Ricardo "Richie" Ray (born February 15, 1945) is a virtuoso pianist, singer… Read Full Bio ↴Ricardo "Richie" Ray (born February 15, 1945) is a virtuoso pianist, singer, music arranger, composer and religious minister. He is known as "El Embajador del Piano" (The Piano Ambassador).
Early life
Ray (born "Ricardo Maldonado") was born in Brooklyn, New York City of Puerto Rican parents. They lived in Hoyt Street. Ray's father, Pacifico Maldonado, was an accomplished guitarist in his native Bayamón, and as such was the Maldonado family's early musical influence.
Ray's parents had him take lessons and he started to play the piano when he was only seven years old. 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.
He attended the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, the famed High School of Performing Arts, and the Juilliard School of Music. This experience served to further develop and refine his musical training. In addition, he became well versed in various Latin music genres which were popular at that time the Guajira, the Cha-cha-cha, the Bolero and others.
[edit] Musical career
Ray left Juilliard in 1963, after just one year. He made this choice so that he could get organized and dedicate himself to his own band. This was a year after Cruz joined in as the lead vocalist. In 1964, he signed with Fonseca Records and released his debut album, Ricardo Ray Arrives-Comején. The album included the outstanding hit songs "Mambo Jazz", "Comején", "Viva Richie Ray", "El Mulato", "Suavito", "Pa' Chismoso Tú" and the bolero-cha "Si Te Contaran". The famous pair recorded some of their finest work during the period that they were with the Fonseca label.
In 1966 The group switched to the Alegre label, coinciding with the arrival of the boogaloo, Ray recorded nine albums with Alegre. He was a part of Tico/Alegre Records until 1970, and during that time he produce such hits as "Richies Jala Jala", "Mr. Trumpet Man", "Señor Embajador", "Aguzate" (Gold Record Award winner), "Amparo Arrebato", "Traigo De Todo", and the Spanish version of Frank Sinatra's "My Way", called "A Mi Manera". This song went on to be the most radio played Spanish version of "My Way" during 1970; the song also won the duo a Gold Record Award.
While with Alegre, Ray also recorded two albums for UA Latino. These included "Viva Ricardo" and "El Diferente" (Gold Record Award winner). The band scored a number one hit with the song "Colorín Colorado", while "El Diferente", "Feria En Manizales" and "Ay, Compay!", became number one hits in Latin America.
In 1968, Ray and Cruz had been together professionally for five years, had written most of their songs together, and for the first time in the album Los Durísimos, they shared equal billing in an album cover. This album had such hits as "Agallú", "Pancho Cristal", "Adasa", and "Yo Soy (Babalú)". Since then the band became officially known as Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz.
[edit] The 1970s
In 1970, Ray and Cruz left New York and moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for professional and personal reasons. They opened a nightclub, but managing it required too much of their time. Shortly after, they decided to sell the establishment to focus on their artistic commitments. That same year, Ray and Cruz signed with the new Vaya Records label, a subsidiary of Fania Records.
In 1971, they released "El Bestial Sonido de Ricardo Ray y Bobby Cruz", the first ever release on Vaya Records, and was one of their better albums on that label. The album went gold, and it took them to the top of the charts once again. It included hits such as Juan Manuel Serrat's "Señora", the bolero version of the Gardel/Lepera tango "Volver", and the Rubén Blades composition "Guaguancó Triste", as well as the salsa version of James Taylor's "Fire And Rain". This album also included his most impressive and well-known hit called "Sonido Bestial", which has a Latin-flavoured arrangement of Chopin's Etude 10/12, and is considered a classic masterpiece of salsa music.
In 1974 The Dynamic Duo won the title "The Kings Of Salsa" at the "Coliseo Roberto Clemente" in San Juan, Puerto Rico. For a period of 12 hours, 24 bands had competed for the coveted title, and Ray and Cruz emerged triumphant. Contracts started to pour in, requests for interviews and TV appearances, and even movie offers.
[edit] Born-again Christian
All of these things spoke of success, but Ray suffered strong emotional problems during this time. The despair he felt led him into alcohol and drug abuse. He felt tormented by his addictions, however, and wanted to change his life.
In August of that year, he surprised many when he announced that he had become a born-again evangelical Christian. The professed experience radically changed his career and life. At first, Cruz refused to accept Ray's change, but within four months Cruz himself became a convert.
