Ray De La Paz

Ray De La Paz has been singing for over 30 years and has traveled extensively around the world taking his music and talent wherever dancers rule. This extensive travel has made him a very well known singer within the Salsa community.

Ray was born and raised in New York City’s Spanish Harlem and grew up in the Bronx. He started singing at a young age and as it was then that his mother convinced him to take vocal lessons.

His first professional singing experience was with a neighborhood local band called El Conjunto De Don Juan, which recorded in New York.

The year was 1970 and the place was the Colgate Gardens in the Bronx where Ray made his debut playing on the same stage with ’s La Perfecta featuring Ismael Quintana; Joe Cuba featuring Cheo Feliciano and Jimmy Sabater; and Ricardo Ray and Bobby Cruz.

In 1972, Ray recorded with Chino y Su Conjunto Melao, which was at the time a popular New York Band amongst Salsa dancers. During one of his presentations with El Conjunto Melao, was when the late legend, Ray Barretto asked him to record on his upcoming release “RICANSTRUCTION”. After accepting to record this album with Ray Barretto, he wound up recording a total of four albums with him including: BARRETTO LIVE, GIANT FORCE, and RHYTHM OF LIFE.

In 1976 Louie Ramirez contacted Ray De La Paz to sing on a production with Sonora Poncena. The album was titled “MUSICAL CONQUEST/CONQUISTA MUSICAL” (Inca Records). Louie Ramirez then hired Ray to sing on his 1982 production “NOCHE CALIENTE” which was on the K-Tel Label. Two great hits came out of that LP which was “Estar Enamorado” and “Todo Se Derrumbo.” After the success of “NOCHE CALIENTE”, Ray and Louie toured Venezuela and much of as Louie Ramirez and Ray De La Paz. This was the first time the two names were connected. The chemistry was great and the dancers loved it!

Three albums were recorded under the name of Louie Ramirez and Ray De La Paz. Those three LP’s were “CON CACHE!” (1984), “ALEGRES y ROMANTICOS” (1985) and “SABOR CON CLAZE!” (1986). All three albums were massively successful and made Gold Records… because these two were incredible together.

In 1987, Ray started his solo career with his first solo album called “ESTOY COMO NUNCA” on BC Records. In 1990, Ray recorded an album for the RMM Recording label: “COMO TU QUIERAS”. The sales of that album were very impressive. Trying to catch lightning in a bottle one more time, Louie and Ray got together under RMM Records to record “OTRA NOCHE CALIENTE” (1991) which spawned the hits “Suddenly”, “Definitivamente”, and the ever famous “Medley”. With RMM Records he also recorded “PREPARATE BAILADOR” (1993). That same year Ray was teamed-up with Cheo Feliciano for the Louie Ramirez tribute “RECORDANDO A LOUIE” for the “Combinacion Perfecta” album (1993). Ray’s last recording for RMM was 1994’s “FAMILIA RMM EN VIVO” on which he performed “Otra Noche Caliente”.

In 1997, Ray De La Paz made his acting debut on Broadway alongside Marc Anthony, Ruben Blades, and Ednita Nazario in New York City for Paul Simon’s “THE CAPEMAN” performed at the Marquis Theater Times Square. He also participated in the cast recording on Warner Brothers.

In 2001, Ray sang lead vocals on three tracks on “PA’L BAILADOR” on Morrowland Records by the West Coast based Johnny Polanco y su Conjunto Amistad. Also in 2001, Ray participated in “RAY BARRETTO’S LIVE 50TH ANNIVERSARY” recorded in Puerto Rico at the Tito Puente Amphitheatre for Sony Records.

In 2002, Ray De La Paz recorded with the Spanish Harlem Orchestra for the Grammy nominated CD “UN GRAN DIA EN EL BARRIO” (Ryko/Ropeadope Records), on which Ray sings “Aprende A Querer,” “Vale Mas Un Guaguanco” and “Obsesion.” Since then this CD has gone Platinum. Ray De La Paz continues to be one of the elite singers with Spanish Harlem Orchestra where he plays an important part as one of the orchestra’s lead vocalist and in 2004 recorded for the Grammy winning CD titled “ACROSS 110th STREET” (Libertad Records) featuring Ruben Blades, “UNITED WE SWING” (2007), and “VIVA LA TRADICION” (2010).

Ray has sung in many commercials for well-known companies in the advertising industry and has been a member of SAG and AFTRA for many years. Ray is fluent in both Spanish and English, and is equally adept singing in both languages. Among many achievements he has received, Ray has won an Ace award, two gold records with the best in , such as Ray Barretto Orchestra, Guarare and Louie Ramirez.

Ray De La Paz continues with much success in his long and glorious singing career. His golden voice is a favorite of many DJ’s and is heard on dance floors throughout the world.

