A Puerto Rican merengue group, La Makina was organized by entrepreneurs Fernan Colon (former bassist for Los Sabrosos del Merengue) and Orlando Santana (who played with Wilfredo Vargas and Toño Rosario). Santana's intensive help with the group ( writing nine of the ten tracks on La Makina's debut album, 1996's La Makina...A Mil, as well as arranging and producing ) resulted in the single "La Reina," a huge hit in merengue circles. The group released their second album, Los Reyes del Ritmo, in October 1997.