In spite of these dramatic changes, Ray & Cruz fans continued to support the duo. The 1976 release of Reconstrucción went "Gold" (their ninth). The album included their smash hit single "Juan En La Ciudad". They followed with Viven in 1977, De Nuevo 'Los Durísimos' Again (1980), and their final release on Vaya Records, Inconfundibles (1987) in which Ray and Cruz announced their retirement from Salsa music. All of these were successful releases.
Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz lost most of their fans and found opposition among the members of their own faith when they suggested the idea of Christian Salsa. They stood their ground, however, and little by little, they started to regain the confidence of their fans and fellow Christians. They abandoned secular salsa and recorded salsa with a Christian message, reworking many of their worldly hits into religious themes. Some of these include "El Sonido La Bestia", "Más Que Vencedores", and "Aguzate". They also created some new ones, like "Los Fariseos", "Timoteo", and "Sipriano"
The sincerity of their Christian beliefs was not just conveyed in their music. Both Ray and Cruz are pastors, and they have founded more than 20 churches throughout Puerto Rico and the United States. In addition, Ray founded the Salvation Records label as an outlet for Christian music. Then, he continued his music career although his long-time friend, Cruz, had retired. During "retirement", however, both Cruz and Ray released albums with previously recorded numbers and with other bands or singers. Richie Ray is now a pastor in Cape Coral under the CLM fellowship.
In 1991, Ray and Cruz reunited for successful concert appearances in San Juan and again in New York. They reunited again in 1999 for the "Sonido Bestial" concert in the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum located in Bayamón, they sang some of their early hits together with some of their religious songs and the concert was recorded live. The outcome was so impressive that they were offered a contract by Universal Records, the recording was selected as one of the best recordings of 1999 and helped bring the pair back into the limelight of the Puerto Rican music scene. The pair has continued active in the music scene since.
[edit] Later years
In 2000, Ray and Cruz held a series of concerts that were completely sold out at the Antonio Paoli Hall of the Luis A. Ferre Center of Beautiful Arts in San Juan. They were also honored with a National Day of Salsa in Bayamón. In 2002, Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz were inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.
In 2003, Ray recorded "Al Ritmo del Piano" for Warner Music Latina. Ray and Cruz continue to make appearances in places such as the Copacabana Club in New York. In December 2005 Ray & Cruz release a totally *new* album under the label Tropisounds the album was recorded in Colombia under the musical direction of its producer by Diego Galé, Que Vuelva La Música has 14 new tracks "El gallo y la vaca", "La bailarina", "Quim Bon Bori", "Vive contento", "Soy boricua" y "Va a llover" are just a few of the titles. The Album was an instant hit in Colombia and Latin America. "El gallo y la vaca" (25th Nov) and "Salsa La Celebracion" (7th two weeks in April) appeared in the top 100 salsa songs charts in North America through 2006. In 2006 Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz won a Latin-Grammy Award for "Lifetime Achievement", this year they also recorded a CD and DVD titled "A lifetime of hits" (live at Centro de Bellas Artes, San Juan, Puerto Rico) which was nominated for a Latin Grammy in the "Best Contemporary Tropical Album" category.
Ray currently lives in Florida with his wife Angie Ray and besides being musically active, he is also busy attending the churches which he and Cruz found in the United States, Caribbean and Latin-America. Ricardo "Richie" Ray is still considered along with Eddie Palmieri and Papo Lucca one of the best and more influential pianists of all times in Salsa music. On August 16, 2008, Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz celebrated 45 years in the musical business, with a concert at José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum.[1] Prior to the presentation, the duo noted that the concert would last at least three hours.[2] The duo has expressed that this might be their last "big scale concert".[3]
Early life
Ray (born "Ricardo Maldonado") was born in Brooklyn, New York City of Puerto Rican parents. They lived in Hoyt Street. Ray's father, Pacifico Maldonado, was an accomplished guitarist in his native Bayamón, and as such was the Maldonado family's early musical influence.
Ray's parents had him take lessons and he started to play the piano when he was only seven years old. 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.
He attended the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, the famed High School of Performing Arts, and the Juilliard School of Music. This experience served to further develop and refine his musical training. In addition, he became well versed in various Latin music genres which were popular at that time the Guajira, the Cha-cha-cha, the Bolero and others.
[edit] Musical career
Ray left Juilliard in 1963, after just one year. He made this choice so that he could get organized and dedicate himself to his own band. This was a year after Cruz joined in as the lead vocalist. In 1964, he signed with Fonseca Records and released his debut album, Ricardo Ray Arrives-Comején. The album included the outstanding hit songs "Mambo Jazz", "Comején", "Viva Richie Ray", "El Mulato", "Suavito", "Pa' Chismoso Tú" and the bolero-cha "Si Te Contaran". The famous pair recorded some of their finest work during the period that they were with the Fonseca label.
