La Makina

La Mákina, a merengue ensemble originating from the Dominican Republic, was assembled by the entrepreneurial pair Fernando Colon—earlier the bassist for Los Sabrosos del Merengue—and Orlando Santana, whose prior work included performances with Wilfrido Vargas and Toño Rosario. Santana’s extensive involvement, which encompassed composing nine of the ten songs on the group’s first album, the 1996 release La Makina...A Mil, plus arranging and producing duties, drove the single “La Reina” to widespread acclaim inside merengue circles. The band issued its next project, Los Reyes del Ritmo, during October 1997.