Frankie Ruiz, El Papá de la Salsa

One of the most prominent Salsa stars of the ’70s and ’80s, New Jersey-born, Puerto Rican-raised singer and percussionist Frankie Ruiz was at the forefront of the “salsa romántica” subgenre, enhancing salsa’s “spice” with passionate lyrics and steamy dance moves. His fans, who swooned over his slow, sultry sound, bestowed upon him the title, “El Papá de la Salsa” (The Father of Salsa).