Aguzate

Ricardo Ray | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 25, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fania
• ASIN: B000F7CE1G
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #569,750 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Richie Ray

A musical prodigy, Ricardo "Richie" Ray was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended the prestigious Julliard Academy of Music. Born from Puerto Rican parents, Richie was proudly aware at an early age of his Latin heritage and played an instrumental role in modernizing traditional Latin rhythms with the new American pop that was coming out of New York City during the sixties decade.

Known to the world as " The King of Salsa", Richie formed the Richie Ray orchestra in the year 1964. A great pianist and an intuitive bandleader, Richie had the great fortune to team up with the marvelous singer Bobby Cruz, and thus one of the all-time best Latin music partnerships was born.

A true New York City barrio kid, Richie had a sound that was fierce and adventurous. Going were few had ventured before, Richie was one of the first composers to truly mix the emerging sounds of American R&B with traditional Latin rhythms like guaguanco and the Cuban guajira. The results were some of the most spectacular boogaloo recordings of the sixties. Hit albums like Jala Jala y Boogaloo and Se Solto capture the essence and thrill of one the most creative periods in the history of American popular music. In 1974 after a long and illustrious string of world-wide-smash hits Richie Ray decided to retire, along with his long-time friend and partner Bobby Cruz, from popular music to pursue a life religious devotion. His music, nevertheless, continues to delight millions of music lovers around the world.

Richie Ray

Un pianista extraordinario Ricardo "Richie" Ray nació en el vecindario Brooklyn de la ciudad de Nueva York, en donde obtuvo el gran honor de ser estudiante de Julliard, la academia de música más prestigiosa de Manhattan. Hijo de padres puertorriqueños, el joven Richie siempre demostró un gran orgullo por su herencia Latina. Richie estaba particularmente hechizado por los ritmos candentes de la música caribeña y la música popular de estilo R&B que se escuchaba en las calles de Spanish Harlem.

Conocido universalmente como "El Rey de la Salsa", Richie debuta en el mundo de la canción como pianista y líder de su propia orquesta. Ray fue desde el principio un líder de banda carismático y un pianista de gran originalidad. Su vida cambia drásticamente al agruparse con el fantástico cantante puertorriqueño Bobby Cruz. La unión de Cruz y Ray produce uno de los dúos más exitosos en el plano de la música popular Latina. Ray y Cruz son considerados como pioneros primordiales de los ritmos que hoy en día se conocen como la salsa y el bugalú. Richie Ray fue responsable de éxitos mundialmente reconocidos como los discos " Jala Jala Boogaloo" y "Sé Soltó". Proviniendo de la vibrante ciudad de Nueva York, el siempre carismático Richie se dio a conocer por sus fusiones exóticas de música popular norte americana con ritmos de la tradición afro-caribeña. En el año 1974, después de mas de una década como una de las estrellas más grandes e innovadoras del mundo de la salsa, Richie Ray junto con su amigo y socio Bobby Cruz se retira de la música popular para devotarse a una vida de adoración cristiana. Hoy en día, Richie Ray es reconocido y admirado como uno de los músicos más influyentes y versátiles de la música Latina. El amplio catalogo discográfico de Richie Ray promete sorprender y deleitar a nuevas generaciones de aficionados de música célebre y apasionante.

Bobby Cruz

In 1964 when pianist Richie Ray was looking for a fresh young talent who could join his new band there was only one man for the job: the marvelous Bobby Cruz. Born in Puerto Rico, the multi-talented Bobby Cruz is indisputably one the most versatile singers/composer of the sixties and seventies salsa/boogaloo boom.

After joining the Richie Ray Orchestra, Cruz became enchanted by the vibrancy of the New York City salsa/boogaloo music scene. By the year 1966, Bobby had earned a place as the lead singer in the Richi Ray Orchestra and scored a major hit with the blazingly delicious tune "Mr. Trumpet Man". Following that first hit, Bobby Cruz became known as one of the top singer/songwriters in New York City, his hits include classic cuts such the fantastic "Aguzate" (Get Wise) and his unforgettable interpretation of the Frank Sinatra timeless song "A Mi Manera" (Mi Way).

During his ten year run as a singer/composer of popular music, Bobby Cruz produced a string of songs that are widely considered to be among the very best of the salsa genre. Bobby Cruz's hits like "Ya Ni Te Acuerdas" (You Don't Even Remember Me) and the all-time favorite, "La Zafra" (The Canes) have become timeless musical masterpieces that have charted in numerous countries throughout the world.

