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

the place was the Colgate Gardens in the Bronx where Ray made his debut playing on the same stage with Eddie Palmieri’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.

Louie Ramirez

In 1976 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 South America 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!