archive-date=July 5, 2022}}</ref>

Their next album, ''[[Let It Loose (album)|Let It Loose]]'' (1987), went multi-platinum, with three million copies sold in the US alone. It featured the hits: "[[Anything for You (Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine song)|Anything for You]]" (No. 1 Hot 100), "[[1-2-3 (Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine song)|1-2-3]]" (No. 3 Hot 100), "[[Betcha Say That]]" (No. 36 Hot 100), "[[Rhythm Is Gonna Get You]]" (No. 5 Hot 100), and "[[Can't Stay Away from You]]" (No. 6 Hot 100). "Can't Stay Away From You", "Anything for You", and "1-2-3" were all No. 1 Adult Contemporary hits as well. In that same year, Estefan took top billing and the band's name changed to Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.aarp.org/entertainment/music/info-08-2013/gloria-emilio-estefan-aarp-magazine-story.html|title=Latin Pop Icon Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan, Multilingual CD The ...|last=Nash|first=Alanna|work=AARP|access-date=10 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009211643/https://www.aarp.org/entertainment/music/info-08-2013/gloria-emilio-estefan-aarp-magazine-story.html|archive-date=9 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1988, after the worldwide chart success of single "[[Anything for You (Gloria Estefan song)|Anything for You]]", the ''Let It Loose'' album was repackaged as ''Anything for You''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Gloria-Estefan-And-Miami-Sound-Machine-Anything-For-You/release/436638|title=Gloria Estefan And Miami Sound Machine* – Anything For You|website=Discogs|date=7 November 1988 |access-date=10 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816071156/http://www.discogs.com/Gloria-Estefan-And-Miami-Sound-Machine-Anything-For-You/release/436638|archive-date=16 August 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>