In 1966 The group switched to the Alegre label, coinciding with the arrival of the boogaloo, Ray recorded nine albums with Alegre. He was a part of Tico/Alegre Records until 1970, and during that time he produce such hits as "Richies Jala Jala", "Mr. Trumpet Man", "Señor Embajador", "Aguzate" (Gold Record Award winner), "Amparo Arrebato", "Traigo De Todo", and the Spanish version of Frank Sinatra's "My Way", called "A Mi Manera". This song went on to be the most radio played Spanish version of "My Way" during 1970; the song also won the duo a Gold Record Award.
While with Alegre, Ray also recorded two albums for UA Latino. These included "Viva Ricardo" and "El Diferente" (Gold Record Award winner). The band scored a number one hit with the song "Colorín Colorado", while "El Diferente", "Feria En Manizales" and "Ay, Compay!", became number one hits in Latin America.
In 1968, Ray and Cruz had been together professionally for five years, had written most of their songs together, and for the first time in the album Los Durísimos, they shared equal billing in an album cover. This album had such hits as "Agallú", "Pancho Cristal", "Adasa", and "Yo Soy (Babalú)". Since then the band became officially known as Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz.
[edit] The 1970s
In 1970, Ray and Cruz left New York and moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for professional and personal reasons. They opened a nightclub, but managing it required too much of their time. Shortly after, they decided to sell the establishment to focus on their artistic commitments. That same year, Ray and Cruz signed with the new Vaya Records label, a subsidiary of Fania Records.
In 1971, they released "El Bestial Sonido de Ricardo Ray y Bobby Cruz", the first ever release on Vaya Records, and was one of their better albums on that label. The album went gold, and it took them to the top of the charts once again. It included hits such as Juan Manuel Serrat's "Señora", the bolero version of the Gardel/Lepera tango "Volver", and the Rubén Blades composition "Guaguancó Triste", as well as the salsa version of James Taylor's "Fire And Rain". This album also included his most impressive and well-known hit called "Sonido Bestial", which has a Latin-flavoured arrangement of Chopin's Etude 10/12, and is considered a classic masterpiece of salsa music.
In 1974 The Dynamic Duo won the title "The Kings Of Salsa" at the "Coliseo Roberto Clemente" in San Juan, Puerto Rico. For a period of 12 hours, 24 bands had competed for the coveted title, and Ray and Cruz emerged triumphant. Contracts started to pour in, requests for interviews and TV appearances, and even movie offers.
[edit] Born-again Christian
All of these things spoke of success, but Ray suffered strong emotional problems during this time. The despair he felt led him into alcohol and drug abuse. He felt tormented by his addictions, however, and wanted to change his life.
In August of that year, he surprised many when he announced that he had become a born-again evangelical Christian. The professed experience radically changed his career and life. At first, Cruz refused to accept Ray's change, but within four months Cruz himself became a convert.
In spite of these dramatic changes, Ray & Cruz fans continued to support the duo. The 1976 release of Reconstrucción went "Gold" (their ninth). The album included their smash hit single "Juan En La Ciudad". They followed with Viven in 1977, De Nuevo 'Los Durísimos' Again (1980), and their final release on Vaya Records, Inconfundibles (1987) in which Ray and Cruz announced their retirement from Salsa music. All of these were successful releases.
Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz lost most of their fans and found opposition among the members of their own faith when they suggested the idea of Christian Salsa. They stood their ground, however, and little by little, they started to regain the confidence of their fans and fellow Christians. They abandoned secular salsa and recorded salsa with a Christian message, reworking many of their worldly hits into religious themes. Some of these include "El Sonido La Bestia", "Más Que Vencedores", and "Aguzate". They also created some new ones, like "Los Fariseos", "Timoteo", and "Sipriano"
The sincerity of their Christian beliefs was not just conveyed in their music. Both Ray and Cruz are pastors, and they have founded more than 20 churches throughout Puerto Rico and the United States. In addition, Ray founded the Salvation Records label as an outlet for Christian music. Then, he continued his music career although his long-time friend, Cruz, had retired. During "retirement", however, both Cruz and Ray released albums with previously recorded numbers and with other bands or singers. Richie Ray is now a pastor in Cape Coral under the CLM fellowship.
