Born Jose Antonio Torresola Ruiz, he was born and raised in Paterson, New J… Read Full Bio ↴Born Jose Antonio Torresola Ruiz, he was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. His parents moved from Puerto Rico to the United States in search of a better way of life. In Paterson, Ruiz received his primary and secondary education. As a child he enjoyed singing to the tunes of salsa and as a young man joined a local band called The Charlie Lopez Orchestra. With this band he recorded his first song Salsa Buena (Good Salsa). In 1976, Ruiz moved to Mayagüez, Puerto Rico with his mother after his parents divorced.

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.

Para Darte Fuego
Frankie Ruiz Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Llego la hora de amar por fin
Llego la hora esperada
Llego la hora de hundirme allí
Sobre tu arena mojada

De atravesar la frontera
Que une la vida y el sueno
Y contemplar tus mareas

Al convertirme en tu dueño

Para darte fuego, para darte fuego
En cada caricia cada abrazo cada beso
Para darte fuego, para darte fuego
Con esta pasión de volcán que llevo dentro

Llego la hora de amar por fin
Llego un momento mas bello
Y con un beso podré por fin
Ir desnudando tu cuerpo

Para quedar frente a frente
Y arrebatarte la calma
Mientras mis manos se pierden
Rumbo sur por tu espalda
Para darte fuego, para darte fuego
En cada caricia cada abrazo cada beso
Para darte fuego, para darte fuego
Con esta pasión de volcán que llevo dentro

Para darte fuego, para darte fuego

Llego la hora de amar por fin
Llego la hora esperada

Y atravesar la frontera
Que une la vida y el sueno

Con esta pasión de volcán
Que llevo por dentro

Para darte fuego
Para para para para darte fuego

Mientras mi manos se pierden
Rumbo sur por tu espalda

Mi vida y con un beso podré por fin
Ir desnudando tu cuerpo
Para quedar frente a frente
Y arrebatarte la calma

En cada caricia, cada abrazo, cada beso

Overall Meaning

The song "Para Darte Fuego" by Frankie Ruíz is a sensual love song about a moment the singer has been waiting for. The first verse announces that this is the time to love, the moment he has been waiting for. He wants to sink into her, onto her wet sand, and cross the border that unites life and dreams. The singer wants to be her proprietor and watch her tides. He wants to give her fire, passion, and finally unveil her body with a kiss. In the second verse, the singer wants to face her and take her calmness away while his hands wander down her back. The chorus repeats that he wants to give her fire with every caress, every hug, every kiss.

Line by Line Meaning

Llego la hora de amar por fin
Finally the time has come to love

Llego la hora esperada
The long-awaited moment has arrived

Llego la hora de hundirme allí
It's time to dive in there

Sobre tu arena mojada
On your wet sand

De atravesar la frontera
To cross the border

Que une la vida y el sueno
That joins life and dream

Y contemplar tus mareas
And contemplate your tides

Al convertirme en tu dueño
By becoming your owner

Para darte fuego, para darte fuego
To give you fire, to give you fire

En cada caricia cada abrazo cada beso
In every caress, every embrace, every kiss

Con esta pasión de volcán que llevo dentro
With this volcano passion I carry inside