Puerto Rican salsa/boogaloo duo Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz was formed in New York
in 1964. Composed of Richie Ray (born Ricardo Morales on February 15, 1945, in
Brooklyn, New York) and Bobby Cruz (born Robert Cruz Ramos on February 2, 1937,
in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico), the duo was instrumental in popularizing salsa
music in the 1960s and 1970s. The duo came together in 1964 when Bobby Cruz
joined Richie Ray’s orchestra as a backing vocalist. Within a few years, Bobby
Cruz was the group’s lead vocalist and took his place right up front with
bandleader Richie Ray. The duo’s first hig...