In Puerto Rico, Ruiz became a fan of a salsa band called La Solucion, directed by Roberto Rivera and learned all of their songs. He attended every concert and show. On one occasion, Ruiz's mother asked Rivera to give her son an opportunity to sing in the band, but to no avail. However, as fate would have it, in 1977, Ruiz was present at one of their shows where the lead singer did not show up. Rivera felt that he had no other choice but to give Ruiz a try. He was a success and was hired by Rivera. With La Solucion, Ruiz re-recorded a new version of Salsa Buena. He performed with the band for three years.
In 1980, Ruiz joined Tommy Olivencia and his Primerisima Orchestra. His youth and style known as Sensual Salsa helped to bring in a new generation of salsa followers. His first major "hit" was Lo Dudo (I doubt it) which was previously covered by José José. In 1983, Ruiz decided to go "solo" and had hits with No Que No, Mi Libertad (My Liberty) and Desnudate Mujer (Get Undressed Woman). He traveled extensively throughout Latin America, Europe and the United States performing and always used the phrase "Vaya, mi China" (Go, Baby) as his trademark. He was then called "El Papa de la Salsa" (The Father of Salsa).
Ruiz began to use illegal drugs and became an alcoholic. During a flight after one of his concerts he attacked a flight attendant. He was arrested and sentenced to three years at the federal prison in Jacksonville, Texas for the incident. Ruiz's last song was Vuelvo a Nacer (Born Again), where he describes his errors in life by taking the wrong way and that he declares himself born again. His voice was heard raspy compared to his earlier career due to the effects of his drug use. Frankie Ruiz became ill and was hospitalized on July 11, 1998, after performing at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Shortly afterwards, on August 9, 1998, Ruiz died from complications from AIDS. Before his burial, his remains were taken to Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, for a memorial service. He was later interred at Fair Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Bergen County, New Jersey.
Amor De Un Momento
Frankie Ruiz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
sabiendo, que fuí el mejor de tus amantes.
Fingiendo, una pasión que no sentías
temblastes, bajo el calor de mis caricias.
Amor de un momento sin un juramento
sabor de un invierno historia del tiempo
y esta inmensa soledad
Dejé en tus brazos mi amor en pedazos
pasión de una noche que deja cansancio
y después solo quedó
un infierno de dolor.
Regresas, y te descubro en la mirada
que nadie, te hizo sentir enamorada.
Ya es tarde, para buscar lo que dejastes
en otros brazos ya encontré
en otros brazos ya encontré,
noches de amor con otra amante.
En otros brazos ya encontré
en otros brazos ya encontré,
noches de amor con otra amante.
Coro:
En otros brazos ya encontré
noches de amor con otra amante.
Ay! te me fuistes de mi lado
sabiendo que era el mejor de tus amantes.
Esta inmensa soledad
que dan ganas de llorar.
Ya es muy tarde para buscar
mamita linda lo que tu dejastes.
~
Oye recuerda, oye recuerda, oye recuerda cariño
aquellos tiempos vividos.
Sabor de un recuerdo
es historia del tiempo.
Regresas porque nadie te hizo sentir
tan enamorada.
No me importas cariño
porque ya tengo otra amante.
The lyrics of Frankie Ruiz's song "Amor De Un Momento" narrate a tale of a lover who departed as swiftly and delicately as a breath of the breeze. The singer's lover, though pretending to be enamored, did not reciprocate the same sentimental intensity as the singer, and the encounter quickly dissolved as merely a passing connection. The singer's love is now shattered into pieces because he gave it all to his lover during their brief affair, which ended up causing him immense pain and loneliness. Although the former lover comes back, the singer is disengaged and has moved on with another lover, leaving the former love interest ignored and alone.
The song speaks to the fragile nature of relationships and how things can quickly dissipate, leaving individuals to pick up the pieces of a broken heart. It also emphasizes the criticality of honesty in all romantic relationships, for insincerity can lead to unmatched intensities of passion and lovemaking resulting in the aftermath of misery and regret.
Line by Line Meaning
Te fuistes, igual que un soplo de la brisa
You left, just like a gust of wind
sabiendo, que fuí el mejor de tus amantes.
Knowing I was your best lover
Fingiendo, una pasión que no sentías
Faking a passion you didn't feel
temblastes, bajo el calor de mis caricias.
Trembling under the heat of my caresses
Amor de un momento sin un juramento
Love of a moment without a commitment
sabor de un invierno historia del tiempo
Taste of a winter, a story of time
y esta inmensa soledad
And this immense loneliness
que da ganas de llorar.
That makes me want to cry
Dejé en tus brazos mi amor en pedazos
I left my love in pieces in your arms
pasión de una noche que deja cansancio
Passion of a night that leaves exhaustion
y después solo quedó
And afterwards only remained
un infierno de dolor.
A hell of pain
Regresas, y te descubro en la mirada
You come back, and I discover in your gaze
que nadie, te hizo sentir enamorada.
That nobody made you feel in love
Ya es tarde, para buscar lo que dejastes
It's too late to look for what you left
en otros brazos ya encontré
In other arms, I found
noches de amor con otra amante.
Nights of love with another lover
Coro:
Chorus:
En otros brazos ya encontré
In other arms, I found
noches de amor con otra amante.
Nights of love with another lover.
Ay! te me fuistes de mi lado
You left me, oh!
Esta inmensa soledad
This immense loneliness
que dan ganas de llorar.
That makes me want to cry
Ya es muy tarde para buscar
It's too late to search
mamita linda lo que tu dejastes.
Beautiful mommy, what you left.
Oye recuerda, oye recuerda, oye recuerda cariño
Listen, remember, listen, remember, listen, my dear
aquellos tiempos vividos.
Those lived times
Sabor de un recuerdo
Taste of a memory
es historia del tiempo.
Is a story of time
Regresas porque nadie te hizo sentir
You come back because nobody made you feel
tan enamorada.
So in love
No me importas cariño
You don't matter to me, my dear
porque ya tengo otra amante.
Because I already have another lover.
Contributed by Julia Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.