While Emilio first attracted mainstream attention with his 1995 country hit "It's Not the End of the World," he came to Nashville only after establishing himself as a massively popular Tejano artist. Born Emilio Navaira in San Antonio, Texas, he left college to become a professional musician, and spent several years touring with David Lee Garza before founding his own group, Rio. After honing a sound which fused traditional country with Latin-influenced rock, Emilio became one of Tejano's biggest stars, debuting in 1991 with the album Unsung Highways. A series of successful records followed, including 1992's Emilio Live, 1993's Southern Exposure and 1994's Soundlife. In 1995, he released the contemporary country LP Life Is Good; A Mi Gente followed in 1997. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide