Ralfi Pagan

Ralfi Pagán (born Rafael Pagán; 1947–1978) was a Bronx, New York-based Latin soul and salsa singer of Puerto Rican and Cuban parentage who was active from the mid-1960s until his death in 1978. He specialized in soul ballads sung both in Spanish and English and released five albums during the 1970s. He is well known for the duet with Sylvia Robinson entitled Soul Je T'aime and for his solo reworking of Make It With You previously recorded by David Gates and Bread. In 1978, he was mysteriously murdered while on a promotional tour in Colombia, South America, a tragedy that remains unsolved to this day.

Early career

The first recording released by Pagán was an all-but-unnoticed 45RPM single recorded in New York and released in 1966 on the RCA Victor label under the name Ray Paige. Subsequently, as a backing vocalist Pagán featured on a number of recordings by King Nando's Orchestra (real name Fernando Rivera) before in 1969, Pagán released the self-titled album, Ralfi Pagan, on Fania Records. Issued twice, first with all Spanish sung titles and shortly after with four English sing titles substituted for four Spanish titles Pagán's falsetto tenor favoured ballads such as Who Is The Girl For Me, Don't Stop Now, and I Can't See Me Without You. This made him highly popular amongst young Hispanic Americans particularly in the urban centres of Los Angeles and New York where Pagán made a significant cultural impact. He was also adept on up tempo salsa such as his cover of Oscar Brown's Brother, Where Are You?.