Azucar Moreno

by Drago BonacichInfluenced by disco divas Donna Summer and Gloria Gaynor, sisters Toñi and Encarna Salazar used to dream about becoming pop stars. Encarna began singing and dancing at a very young age and Toñi performed live for the first time at the age of 13 in her native Badajoz. After singing backup for Los Chunguitos, a band formed by their brothers, they started their own project called Azucar Moreno, debuting in 1984 with Con La Piel En Los Labios and having their breakthrough in 1988 after issuing Carne de Melocotón. Playing a mixture of contemporary flamenco and rumba/pop, the Spanish duet returned in 1990 with Bandido. During the following years, Encarna and Toñi Salazar had the opportunity to work along with producers Emilio Estefan and Estefano, achieving a Billboard music award and becoming one of the top-selling artists in the Latin pop scene.