"Me Quedo Callado" Ray Tico from Musical Genres Of Costa Rica on Vimeo.
Ramón Jacinto Herrera, alias Ray Tico, was born in Limón in 1928. When he was a teenager he left for Colombia as a fisherman and it is there that he began his career as a musician, which continued for the rest of his life. In 1953, he went to Cuba where he adopted the nickname Ray Tico, as well as composing “Eso es Imposible”, his biggest hit among the more than 50 other songs that he wrote. His style of guitar playing, that also includes using it as a percussion instrument, became his personal stamp of distinction. Then, he moved to the U.S and played at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. Later in Hollywood, he gained fame as a Latin playboy, often invited to join the most famous people of the era like Frank Sinatra, NatKing Cole, and SammyDavisJr.
In 1969, at the age of 41, Ray returned to Costa Rica to stay. He spent the next 38 years writing songs and playing in virtually every important event that occurred in the country, including presidential inaugurations.
His 79 years were lived intensely. Only weeks before his death, Papaya Music celebrated 8 decades of Ray. Ray Tico died on August 15, 2007. Costa Rican will miss Ray, but he will remembered with happiness, which, in the end, is what he has given to others all his life