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Credits

Year Album Artist The Complete Vocals 2013 Paul Simon Album Collection (Background) Vocals 2011 Songwriter Paul Simon (Background) Causes Perdues Bernard 2010 et Musiques Choeurs Lavilliers Tropicales Year Album Artist Ponte Duro: The Fania All- Vocals 2010 Fania All Stars Stars (Background) Story Spanish Group Member, Viva La 2010 Harlem Vocals, Vocals Tradición Orchestra (Background) Serie Nostalgia: Los 2009 Exitos Relámpagos Composer Originales del Norte Amistad Para El Johnny Guest Artist, 2008 Mundo Entero Polanco Vocals 2008 Got Salsa Primary Artist RMM 20th Anniversary 2008 Primary Artist Collection, Vol. 6 RMM 20th Anniversary 2008 Primary Artist Collection, Vol. 8 Mambo Show: Budda All 2007 Vocals Serie Platino Stars Salsa Legends 2007 Primary Artist Live Salsa Mania 2007 Primary Artist [Immortal] The Essential Vocals 2007 Paul Simon Paul Simon (Background) Spanish Member of 2007 United We Swing Harlem Attributed Orchestra Artist, Vocals Year Album Artist Salsa Mania 2006 Primary Artist [DVD] The Capeman: 2006 Original Primary Artist Broadway Cast The Underdog/El Tego 2006 Coros Subestimado Calderón Old School Original Salsa 2005 Primary Artist Classics Deluxe Box Composer, Spanish Across 110th Member of 2004 Harlem Street Attributed Orchestra Artist, Vocals Aqui Esta La 2004 Salsa Primary Artist [Universal] El Avión de la Jimmy Guest Artist, 2004 Salsa Bosch Main Personnel Fuerza Gigante: Live in Puerto Ray 2004 Vocals Rico April 27, Barretto 2001 The Studio Vocals 2004 Recordings Paul Simon (Background) 1972-2000 Old School Salsa 2003 Primary Artist Classics, Vol. 3 Voces del 2003 Milenio: Salsa, Primary Artist Vol. 2 Year Album Artist Best of Latin 2002 Primary Artist [BMG] Salsa a la 2002 Primary Artist Coupole: Paris Cheo 2002 Serie 32 [2 CD] Primary Artist Feliciano The Best… Salsa 2002 Primary Artist in English Barreto 50th Ray Guest Artist, 2001 Anniversary Barretto Vocals The Giant of Unknown Ray 2001 Salsa: Live in Contributor Barretto Puerto Rico Role The Salsa Dance 2001 Class: The Real Primary Artist Deal Congreso 2000 Nacional de la Primary Artist Salsa Greatest Hits: Vocals 2000 Shining Like a Paul Simon (Background) National Guitar Freddy Vocals 2000 Japanese Sandman Gardner (Background) La Voz Romantico Cheo 2000 Primary Artist del Caribe Feliciano Arranger, Primary 2000 Latin Broadway Artist, Vocals (Background) 2000 Mega Latino Primary Artist Year Album Artist Carlos 1999 Lo Mio Coros Santos Performer, 1999 Mas Ritmo Latino Primary Artist Salsa in Performer, 1999 English, Vol. 3 Primary Artist Ray de la Primary 1998 Como Tu Quieras Paz Artist, Vocals Performer, 1998 Salsa Hits [RMM] Primary Artist All Within Reach: A Benefit 1997 Composer for the Reach Foundation Louie Performer, 1997 Greatest Hits Ramirez Primary Artist Johnny Ray Choir/Chorus, Mas Agresivo Que 1997 Y Salsa Vocals Nunca Con Clase (Background) RMM 10th Anniversary Performer, 1997 Collection, Vol. Primary Artist 8 Songs from The Vocals 1997 Paul Simon Capeman (Background) 20 Anniversary of the NY Salsa Performer, 1996 Festival: Primary Artist 1975-1995 Performer, Combinacion 1996 Primary Perfecta Artist, Vocals Year Album Artist Performer, 1996 La Clave Latina Primary Artist Mascara Salsera Performer, 1996 Gold Stars: Primary Artist Gozando! Ray de la Primary 1995 Ray De La Paz Paz Artist, Vocals Familia Rmm En Performer, 1994 Vivo Primary Artist Performer, 1994 RMM Megamix Primary Artist Primary Otra Noche Louie 1993 Artist, Caliente Ramirez Producer Primary Preparate Ray de la 1993 Artist, Bailador Paz Producer Put Your Heart Performer, 1992 On: Salsa in Primary English, Vol. 2 Artist, Vocals Vocals 1992 Seduceme Viti Ruiz (Background) Main Tributo a Ismael 1992 Personnel, Rivera Vocals Hot Street Performer, 1991 Salsa, Vol. 2 Primary Artist Put Your Heart Performer, 1991 On: Salsa in Primary Artist English Ray de la 1987 Estoy Como Nunca Primary Artist Paz Year Album Artist Roberto 1986 Tempestad Coro Blades Main Ray 1982 Rhythm of Life Personnel, Barretto Vocals Member of Tito Attributed 1981 Ce’ Magnifique Puente Artist, Vocals (Background) Main Ray 1980 Giant Force Personnel, Barretto Vocals Main Ray 1979 Rican/Struction Personnel, Barretto Vocals Choir/Chorus, Member of Conquista La Sonora 1976 Attributed Musical Ponceña Artist, Vocals (Background) Featured Viva Africando Africando Artist, Vocals Source: http://www.spanishharlemorchestra.com/ray