Maelo Ruiz & Charlie Aponte in Mexico City

Maelo Ruiz is a Puerto Rican salsa singer who was born in New York City and raised in Puerto Rico. A former lead vocalist for Pedro Conga y su Orquesta Internacional, he became known for romantic salsa songs including “No Te Quites la Ropa,” “Te Va a Doler” and “Regálame una Noche.” As the singer for Pedro Conga’s orchestra, he toured internationally before moving into solo concert work. His later performances have drawn on both the recordings from that period and his solo catalogue. Maelo Ruiz performs with a salsa orchestra in theatres, clubs and at salsa festivals, including appearances in Puerto Rico, Colombia and Peru.

Charlie Aponte is a Puerto Rican salsa singer, born in Caguas in 1951, who spent four decades as a lead vocalist of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. His voice is heard on the orchestra’s songs “Brujería,” “El Menú” and “No Hay Cama Pa’ Tanta Gente.” After leaving the group, he began a solo career with the album Una Nueva Historia. Charlie Aponte joined El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico in 1973 and performed with the orchestra at Yankee Stadium that year. He went on to tour extensively with the band and appeared at Madison Square Garden before closing his tenure with a 2014 performance in Cali, Colombia.