In 1991, Ray and Cruz reunited for successful concert appearances in San Juan and again in New York. They reunited again in 1999 for the "Sonido Bestial" concert in the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum located in Bayamón, they sang some of their early hits together with some of their religious songs and the concert was recorded live. The outcome was so impressive that they were offered a contract by Universal Records, the recording was selected as one of the best recordings of 1999 and helped bring the pair back into the limelight of the Puerto Rican music scene. The pair has continued active in the music scene since.
[edit] Later years
In 2000, Ray and Cruz held a series of concerts that were completely sold out at the Antonio Paoli Hall of the Luis A. Ferre Center of Beautiful Arts in San Juan. They were also honored with a National Day of Salsa in Bayamón. In 2002, Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz were inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.
In 2003, Ray recorded "Al Ritmo del Piano" for Warner Music Latina. Ray and Cruz continue to make appearances in places such as the Copacabana Club in New York. In December 2005 Ray & Cruz release a totally *new* album under the label Tropisounds the album was recorded in Colombia under the musical direction of its producer by Diego Galé, Que Vuelva La Música has 14 new tracks "El gallo y la vaca", "La bailarina", "Quim Bon Bori", "Vive contento", "Soy boricua" y "Va a llover" are just a few of the titles. The Album was an instant hit in Colombia and Latin America. "El gallo y la vaca" (25th Nov) and "Salsa La Celebracion" (7th two weeks in April) appeared in the top 100 salsa songs charts in North America through 2006. In 2006 Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz won a Latin-Grammy Award for "Lifetime Achievement", this year they also recorded a CD and DVD titled "A lifetime of hits" (live at Centro de Bellas Artes, San Juan, Puerto Rico) which was nominated for a Latin Grammy in the "Best Contemporary Tropical Album" category.
Ray currently lives in Florida with his wife Angie Ray and besides being musically active, he is also busy attending the churches which he and Cruz found in the United States, Caribbean and Latin-America. Ricardo "Richie" Ray is still considered along with Eddie Palmieri and Papo Lucca one of the best and more influential pianists of all times in Salsa music. On August 16, 2008, Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz celebrated 45 years in the musical business, with a concert at José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum.[1] Prior to the presentation, the duo noted that the concert would last at least three hours.[2] The duo has expressed that this might be their last "big scale concert".[3]
Aguzate
Ricardo Ray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Siento una voz que me dice agúzate
Que te están velando
Siento una voz que me dice agáchate
Que te están tirando
Y yo pasaría de tonto si no supiera
Que uno tiene que estar mosca por donde quiera
Y es por eso que yo digo de esta manera
Que este individuo no sabe en que se metió
Y yo pasaría de tonto si no supiera
Que uno tiene que estar mosca por donde quiera
Y es por eso que yo digo de esta manera
Que este individuo no sabe en que se metió
Siento una voz que me dice agúzate que te están velando
Ooh, siento una voz que me dice cuidao que te están velando
Oye esa voz siempre me dice cuidao que te están velando
Oye esa voz siempre me dice cuidao que te están tirando
Agúzate que te están velando
Pero yo no me escondo del diablo
Porque yo soy buena gente
Agúzate que te están velando
Que yo me voy domitingo talango como persona decente
Agúzate que te están velando
Poron amon me está diciendo cuidao
Que te están velando
Agúzate que te están velando
Oues esa voz siemrpe me dice agáchate
Que te están tirando
Agúzate que te están velando
Yo siento una voz que me dice
Cuidao que te están velando
Agúzate que te están velando
Oye agúzate me dicen
Mira que te están velando
Agúzate que te están velando
Oye pero esa gente no sabe, oye, que yo tengo un santo
Agúzate que te están velando
Agúzate mira que una voz me está diciendo
Cuidao que te están velando
Agúzate que te están velando
Poron la voz siemrpe me dice
Huye que te están cazando
Agúzate que te están velando
Que te están velando
Siento una voz que me dice agáchate
Que te están tirando
Y yo pasaría de tonto si no supiera
Que uno tiene que estar mosca por donde quiera
Y es por eso que yo digo de esta manera
Y yo pasaría de tonto si no supiera
Que uno tiene que estar mosca por donde quiera
Y es por eso que yo digo de esta manera
Que este individuo no sabe en que se metió
Siento una voz que me dice agúzate que te están velando
Ooh, siento una voz que me dice cuidao que te están velando
Oye esa voz siempre me dice cuidao que te están velando
Oye esa voz siempre me dice cuidao que te están tirando
Agúzate que te están velando
Pero yo no me escondo del diablo
Porque yo soy buena gente
Agúzate que te están velando
Que yo me voy domitingo talango como persona decente
Agúzate que te están velando
Poron amon me está diciendo cuidao
Que te están velando
Agúzate que te están velando
Oues esa voz siemrpe me dice agáchate
Que te están tirando
Agúzate que te están velando
Yo siento una voz que me dice
Cuidao que te están velando
Agúzate que te están velando
Oye agúzate me dicen
Mira que te están velando
Agúzate que te están velando
Oye pero esa gente no sabe, oye, que yo tengo un santo
Agúzate que te están velando
Agúzate mira que una voz me está diciendo
Cuidao que te están velando
Agúzate que te están velando
Poron la voz siemrpe me dice
Huye que te están cazando
Agúzate que te están velando
The song Agúzate by Ricardo Ray and Bobby Cruz is a cautionary tale about being aware of your surroundings and watching out for danger. The song begins with the lyrics "Siento una voz que me dice agúzate, que te están velando," which translates to "I hear a voice telling me to be on alert, that they're watching you." The singer emphasizes the importance of being vigilant and not being caught off guard, as the voice warns of dangers such as being shot at.
