First coming together in 1982, world-fusionists Special EFX, featuring guitarist Chieli Minucci and percussionist George Jinda, blended ear-soothing guitars and cutting-edge productions with Latin and Afro-Cuban rhythms. They recorded 13 albums in 12 years, achieving widespread international success before splitting up. Jinda carried on with the name and sound until a stroke in '97 cut his career short (he died in '01). Minucci, who became a successful solo artist, and has worked with everyone from pop singer Jessica Simpson to jazz flautist Nestor Torres, has since kept Special EFX alive.