Ray Viera

Leading the pack of a new generation of “Soneros” is Ray Viera. Blending old school with a fresh style of singing. The clarity and strength of his voice is what caught Pacheco’s interest when they first met.

He demonstrates this on the stage and in the recording studio. Ray brings together the whole band when its time to record. He does not like the piece by piece recording technique utilize nowadays.

Ray is a down to earth type of individual, very aware of where he came from and very secure in knowing

where he wants to go, with his life and his music. He projects a positive image with his music and his mannerism. Ray likes to concentrate on the feeling and soulfulness of a song when recording and performing.

He has to feel the songs when he’s choosing what to record. “I would rather  listen to a singer sing one soulful note, than listen to a singer sing a lot and not express anything”, says Ray.  ”Mentally I’m independent, instead of following I rather be paving my own path. Doing something positive with my music”.

Ray does not hesitate to give thanks to those who have mentored and tutored him in his career, such as Johhny Pacheco and Hector Casanova. He also gives high regards to Herman Olivera as a friend, musician and a beautiful

human being. He considers Herman to be “Un Sonero Maestro”.

Below is a small glimpse into Ray’s beginnings as a singer. His forte is his voice and his soul, and when its combined with his showmanship, he’s unstoppable.

Ray Viera was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.

As a child growing up on his grandparents farm and living the simple life he always listened to the recordings of the great “Soneros”, such as Hector Lavoe, Ismael Rivera, Ismael Miranda, Chamaco Ramirez and Marvin Santiago. Collectively, these artists have inspired Ray to pursue his goals, combining their musical influences into his own vocal style . Ray’s grandfather was a reverend and Ray would borrow his cousin’s congas to play in church. Ray says “If I had stayed in Puerto Rico I would probably be playing an instrument instead of singing”. Puerto Rico contrary to Philadelphia, offers various scholastic opportunities when it comes to music. In Puerto Rico music is everywhere and in everything. In the mornings there’s the roosters and the coffee aroma waking you up. During the day there is music everywhere. In the evenings The coquies come out. They sing when the sun goes down at dusk, singing all night long until dawn. Then there are the “Feista Patronales”  the Saints Festival, This is where he would see hear live bands in person and gets bitten by the bug. The bug that gets inside of you and makes you realize that “Hey I like this” …..The music is in you…..

At the age of 11, Ray left his grandparents to live with his father in the “Barrio” of  North Philadelphia, mostly inhabited by hispanics. As Ray describes it, North Philly made the Bronx in New York look like Disney World !

It was a complete culture shock, gone from his life was the daily music he had grown up with. Latin music was only available to Ray when he visited relatives in Jersey City and the Bronx. Then he would listen to the radio and pick up to what was happening in the latin music community.

In North Philadelphia, Ray lived near Hunting Park which he visited frequently as a teenager. The park was always filled with hispanics having a good time. It was reminiscent of his days in Puerto Rico. Different groups according to their preference of music, would hang out separately. The groups would bring their musical instruments to play. One group in particular made up of Puerto Ricans would gather underneath a tree near the baseball park to sing Decimas. Decimas is a poem of ten-line verses composed of rhymed lines which descends from medieval Spanish ballads. In another section the rumberos would gather.

After graduating from High School Ray enlists in the Us Air Force and travels the world to return back to North Philadelphia 4 years later. At this point in time is when Ray starts participating with the rumberos in the park,

to his amazement he started getting compliments for his singing abilities. This turned out to be Ray’s first epiphany  From these gatherings Ray started to get invited to participate in different musical social functions . Always learning and perfecting his singing skills.

His talents and flair for performing were soon noticed as he began to sing with various Latin music groups.

Ray’s musical resume includes a list of who’s who in the Latin music industry.  Johnny Pacheco, Celia Cruz, Yomo Toro, Adalberto Santiago, Papo Lucca, Justo Betancourt, Eddie Palmieri, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Jimmy Bosch, Chino Nunez, just to name a few.

In 1997 Johnny Pacheco along with Jovanny Diaz and his Orchestra produced Ray’s first CD for ATI Records

Ray has also recorded background vocals in various genres, including the soundtrack of an Off-Broadway musical entitled “Quien Mato a Hector Lavoe” starring Domingo Quinones, that would later become a major motion picture staring Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony titled “El Cantante”. He also sang background vocals for Celia Cruz’s “La Negra Tiene Tumbao”, her final CD, and both Eddie Palmieri’s 40th anniversary CD, “La Perfecta II” and “Ritmo Caliente”, and is the lead singer in Johnny Pacheco’s 50th anniversary CD “Entre Amigos”(2004). He also participated in Ricky Gonzalez’s “Oasis”, singing lead in the songs “Timbalero” and “Ya Era Tiempo”. Over the years, he has toured throughout the United States, Mexico, South America and Europe. While striving to realize his dreams, he has continually performed with intense passion and emotion.

The CD “TROMBAO” produced by Ray has 9 compositions by him. The music swings BIG time and it’s

very danceable. Many musician forget about the dancing audience when they produce a CD, but Ray is very well aware of his audience.

Salsa-101: What would you like to tell your fans ?

RV: I want to thank my fans for supporting me and believing in me. There will always be those that understand and like what you’re doing, and those that do not. I give my thanks to those individuals. There is nothing more gratifying and beautiful than to have someone acknowledge and like what you’re doing.

Salsa-101: Talking with Ray Viera was like talking with an old friend, even though we have not personally met.

Ray speaks just like he sings, from the heart. He’s come a long way from the days a Hunting Park in a very short time. This is an artist with a vision, steering his career in the right direction

Al Romero Graphic designer, photographer for Viera’s CD

Ray Viera music : http://rayvieramusic.com/music.html

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