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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZRUIZ, Frankie(b José Antonio Ruiz, 10 March 1958, Paterson NJ; d 9 August 1998) Salsa singer. Began with local trios at age five, listened to Puerto Rican soneros (improvising salsa singers) Andy Montañez, Cheo Feliciano and Marvin Santiago, and began singing salsa at nine. Rock drummer/bassist Joe Manny recruited Ruiz to sing with Charlie López and La Orquesta Nueva, formed '71; he made his debut on one-take live demos of two tracks intended for shopping for a record deal ('Salsa Buena', written by Ruiz, and 'Borinquen' were issued '93 as a CD single by Charlie López y La Orquesta Nueva - Canta: Frankie Ruiz). The band included 14-year-old trombonist Nelson Moreno, who with his brother Willie (bongo, campaña, güiro, clave) was a member of López's Conjunto Constanza; Nelson (who also sings and plays maracas and güiro) and Willie went on to form the successful band Los Hermanos Moreno late '80s. Meanwhile Ruiz moved with his mother '74 to Mayagüez on the west coast of Puerto Rico, where he sang with the groups La Dictadora and La Moderna Vibración; she took him to gigs '77 by Mayagüez-based band La Solución, trying to sell him to the band, and when they discovered that he'd learned all their material, they signed him up. Of two albums, the first on PDC (reissued as Frankie Ruiz y La Solución '96 on Canal) including a new version of 'Salsa Buena'. The second album Orquesta La Solución '80 on LAD (a subsidiary of TH Records at the time) included hits 'La Rueda' ('The Wheel'), since regarded a classic, and 'La Vecina' ('The Neighbour'). Veteran bandleader Tommy Olivencia then hired Ruiz to sing co-lead; his first track with this band was 'Viajera', on the label roster showcase Primer Concierto De La Familia TH '81. In three years with Olivencia Ruiz made as many hit albums: Un Triángulo De Triunfo! '81, Tommy Olivencia '83 and oCelebrando Otro Aniversario '84, and sang lead on 'Que Se Mueran De Envidia' ('Let Them Die From Envy'), for another showcase Segundo Concierto De La Familia TH '83. The monster Ruiz/Olivencia hit 'Lo Dudo' ('I Doubt It') from the third album was a salsafied version of a ballad by the Mexican star José José, now regarded as a milestone in the development of salsa romántica. Ruiz garnered Farándula magazine Diplo awards for Best Salsa Vocalist '84-5; three of his other big hits with Olivencia were written by veteran former heart-throb singer/composer Raúl Marrero and arranged by guitarist/arranger Máximo Torres, who went on to become the director and arranger of the Salsa Selection band, which accompanied his son, singer Max Torres, on the salsa romántica hits Sensualmente Tropical and Aprenderé! '88-9. |