Even though their name makes a reference to Colombia, tropical orchestra Perla Colombiana was assembled in Mexico by Esteban Hidalgo Gutiérrez, Felix Olvera Gabriel, Martin Olvera Gabriel, and Juan Carlos López, making their debut in the early '80s with the release of a self-titled album featuring their first hit single, a song called "Argollita." After Juan Carlos López decided to leave in 1990, the band went on a temporary break, returning in 1994 to make their following record, titled Agua de Vida, internationally released in 1996.