Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=120 BGCOLOR="#FFCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0443f781egdyul.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" ><B>Musica Salsa - Real Salsa and Latin Music</B></FONT> <B> </B><B>|    </B><B> </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Musica Salsa Real Salsa and Latin Music"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Salsa Discography"><U>Salsa Discography</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG SRC="06ea5a30.jpg" border=0 width="165" height="163" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="073a5a50.jpg" border=0 width="165" height="165" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=360 BGCOLOR="#CCFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz</div> <bR> <div> <B>Biography</B></div> <div> Bobby Cruz is one of the innovators of the unique style of music known as bugalu. Along with former partner Richie Ray, Cruz fused Cuban styles and American Blues to great response. For the first part of their collaboration, the Latin artists were labeled as Salsa players. Later, they both discovered a shared devotion to Christ which led to a seperation from the fiery sounds. </div> <div> First appearing in 1966, the duo consisted of classically trained Ray on piano and Cruz on vocals. The two took the world by storm with a few successful hits including "El Jala Jala." The dawn of the Seventies welcomed a surge in popularity for Salsa music. Cruz and was firmly in the mix. He appeared at the Cheetah, a popular dance club in New York, with the Fania All Stars many times. With that group, he experimented with Bugalu, Salsa, and Classical Orchestra works. </div> <div> The next decade hailed Cruz' solo career, mainly working with the Fania All Stars. He discovered a love for religious music. As a result, Cruz began producing Christian Spanish songs. His 1997 album, Cuanda Era Nino, carries his new beliefs into the mainstream. </div> <div> As for his friendship with Ray, the two played together in 1992 at a Salsa Festival at Madison Square Garden. Though separated by different ministries, they are united in a shared vision of God. Meanwhile, Cruz will continue to expand his repertoire using influences from all walks of life.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Discography</B></div> <div> Un Sonido Bestial</div> <div> Lo Maximo de la Salsa</div> <div> Lo Nuevo y Lo Mejor</div> <div> Mas Duro Que Antes</div> <div> Voz, Palabra Y Jubilo</div> <div> Cuando Era Niño</div> <bR> <div> <B>Comments</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>