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Early years 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.Musical career 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).Later years 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. La Concha Acústica Frankie Ruiz del Palacio de Recreación en Mayaguez, Puerto Rico (Image taken on July, 2007 by F.R.)The city government of Mayaguez later renamed an auditorium next to the "Palacio Municipal de Recreación y Deportes" (the local sports arena) in Ruiz's honor. He is survived by his son, Frankie Ruiz Jr, his two brothers, Viti and Nelson Ruiz, and his wife.Puerto Rican singer Jerry Rivera, who met Ruiz when he was 13 years old and whom he considered his idol, recorded an album titled Canto a mi Idolo...Frankie Ruiz (I sing to my Idol... Frankie Ruiz) in 2003 with Ruiz's songs as a tribute to Frankie Ruiz. The album cover contains a photo of Rivera and Ruiz that Rivera's father took a picture of. In 2004, another album tribute to Frankie Ruiz was released featuring various artists. The album was titled ,Va Por Ti, Frankie.
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Frankie Ruiz is deadAugust 9, 1998 :the salsa singer Frankie Ruiz die in an hospital of Paterson (New Jersey, USA), the town where he was born in 1958.Family, friends, fans bid Frankie Ruiz farewellTuesday, August 18, 1998By LEONOR AYALA Staff WriterFrankie Ruiz's dying wish was granted : friends and admirers filled the streets on Monday with the upbeat rhythms of his music as they bade farewell to the "Father of Salsa."Ruiz, an international star who was born in Paterson 40 years ago and began his musical career there in the early Sixties as a child, died in Newark on Aug. 9 after a long battle with drugs and alcohol. He was buried in Memorial Park in Fair Lawn.Cars decorated with the Puerto Rican flag and pictures of Ruiz lined Michigan Avenue in front of the Minchin Funeral Home and trailed the body on its 15-minute journey to the cemetery, where Ruiz had asked to be buried next to his brother, who died two years ago.At both the funeral on Monday and a gathering on Sunday night in front of the funeral home, fans recalled an entertainer who touched their lives with his music, yet never lost touch with his roots. Even when his records sold millions of copies, Ruiz would still return to Paterson and perform in neighborhood parks."Fame never changed him or who he was," said Carmen Pagan, a friend and Paterson resident for more than 30 years."If anyone ever needed anything he gave it to them," said Daniel Perez, an aspiring salsa singer who was friends with Ruiz's brother. "He is my idol. He's taught me a lot about music."Ruiz was known for his daring lyrics and captivating rhythms, pulsing with an assortment of percussion instruments.He began his musical career at the age of 5 in Paterson, playing drums and singing in local theaters, where he won several competitions.Elba Cortes, whose mother was Ruiz's baby sitter, remembers growing up with Ruiz, and paying him a quarter to hear him sing. Carmin Gregory, another baby sitter, also remembers his precocious talent."I couldn't leave a mop, broom, or even cans around because he would use my mops and brooms as microphones and the cracker cans as his congas," she said. "I remember asking him, 'What are you doing?' " 'I am singing, leave me alone,' he would tell me."But it was while he was living with his grandmother in Puerto Rico that Ruiz's career began to flourish. He became popular with the salsa band Olivencia, then set out on his own.His mother's death inspired his first big hit, "La Rueda" -- "The Wheel" -- and his career soared in 1979 as he sang what was known as salsa erotica. His first album, "Solista . . . pero no Solo," -- "Soloist, but not alone" -- included three songs that reached No. 1 on the Billboard salsa charts."Frankie was born and raised here," Luis Calo, a friend of Ruiz, said Sunday night. "Today he is not here, but through his music he will always live on."Calo and other fans and friends waited outside the funeral home on Sunday, hoping to pay their respects, but Ruiz's body arrived late from Puerto Rico. Admirers clutched photos and plaques of Ruiz, or wore T-shirts with his picture. Other pictures were plastered on the windows across the street. Cars rolling down Michigan Avenue blasted Ruiz's music.The scene was repeated Monday. After Father Javier from St. George's Roman Catholic Church in Paterson offered his final prayers in Spanish, the crowd yelled, "Que viva, Frankie siempre" -- Live on Frankie, always.Then a woman beseeched the crowd to sing the Puerto Rican anthem, and -- as a huge Puerto Rican flag with Ruiz's photo attached swayed in the gray sky -- the crowd complied, and continued singing as flowers, letters, pictures, and flags were all thrown onto the casket.Then the voices began to fade and the crowd filed out slowly, still playing Frankie's music.