Ray was born "Ricardo Maldonado", from Puerto Rican parents who emigrated to New York looking for work and a better way of life. His parents settled in Brooklyn, where he was born, on Hoyt Street. Spanish was their first language. Ray's father, Pacifico Maldonado, was an accomplished guitarist in his native Bayamon, and as such was the Maldonado family's early musical influence.
Ray started playing the piano when he was only seven years old, when his parents had him take lessons. His life-long partnership with Bobby Cruz started five years later in 1957 when Ray played bass in a group led by Cruz. This combination was the beginning of one the greatest salsa duos in the salsa music industry.
Bobby was raised in humble surroundings on his family's farm. When a child, his parents moved to New York where he was educated; here he enjoyed singing and considered El Gran Combo's style of music as the most influential in his life.
In New York in 1964 Bobby Cruz met fellow Puerto Rican singer Richie Ray and soon joined his orchestra as a back-up singer. In 1966, Bobby was the lead singer on the song "Mr. Trumpet Man", which became a "hit".
Between 1964-74, the duets of Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz had become one of the most popular salsa duets in the world. They are credited with keeping the Anglo style of Rock n Roll from invading the island. They won a total of nine gold record awards during this period with hits such as:
"Aguzate" (Get Wise);
"A Mi Manera" (My Way);
"Sonido Bestial" (Beastly Sounds);
"Amparo Arrebato" and
"El Diferente" (The Different one).
Papi murio el 4 de noviembre de 1999 victima de un ataque al corazon. Al llegar al velorio senti una devastacion incalculable ya que resido en Miami ,Florida desde el 1990 y no pude estar alli en el momento de su muerte para despedirme de el. Recorde entonces lo que me decian los musicos mas viejos, " Cuando tu eras chiquito tu papa tenia una orquesta que estaba adelantada a su tiempo". Gracias Dios mio te doy porque en el 2009 va a salir un disco llamado "45 Aniversario y Tributo a Mario Ortiz y su All Star Band". En este disco se encuentran Gilberto Santarosa, Ismael Miranda, Cheo Feliciano, Andy Montanez, Elias Lopes, Adalberto Santiago, Tony Vega, Anthony Cruz, Primi Cruz, Richie Ray, Bobby Cruz, Roberto Roena, Papo Lucca, Bobby Valentin,Tito Allen, Ismael Rivera hijo, Chico Rivera y Pedro Brull entre un talento excepcional muy dificil de reclutar en estos tiempos. Grabamos los arreglos originales de Mario Ortiz y su All Star Band y el resultado es sencillamente historico. . El disco va a salir bajo Caminalo Discos y sera distribuido por Sony. Gracias Dios te doy porque volvi a tocar la trompeta con mi papa en la cancion "El Cid" y por tocar los corazones de todos los que me ayudaron. Papi fue la persona mas humilde que he conocido. Nunca debi haber subestimado el increible poder del amor
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