By the mid-seventies, Bobby felt he had to answer to a higher call, and left the world of popular music to pursue a life of religious devotion. Nevertheless, fans around the world l continue to acknowledge Bobby Cruz as one the very best singers of Latin music's golden age.

Bobby Cruz

En el año 1964 el pianista Richie Ray conoce y enlista al joven Puertorriqueño Bobby Cruz como corista en su nueva orquesta. Al cabo de un año, el talentoso Bobby Cruz se abre paso como el cantante / compositor principal de la orquesta de Richie Ray y así se da inicio uno de los binomios más potentes de la era de la salsa y el bugalú de la ciudad Nueva York.

Bobby Cruz nació en Puerto Rico y trajo consigo a la ciudad de Nueva York su amor indiscutible por la música folclórica de su tierra natal. Al unirse con la orquesta de Richie Ray, Bobby brindo su sabor caribeño a los ritmos norte americanos que contagiaban en aquel entonces a al barrio de Spanish Harllem. Su primer éxito fue con la canción al estilo boogaloo "Mr. Trumpet Man", dicha melodía fue causante de una nueva era para el bugalú y la salsa.

Hoy en día se recuerda a Bobby Cruz por canciones candentes como "Agúzate" y su famosa interpretación del clásico de Frank Sinatra "A Mi Manera" Por mas de diez años Bobby se consagro como uno de los cantantes más exitosos en el ámbito de la música popular. Su voz hermosa y su elocuente manera de expresarse lo llevaron a convertirse en un embajador a escala mundial del boogaloo y la salsa.

A mediado de la década de los setenta Bobby Cruz se retira de la música popular para dedicarse a una vida de devoción cristiana. Aun así, la leyenda de Bobby Cruz esta perpetuamente asegurada en su magnifica obra discográfica para el sello disquero

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of his best albums!!!, December 5, 2005

By 

Rubén Córdoba "El Maestrito" (Panama) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aguzate (Audio CD)

I have this CD and I just have to say that five of the eight songs it has, were hits at that time: "Aguzate", "amparo arrebato" (it paralized the traffic in Cali, Colombia, the first time he went to play it), "guaguanco raro", "traigo de todo" and "a mi manera" (the spanish version of "my way". In 1970 it was one of the most played songs in the latino radio stations).
My favorite is "Amparo Arrebato" (composed in honor to a beautiful colombian dancer). I recomend it.

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute classic of 1970s Salsa., July 21, 2010

By 

Justo Roteta (Los Angeles, California United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Aguzate (Audio CD)

This is an absolute must have! This 1970-released stone classic truly represents the essence of what 1970s New York Salsa was all about. Not only has this masterpiece stood the test of time incredibly well, it was the album that made Ricardo and Bobby bonafide Salsa superstars. Their subsequent releases on Vaya Records sold better but "Aguzate" is a CD you'll want to play REAL LOUD on your stereo system as it's an incredibly EXCITING, funky and rhythmic musical experience!!!

5.0 out of 5 stars "Aguzate"-One Of The Greatest Salsa Albums Ever Made!-Salsoul Connection Ol' Skool Rarities!, July 1, 2010

By 

David Addis "King Of The Ol' Skool" (Norwich, Ct., US) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Aguzate (Audio CD)

Recorded in 1970 before joining the alliance with Fania, but at the time still affiliated with Tico, I was a kid when I heard my father play this album. Of course, I was not understanding what great Salsa was at the time, and almost everybody (friends and relatives) had this one in their stacks. Someone in Jersey even had it on an 8-track! (Hard to believe, huh?) The title track starts things off and sets the mood the right way, with Miguelito Collazo belting out the last moments on timbales to the end. "Amparo Arrebato" tells it like it is, to the boys' version of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" (Richie and Bobby do a nice touch to it). "Guaguanco Raro" rips just like "Aguzate" does, but don't get me wrong, it doesn't end here. "Traigo De Todo" (don't confuse this with Ismael Rivera's version of the same title) tells the resume of Richie Ray's career. "Soul and Inspiration" is done right, like the Righteous Brothers, but with a Latin tinge to make it interesting. The final song "A Mi Manera (My Way)" written by Paul Anka, may bring the listener (or sufferer of a broken heart) to tears, so you have been warned. I forgot to say this was the final recording with Alegre before transferring to Vaya / Fania for "El Bestial Sonido De Ricardo Ray Y Bobby Cruz", which also yielded the title track (recommended).