El Último de la Fila

Spain witnessed the ascent of El Ultimo de la Fila among its leading Latin pop acts across the 1980s and 1990s, with the project launched by Manolo García and Quimi Portet. Manolo had earlier performed in los Rápidos together with José Luis Pérez, Luis Visiers, and Antonio Fidel, while Quimi had already spent time in Kul de Mandril. Their encounter in 1982 prompted the creation of los Burros, which added Jordi Vila and Antonio Fidel before securing a contract with the independent imprint Belter. After los Burros dissolved, García and Portet sustained their collaboration under the new banner El Ultimo de la Fila.

Their music fused Latin pop and rock with understated flamenco accents, beginning with the release of Cuando La Pobreza Entra Por La Puerta, El Amor Sale Por La Ventana and continuing in 1986 with Enemigos De Lo Ajeno. The following year they appeared at the Amnesty International concert in Barcelona alongside Bruce Springsteen, Sting, and Peter Gabriel. El Ultimo de la Fila sustained its output of hit albums through the 1990s and drew consistent audiences throughout Spain and Latin America. The group disbanded in January 1998, after which Manolo García pursued a successful solo trajectory.