Ray Sepulveda

Biography

Courtesy of Latinweb

Ray Sepulveda is the first one to say: "My voice is immediately recognizable, it doesn’t sound like anyone else’s." That is why his hits "Mascarada" and "Bandolera," went around the world. Those songs and many others are sung by one of the most distinctive voices in the contemporary salsa scene.

Today, the Brooklyn-born singer of Puerto Rican parents, is a soloist with many albums under his belt athat has led to a solid reputation as a vocalist.

On his first two albums "Un Poquito Más" and "Con Sabor," produced by Sergio George, Ray Sepúlveda excels in the romantic salsa genre, with an outstanding and enviable versatility. His third album produced in Puerto Rico in 1994 under the direction of Julito Alvarado, clearly demonstrates his talent.

For Ray, as for so many other performers, the road to success has not been easy. Ever since he was a boy he was learning from his father Ray Sepúlveda Sr., a bolero singer and recording artist with the trio Los Románticos. He also listened to the Puerto Rican performers who fed his desire to become like them some day, such as El Gran Combo, Ismael Rivera with Rafael Cortijo, Héctor Lavoe, Chamaco Ramírez, Tito Allen and Néstor Sánchez, among others.

At the age of 18 he had his first experience as a vocalist, singing with a band from Mayaguez called "La Justicia," which became "La Solución." Later on he shared the stage with singer Frankie Ruiz in yet another band, "La Dictadora."

In 1976 he came back to New York where he began to sing with the Sociedad 76 Orchestra. With this group he recorded for the first time on the album "The Big Apple" for the Borinquen label. He went on to record two more albums with the same orchestra for Fania.

In 1983 Ray Sepúlveda joined the Adalberto Santiago Orchestra. The group was featured in the movie "Moscow On The Hudson," starring Robin Williams. The group also appeared in the film "Turk 182" with Timothy Hutton.

After a brief stint with Hector Lavoe, Ray Sepúlveda gave up singing to care for his family and work at the US Postal Service.

The right moment to reappear came with the Johnny Ray Orchestra, with which he recorded the album "Salsa con Clase" for Polygram. The album included the cut "Mascarada," the salsa version of a tune made popular by Mexican singer Joan Sebastian. In a few months the tune grew into one of the biggest hits in the history of Latin Music. Thanks to the success of "Mascarada" and "Bandolera," Ray Sepúlveda established himself as a singer with the proven ability to generate hits.

Ray, is still surprised by his success. "When I participated in the "Festival de los Soneros" in 1991, produced by Ralph Mercado at the Madison Square Garden, I couldn’t believe that I was sharing the stage with singers and musicians that just a few years before had been my idols."

He has recorded background vocals on several albums, including "The Mambo King," Tito Puente’s 100th LP, and on an album by Grover Washington Jr.

He would like to record ballads and as well as ‘street salsa’ with a more típico sound. "In my opinion our music is going back to the more upbeat sound of the ‘70s," he says. Ray also has recorded several tunes in English, including "You Are My Lady," the tune made popular by Freddy Jackson.

Ray Sepúlveda is confident that he will travel all over the world, bringing his message of happiness which only his voice and his unmistakable style can convey. A later hit single, "Llegastes Tu" received wide airplay on stations across the United States and Puerto Rico.