Frankie Ruiz

Frankie Ruiz

Jose Antonio Torresola Ruiz , aka Frankie Ruiz , (born March 10, 1958 in Paterson , New Jersey , † August 9, 1998 in New York City , New York ) was an American salsa singer , also known as The Father of Salsa was designated.

Life

Early years

Frankie Ruiz was born in Paterson, New Jersey to Puerto Rican parents who left Puerto Rico in search of a better life. Ruiz grew up in Paterson and received his secondary education there. Ruiz began singing to salsa music as a child and joined a local band, The Charlie Lopez Orchestra , as a teenager . With this he also recorded his first song Salsa buena ( Good Salsa ). After his parents divorced, he moved with his mother to Mayagüez , back to Puerto Rico , in 1976 .

Career

Ruiz made his first important appearance when, at the age of 19, he was able to fill in for the lead singer of the band La Solución . Previously, his attempts to join the band had always been rejected. His performances were a success and he was accepted into the band. With La Solución he recorded a new version of his song Salsa Buena .

Three years later, in 1980, Ruiz moved to Tommy Olivencia and his band Primerisima Orchestra . His music style was known as Sensual Salsa (dt. Sensual Salsa ), which brought him many new fans. His first big hit was Lo dudo (dt. I doubt it ) which previously by José José gecovert was. In 1983 Ruiz decided to pursue a solo career and achieved success with songs such as No que no , Mi libertad and Desnudate mujer . He toured Latin America , the United States and Europe many times and used the expression Vaya, mi china (Eng. Los, Baby ) as his trademark. He also got the nickname El papa de la Salsa (Eng. The father of salsa ).

Late years

In his later years, Ruiz began using drugs and became addicted to alcohol . On a flight after one of his concerts, he attacked a flight attendant, whereupon he was sentenced to three years in prison in Jacksonville , Texas . His last song Vuelvo a nacer (Eng. Reborn ) describes his mistakes in life, that he took the wrong path and declares himself reborn. Due to drug use, his voice was described as rougher compared to previous recordings. Ruiz fell ill and was hospitalized on July 11, 1998 after giving a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York. One month later, on August 9th, Ruiz died of complications from his AIDS illness. His remains were transferred to Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, for worship before resting in the Fair Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Bergen County , New Jersey.

Jerry Rivera , who met Ruiz at the age of 13 and who recorded the best-selling salsa plate of all time, sees Ruiz as his role model. He recorded his album Canto a mi Idolo ... Frankie Ruiz (Eng. I sing to my idol ... Frankie Ruiz ) as a homage to Ruiz.

Style and meaning

One of his typical songs is the song "Ironía" from 1998, in which he sings about a childhood sweetheart:

Ironia

Mira que ironica es la vida aún me deseas con la misma intensidad con que rodabamos amandonos en la hierba cuando yo apenas comenzaba la universidad.	Look how ironic life is, Though you love me with the same intensity that we loved frolicking on the lawn When we barely started university
Tu me decias no se como pero pronto he de lograr tener dinero, viajes, lujos y un carro para pasear y que habenraste la opulencia en ese hombre que te da lo que deseas más no llena lo que yo si se llenar	You didn't tell me how, but that I have to achieve something soon, To have money, travel, luxury and a car for trips and you found all this abundance in this man who gave you what you wanted and even more
En ese que te brinda estabilidad económica y siempre te complace en tus caprichos materiales y yo que he saboreado cada pliegue de tu intimidad	With this one who gave you economic stability and satisfied your material moods and I who enjoyed every fold of your intimacy
Soy eterno fuego, tu fantasia soy el que motiva tus escapes cada dia esto es un peligro pero es divino y es que en el peligro esta el sabor de lo prohibido	I am eternal fire, your imagination I am the motive of your daily escapes It is a danger but it is divine And in this danger lies the taste of the forbidden
Este amor, que crece bajo la necesidad de saciar lo que el dinero no puede llenar	This love, which grows under the need to satisfy you what money cannot fulfill
Mira que ironica es la vida hoy nuevamente juntos aqui en el mismo motel donde rompimos beso a beso la inocencia donde la cama se empapo de tu niñez.	Look how ironic life is. Today we're back together in the same motel Where innocence breaks with every kiss Where the bed has been soaked from your childhood
Tus aficiones, finos vinos y restaurantes mis ilusiones suben alto y alcanzar lo que soñé es evidente has progresado, ahora hueles a Cartier más tu riqueza no ha llenado el vacio que deje	Your affections, fine wine and restaurants. My illusions rise and achieve what I dreamed of. It is obvious that you have made progress, now you smell of Cartier. But your wealth does not fill the void it leaves behind
Esto es un peligro, pero es divino. El sabor de lo prohibido mamita linda es amarte El jámas podrá llenar lo que tus ancias de mujer deseas Lo que el dinero no puede, conmigo demás tu lo tienes	It is a danger but it is divine The taste of the forbidden, beautiful Mamíta, is you to live It will never be able to fulfill you What you desire as a woman and what you long for What money cannot do With me you have so much of it
oye mamita te fuiste con ese que tiene dinero más sin embargo el papito rico ese soy yo, ok? El te da estabilidad económica y yo el amor de verdad.	Listen, Mamita, you went with him, who has money But without a doubt I am the rich Papito, okay? He gives you economic stability and I love you
El sabor de lo prohibido Y lo prohibido es amarte Lo que el dinero no puede Tus caprichos materiales	The taste of the forbidden And the forbidden is to love you What money cannot do with your material whims

Discography

• Solista Pero No Sólo (1985)
• Voy Pa 'Encima (1987)
• En Vivo y ... a Todo Color ..! (1988)
• Mas Grande Que Nunca (1989)
• Mi Libertad (1992)
• Puerto Rico Soy Tuyo (1993)
• Mirandote (1994)
• Tranquilo (1996)
• Nacimientos y Recuerdos (1998)
• Leyenda (1999)

Notes and individual references

1. ↑ Translated in Latin America colloquially for "sweetheart"
2. ↑ http://www.musica.com/letras.asp?letra=880775