| The styles,the people ,the music, and the language that defined us during the 70s. |
LOCAL GROUPS OF MIAMI
MANTRAP WILLY CHIRINO
HEAVEN REY AND HIS COURT
WILDWIND TIPICA TROPICAL
UNIT 3 CONTINENTAL BRASS
CLOCKWORK LOS JOVENES DEL HIERRO
RAPID TRANSIT FOXXY
TRAPP QUEEN'S KIDS
ANTIQUES PEARLY QUEEN
COKE ( LATER OPUS ) WARLOCK
OUI HEROES OF CRANBERRY
MINT ECSTACY
MAJESTY World Of Matter
FRIENDS
CLOUDS
CARLOS OLIVA
OSCAR Y LA FANTASIA
MIGUEL CRUZ AND SKINS
HEAVEN REY AND HIS COURT
WILDWIND TIPICA TROPICAL
UNIT 3 CONTINENTAL BRASS
CLOCKWORK LOS JOVENES DEL HIERRO
RAPID TRANSIT FOXXY
TRAPP QUEEN'S KIDS
ANTIQUES PEARLY QUEEN
COKE ( LATER OPUS ) WARLOCK
OUI HEROES OF CRANBERRY
MINT ECSTACY
MAJESTY World Of Matter
FRIENDS
CLOUDS
CARLOS OLIVA
OSCAR Y LA FANTASIA
MIGUEL CRUZ AND SKINS
The many bands that played these venues did more than provide us with musical entertainment, they
were also the trend setters , high school and junior high school kids would emulate their style of dress
from the ' QIANA' shirts down to the transparent plexi glass elevator shoes. Weather from Zayas in
Hialeah or Miami Elegante every week these groups would appear on stage with the sole purpose of
being the coolest dressed " Dicotecos " in all of Miami. It didn't matter if you were going bowling at the
Coliseum or shopping at Zayre ' Los Discotecos " always looked good Their hairstyles were not your
father's barbershop down the street they were from Israel, Robert at the Office or from The Studio and
later Hair Fantasy. This would assure that by the end of the night ,they would be able to get a phone
number or two , and if they were real lucky a slow dance in between sets off in a corner where the "
Chaperonas" couldn't see, a sign of a true " Ligador ". Along with the " Stoners", the Nerds,the " Jocks "
this era created " Los Plasticos " teenage boys and girls who dressed in the latest fashions. " Quinces "
were the ultimate displays of " Plastiqueria" elaborate " coming out " parties held at the Dupont,
Barcelona, Doral, Marco Polo or the Big 5 depending on how deep Daddy's pockets were , to have an
Open House band at your party was a status symbol.
Everyone you'll ever meet will refer to their High school years as " those were the days " to thousands of
us here in Miami during the 70s those were OUR days and they were the best , we had arrived , come
into our own ,and we had something to say. We never made " shout outs" we made dedications on EL
SHOW DE RIKKI TIKKI, Ada Buznego one of the original " Champa Chicks"( Champagnat students )
girls who did the phone screening for Enrique de La Maza recalls " The phones never stopped ringing we
would take dedications during the program and then Enriquito would read them on the air . One of the
most popular callers was a girl that would call everyday her name was Rebecca Faroy , I'll never forget .
We never had to pick what movie we were going to see because they only played one at The
Tower,Trail,Teatro Marti,Palm Springs Cinema or el Tivoli. In these movie theatres independently owned
in most cases you could buy popcorn , sandals or hats. We didn't have Happy meals because we were
just as happy with two hamburgers from Royal Castle or a Pan con Bistec from Bistelandia. Food
shopping at Grand Union or Food Fair was a family outing and you didn't dare put anything in the cart
without your father's approval and at the end no matter how old you were you always asked mom for a
few pennies for the gumball machine.
Music was the soundtrack for our "Cubanicity" we spoke English but preffered our colorful Cuban
spanish ( Spanglish ) amongst friends. We preffered Disco and Soul over Salsa. ( that would later
change with " Los Bailes de la Coca Cola ) Super Q was and will always be the only radio station that "
got it right " Everyone had the white Earth Wind and Fire album "Gratitude " it was mandatory that we
learned the words to " Reasons " so that we could seranade some unfortunate young girl with our off key
rendition of this ballad while we danced the song with her at a party or Open House.
