Medina Azahara

Spanish group Medina Azahara came together in 1979 under singer Manuel Martinez, guitarist Miguel Galan, drummer José Antonio Molina, bassist Manuel Molina, and keyboardist Pablo Rabadan. That year the ensemble signed to CBS and delivered a self-titled debut produced by Gonzalo Garcia Pelayo that contained their first hit, “Paseando por la Mezquita.” The record was followed by La Esquina del Viento in 1980 and Andalucia in 1982. Around the same period the band earned recognition as a leading force in the regional movement known as Rock Andaluz. Keyboardist Pablo Rabadan exited prior to the 1995 release Caravana Espanola and was succeeded by Antonio Fernandez. After departing CBS-Sony Records Limited for the independent Avispa S.L., the group issued En Al-Hakim. A 1990 concert performance appeared as the live album En Directo. The 1992 studio follow-up Sin Tiempo became the band’s breakthrough, spawning two hit singles, after which they issued a string of successful records across the next two decades. Among the most distinctive were 1998’s Tanger, recorded with North African musicians, and 2003’s Aixa, which featured the Córdoba Symphony Orchestra and earned awards for best album and best song at the seventh annual Premios de la Música Aragonesa. Although Medina Azahara experienced numerous lineup changes over the years, Manuel Martinez remained the frontman. The group marked its 30th anniversary in 2009 and released its 17th studio album, La Memoria Perdida, in 2012.