Before he was an American success, Rey Ruiz had a long past in show business behind him. Though he appeared regularly on TV as a child, it took the Cuban-born star years before he became a featured performer in the country's Cabaret Tropicana musical group. After eventually defecting to the U.S. on a trip with the band, he fast became a nationwide sensation and the new king of salsa, his sound fusing traditional elements with modern panache. Needless to say, the country was hooked on his nostalgic sound, with Ruiz releasing hugely popular albums throughout the '90s and '00s.