The chorus repeats the words "agúzate que te están velando" multiple times, emphasizing the importance of staying alert. The singer also acknowledges that they would be foolish not to take the warning seriously, as they would be unaware of the danger they are in. The song also touches on the idea of not being afraid of the devil, as the singer is a good person and has nothing to fear.
Overall, the song is a reminder to always be aware of one's surroundings and to listen to any warnings that may be given. The lyrics are delivered over an upbeat salsa rhythm, making it a lively and danceable tune.
Line by Line Meaning
Siento una voz que me dice agúzate que te están velando
I hear a voice warning me to stay alert because someone is watching me.
Siento una voz que me dice agáchate que te están tirando
I hear a voice telling me to duck because someone is shooting at me.
Y yo pasaría de tonto si no supiera
I would be foolish if I pretended not to know
Que uno tiene que estar mosca por donde quiera
That one should be vigilant everywhere
Y es por eso que yo digo de esta manera
That's why I speak this way
Que este individuo no sabe en que se metió
This person doesn't know what they got themselves into
Pero yo no me escondo del diablo
But I won't hide from the devil
Porque yo soy buena gente
Because I'm a good person
Que yo me voy domitingo talango como persona decente
That I'm going out on Sunday like a decent person
Poron amon me está diciendo cuidao
I hear someone telling me to be careful
Oues esa voz siemrpe me dice agáchate que te están tirando
That voice always tells me to duck because someone is shooting at me
Oye agúzate me dicen
Hey, they're telling me to stay alert
Mira que te están velando
Be careful, someone is watching you
Oye pero esa gente no sabe, oye, que yo tengo un santo
But those people don't know that I have a saint (protector)
Poron la voz siemrpe me dice
Someone is always warning me
Huye que te están cazando
Run, they are chasing you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOBBY CRUZ, RICARDO RAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@rogerstivepembertyuran2884
Es una salvajada como entran las trompetas en esta canción, de entrada te das cuenta que no se trata de cualquier cosa, los arreglos son magistrales, la interpretación perfecta y la mística en la letra. Música bien hecha.
@luistovar1727
Una entrada èpica en canon con solo dos trumpets
@carlosrochel7373
Salvajada??? Yo siento son las mismas trompetas del Apocalipsis sonar… esos arreglos de metales son de otro mundo
@edwincordova7993
Esto si es verdadera orquesta¡¡¡¡mi admiración por tan hermosa interpretación.....saludos desde Sangolqui_Ecuador
@ronaldmejia6891
Muy de acuerdo. 👍🏾
@vilmaarroyo1391
Los maestros de la música, oyeron, los maestros, los dueños de la heladería mis niños, por si no sabían
@hugoberasteins5538
COMO RETUMBAN LOS METALES PAPÁ..... YA NO HAY SALSAS PODEROSAS.....COMO ÉSTAS
@gonzalogamer1175
Que canción mas hermosa... De algo si me siento orgullosa y es de que a pesar que tengo 23 años mi mamá me crió con estas canciones, lo mejor!!!
@charlessmith263
Hearing this song in 1996 - I realized how hot Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz in the world of salsa. I know that conjunto for the world famous "Sonido Bestial", but "Aguzate" was also a good salsa song by Ray and Cruz also. That is how I became a bit of a fan of them.
@pedrosamuelpaez5865
De niño escuché esta Magistral canción y ahora es que es canción ❤😂