Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz
Encyclopedia
Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz are an American
musical duo
consisting of Ricardo "Richie" Ray
and Roberto "Bobby" Cruz
. The duo was formed in 1963 and rose to fame in the mid 1960s. They are one of the most famous interpreters of 'salsa
brava' music.
The duo is well known for helping to establish the popularity of salsa music
in the 1960s and 1970s. They are also notable for fusioning elements of classical music
and rock
with traditional latin music. Among their biggest hits were "Richie's Jala Jala", "Agúzate", "El Sonido Bestial", and "Bomba Camará". They are also famous for their christmas songs
"Seis chorreao", "Bomba en Navidad", and "Bella es la Navidad".
The duo was popular from 1965 to 1974 throughout Latin America
and the United States
, specially in Caribbean
countries. In 1974, following a conversion to Evangelicalism
and the inclusion of religious themes in the song's lyrics, the duo's popularity fell. The group continued releasing albums but broke up in the 1990s. In 1999, they reunited, and they have been touring and releasing new albums since then.
In November 2006, the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences
gave Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz a Lifetime Achievement Award.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musical duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
consisting of Ricardo "Richie" Ray
Richie Ray
Ricardo "Richie" Ray is a virtuoso pianist, singer, music arranger, composer and religious minister known for his success beginning in 1965 as part of the duo Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz...
and Roberto "Bobby" Cruz
Bobby Cruz
Bobby Cruz is a salsa singer and religious minister. He is well known for his success beginning in 1965 as part of the duo Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz. His seminal professional pairing with Richie Ray is one of the longest-lived partnerships in Latino music, lasting over 45 years...
. The duo was formed in 1963 and rose to fame in the mid 1960s. They are one of the most famous interpreters of 'salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
brava' music.
The duo is well known for helping to establish the popularity of salsa music
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
in the 1960s and 1970s. They are also notable for fusioning elements of classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
and rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
with traditional latin music. Among their biggest hits were "Richie's Jala Jala", "Agúzate", "El Sonido Bestial", and "Bomba Camará". They are also famous for their christmas songs
Christmas Songs
Christmas Songs is a 2005 album by Diana Krall performed with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. This is Krall's first full-length album of Christmas songs , and her first studio album with a big band. It is her ninth album overall...
"Seis chorreao", "Bomba en Navidad", and "Bella es la Navidad".
The duo was popular from 1965 to 1974 throughout Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, specially in Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
countries. In 1974, following a conversion to Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
and the inclusion of religious themes in the song's lyrics, the duo's popularity fell. The group continued releasing albums but broke up in the 1990s. In 1999, they reunited, and they have been touring and releasing new albums since then.
In November 2006, the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences
Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences
The Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences , is a multinational membership-based association composed of music industry professionals, musicians, producers, recording engineers, and other creative and technical recording professionals...
gave Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Discography
This is an incomplete list of albums released by Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz, solo albums by either artist are excluded from the list.- Ricardo Ray Introduces Bobby Cruz A Go-Go-Go (1966)
- Sings For Lovers & Swingers (1967)
- Jala Jala y BoogalooJala Jala y BoogalooJala Jala y Boogaloo is an album released by the salsa music duet Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz. Released in 1967, the album is influenced not only by Latin rhythms such as the Puerto Rican Jala Jala, but also by Beat music....
(1967) - Jala Jala Boogaloo Volume IIJala Jala Boogaloo Volume IIJala Jala Boogaloo Volume II is an album released by the salsa music duet Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz. Released in 1968, the album continues with the sound of its predecessor Jala Jala y Boogaloo, influenced by Latin rhythms such as the Puerto Rican Jala Jala, as well as by soul and Beat music.Backed...
(1968) - Los Diferentes En Puerto Rico (1968)
- Let's Get Down to the Real Nitty Gritty (1968)
- Viva Ricardo (1968)
- El Diferente (1969)
- 3 Dimensions (1969)
- AgúzateAgúzateAgúzate is an album released in 1970 by the salsa music duet Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz. The album was critically and commercially successful, having two huge radio hits: the title track and Amparo Arrebato, plus other tracks that received significant radio airplay even in a time when radio...
(1970) - In Orbit (1971)
- El Bestial Sonido de Ricardo Ray Y Bobby CruzEl Bestial Sonido de Ricardo Ray Y Bobby CruzEl Bestial Sonido de Ricardo Ray y Bobby Cruz is an album released in 1971 by the salsa music duet Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz. Released at the height of their popularity, the album inaugurated a new era in salsa with the inauguration of a new Fania Records subsidiary: Vaya Records...
(1971) - Jammin' Live (1971)
- Ricardo Ray Presenta A "La Vimari (1972)
- Canta para ti (1972)
- 1975 (1974)
- 10 Aniversario (1975)
- Algo Nuevo (1976)
- Felices pascuas (1976)
- Reconstrucción (1976)
- Un sonido bestial (live) en Puerto Rico (1977)
- Viven (1977)
- The Best of Ricardo Ray & Bobby Cruz (1977)
- A su nombre Gloria (1978)
- De nuevo los Durísimos, Again (1980)
- El sonido de la bestia (1980)
- Pinturas (1981)
- Back to Back (1982)
- Las Aguilas-The Eagles (1982)
- Los Durísimos (1982)
- En familia (1983)
- Más que vencedores (1984)
- Los Inconfundibles (1987)
- Adelante Juventud (Con Jeff Morales) (1988)
- Un Sonido Bestial: El Concierto (1999)
- Mambo Tata (1999)
- Lo nuevo y lo mejor (2001)
- 40 Aniversario (2005)
- Que vuelva la música (2005)
- Pura salsa (2007)