When Saturday Night Fever came out in 1977 ,we saw a little bit of ourselves , but it was too griity, too
ugly. The Miami Disco Scene was glitzy, glamorous. Our music was Cerrone ,Love and Kisses,Lou
Rawls we had "Tremenda Pinta " not like these people we saw on the screen. When High School was
over we all went our seperate ways ,but in our hearts we carried the sounds,the sights of a time we
would never forget.
were also the trend setters , high school and junior high school kids would emulate their style of dress
from the ' QIANA' shirts down to the transparent plexi glass elevator shoes. Weather from Zayas in
Hialeah or Miami Elegante every week these groups would appear on stage with the sole purpose of
being the coolest dressed " Dicotecos " in all of Miami. It didn't matter if you were going bowling at the
Coliseum or shopping at Zayre ' Los Discotecos " always looked good Their hairstyles were not your
father's barbershop down the street they were from Israel, Robert at the Office or from The Studio and
later Hair Fantasy. This would assure that by the end of the night ,they would be able to get a phone
number or two , and if they were real lucky a slow dance in between sets off in a corner where the "
Chaperonas" couldn't see, a sign of a true " Ligador ". Along with the " Stoners", the Nerds,the " Jocks "
this era created " Los Plasticos " teenage boys and girls who dressed in the latest fashions. " Quinces "
were the ultimate displays of " Plastiqueria" elaborate " coming out " parties held at the Dupont,
Barcelona, Doral, Marco Polo or the Big 5 depending on how deep Daddy's pockets were , to have an
Open House band at your party was a status symbol.
Everyone you'll ever meet will refer to their High school years as " those were the days " to thousands of
us here in Miami during the 70s those were OUR days and they were the best , we had arrived , come
into our own ,and we had something to say. We never made " shout outs" we made dedications on EL
SHOW DE RIKKI TIKKI, Ada Buznego one of the original " Champa Chicks"( Champagnat students )
girls who did the phone screening for Enrique de La Maza recalls " The phones never stopped ringing we
would take dedications during the program and then Enriquito would read them on the air . One of the
most popular callers was a girl that would call everyday her name was Rebecca Faroy , I'll never forget .
We never had to pick what movie we were going to see because they only played one at The
Tower,Trail,Teatro Marti,Palm Springs Cinema or el Tivoli. In these movie theatres independently owned
in most cases you could buy popcorn , sandals or hats. We didn't have Happy meals because we were
just as happy with two hamburgers from Royal Castle or a Pan con Bistec from Bistelandia. Food
shopping at Grand Union or Food Fair was a family outing and you didn't dare put anything in the cart
without your father's approval and at the end no matter how old you were you always asked mom for a
few pennies for the gumball machine.
Music was the soundtrack for our "Cubanicity" we spoke English but preffered our colorful Cuban
spanish ( Spanglish ) amongst friends. We preffered Disco and Soul over Salsa. ( that would later
change with " Los Bailes de la Coca Cola ) Super Q was and will always be the only radio station that "
got it right " Everyone had the white Earth Wind and Fire album "Gratitude " it was mandatory that we
learned the words to " Reasons " so that we could seranade some unfortunate young girl with our off key
rendition of this ballad while we danced the song with her at a party or Open House.
When Saturday Night Fever came out in 1977 ,we saw a little bit of ourselves , but it was too griity, too
ugly. The Miami Disco Scene was glitzy, glamorous. Our music was Cerrone ,Love and Kisses,Lou
Rawls we had "Tremenda Pinta " not like these people we saw on the screen. When High School was
over we all went our seperate ways ,but in our hearts we carried the sounds,the sights of a time we
would never forget.
LOCAL VENUES /HALLS
CLUB DE LAS AMERICAS
POLISH -AMERICAN
SALON SOFIA
SALON AZUL
OUR LADY OF LEBANON
ELECTRICIANS HALL
MIAMi JAI a LAI
DINNER KEY AUDITORIUM
POLISH -AMERICAN
SALON SOFIA
SALON AZUL
OUR LADY OF LEBANON
ELECTRICIANS HALL
MIAMi JAI a LAI
DINNER KEY AUDITORIUM