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. In 1969, Pagán released the self-titled album, Ralfi Pagan, on Fania Records which proved more successful. 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. This made him highly popular amongst young Hispanic Americans particularly in the urban centers of Los Angeles and New York where Pagán made a significant cultural impact. His forte was ballads such as Who Is The Girl For Me, Don't Stop Now, and I Can't See Me Without You. He was also adept on uptempo salsa such as his cover of Oscar Brown's Brother, Where Are You?.
In 1971 he broke through nationally with a Latin cover of Make It With You which entered the Billboard R&B chart on the 10 July 1971 for an eleven-week run during which it peaked at #32. It sold 250 000 copies nationally and Pagán appeared on the nationally syndicated TV show Soul Train A second album With Love produced by Harvey Averne and Jerry Masucci and recorded in New York consolidated Pagán's status amongst urban Hispanics and chicanos. A further R&B hit in 1973 with Soul Je T'Aime, a duet with Sylvia Robinson on Vibration records was his last appearance on the national charts. The Ralfi album containing Latin soul and salsa-influenced tracks was released the same year.
In 1975 he released his fourth and final Fania album I Can See which included his distinctive take on Smokey Robinson & the Miracles track Ooo Baby Baby and the bitter sweet Stay Out of My Life. His voice, though lighter and less powerful, has often been compared to that of Smokey Robinson.
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