Frankie Ruiz lived fast and died tragically young, but the salsa legend left behind a rich catalog of timeless hits. One of the most gifted soneros of his era, Ruiz got his start with Orquesta La Solucion in the late '70s, but soon joined legendary trumpeter Tommy Olivencia's orchestra. Going solo in 1985, Ruiz became a pioneer of salsa romántica, mixing blazing and brass-heavy grooves with dramatic ballads. Though a long bout with drug and alcohol addiction took a toll on his health, Ruiz continued recording tropical classics until his death in 1998.