A onetime painter and graphic designer, Manolo Garcia turned to music in 1980, fronting the Latin-pop group Los Rápidos; after teaming with guitarist Quimi Portet in 1982, he then formed Los Burros, debuting with the LP Rebuznos de Amor. Although the group disbanded soon after, Garcia and Portet forged on as a duo, adopting the name El Ultimo de la Fila, recording a series of hit LPs including Cuando la Pobreza entra por la Puerta, el Amor salta por la Ventana. Garcia eventually went solo, making his RCA International label debut in 1998 with Arena en los Bolsillos.