Buy Frankie J's Priceless on iTunes
Frankie J's got heart. The platinum-selling pop maestro's inimitable voice combines Latin swagger and R&B soul, propelling infectious, unforgettable tunes. In fact, Frankie's carried more than a few hooks to the top of the charts, including "Don't Wanna Try," "Suga Suga" and "Obsession." Once you've heard Frankie, it's hard to get him out of your head. He's garnered Radio Music, Latin Grammy and Latin Billboard award nominations, and he's received three BMI awards for his chart-topping tracks. Other big singles have included "That Girl" featuring Mannie Fresh and Chamillionaire, as well as Frankie's personal cover of Extreme's "More than Words." His massive success comes as a result of distinct cross-cultural and cross-genre appeal.
Right now, Frankie's in the midst of finishing his forthcoming album Timeless (2009). On one new track, a cover of The Jonas Brothers' "When You Look Me In The Eyes," Frankie blends lush melodies with hypnotic pop prowess. Meanwhile, "Pictures" is a heartfelt breakup song charged by resounding piano keys and Frankie's soft croon. His lyrics paint vivid pictures of love and relationship struggles, playing out more like a movie than a typical song. Produced by Big Jim and Usher guitarist Natural, Frankie wrote "Pictures" with singer/songwriter Sam Salter. Further showing his diversity, Frankie steps up to the plate with hip hop magnate Baby Bash on the hip hop gem "That's Wussup." Bash and Frankie co-wrote the hyper-charged cut, and Happy Perez produced it. During the song, a sexy beat morphs into a club-ready hook. It could ignite any dance floor, especially once Baby Bash's unmistakable flow kicks in. With a salvo of such catchy anthems, Frankie's once again ready to take the scene by storm.
Leading up to Timeless¸ Frankie's forged quite a repertoire. While signed to Columbia Records, he released his major label debut What's a Man to Do in 2003. The album yielded "Don't Wanna Try," introducing the world to Frankie's style. Simultaneously that year, he also dropped his first self-titled Spanish language album. His sophomore effort The One hit the shelves in 2005, and it quickly broke the platinum mark. Fueled by the hits, "Obsession (No Es Amor)" and a cover of Extreme's "More Than Words," the album solidified Frankie as a veritable pop presence. His third full-length for Columbia, Priceless, was released in 2006 to much fan acclaim. Simultaneously, his second Spanish album Un Nuevo Dia exceeded gold status. Now, Frankie's on his own path separate from the shackles of a major label. He explains, "For me, being independent is definitely an advantage. I'm not locked down to a label, and I feel free." That freedom is evident sonically. "There are definitely no boundaries on this album. I don't like to follow trends or what everybody else is doing. It's all from the heart."
Frankie delves into his sound and evolution as an artist. "My music is soothing and full of passion. It tells real life stories. It's very visual. It's about my life, and it's very intense." On Timeless, Frankie followed his creative impulses to the fullest. He also pulled in collaborators such as R. Kelly to continue experimenting. However, his latest collaboration with Pitbull, "Let It Go," is extremely special for him. "That song shows the music that I was into growing up—old school Latin freestyle, like The Cover Girls, TKA, George Lamond and Stevie B. The Avila Brothers produced it, and I co-wrote it with Sam Salter. After it was finished, I thought Pitbull would be perfect on it, and he killed it. 'Let It Go' talks about falling in love on the dance floor." It's a bombastic jam that evinces Frankie's progression.
Frankie musically embraces his Latin heritage, and that influence remains integral to his style. "I don't ever want to forget my background and how I first started. I have to always get back to it. You can totally hear the growth, and you can see that I'm still sticking to my roots. I'm writing more maturely." Though he's grown as an artist, Frankie preserves everything special about his musical identity on the new album. He also wants to give fans something they'll enjoy for years to come. "There's a lot of music out there that becomes forgotten. I want to make a record that's going to last a long time as opposed to making a record for just today."
In the end, it's about passion and fire for Frankie. "You have to put passion into it. If it comes out naturally from your heart, you're going to get what you want out of the music. There's a chapter of my life in every song. It's definitely going to be a great album." He focuses on his audience first and foremost, and he's delivering an album that won't disappoint them. "I would like fans to know I'm real and that my music is real. I want them to know it's worldwide. It's universal. I hope they say my music is timeless. It's going to last a long time. I try to cater to as many people as I can, and I feel like I've done that with these new songs." The fans will undoubtedly feel Timeless. Frankie J's time is now.–Rick Florino
Frankie J is managed by Ed Ocanas/EDO Entertainment, LLC edoo@aol.com and legally represented by Dina LaPolt, Esq./LaPolt Law, P.C Dina@lapoltlaw.com.
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