Ralph Mercado told an interviewer that he was able to dance the merengue as soon as he learned how to walk.
14 Facts About Ralph Mercado
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Ralph Mercado turned to managing performers, founding RMM Management in 1972, where his clients included Celia Cruz and Tito Puente, achieving acclaim as the biggest salsa manager in the United States by the 1970s.
3.
Ralph Mercado developed new talent, such as La India and Marc Anthony, presenting salsa concerts at major venues across the country, from Madison Square Garden to the Hollywood Bowl.
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Ralph Mercado started RMM Records in 1987, which had in excess of 130 artists performing across the Latin music spectrum, representing merengue, salsa, Latin jazz and Latin rock.
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Ralph Mercado rode the expanding size and economic power of the nation's Hispanic population and a general interest in salsa music.
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Ralph Mercado brought in international groups and influences from Africa, Brazil and even Japan.
7.
Thereafter the sale of RMM, Ralph Mercado returned to promoting salsa concerts, on a global basis.
8.
Ralph Mercado retained control of three music publishing firms, RMM Filmworks and Ralph Mercado Presents.
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Ralph Mercado owned, in whole or part, Manhattan clubs Babalu and the Latin Quarter, as well as the Conga Room in Los Angeles.
10.
In 1998, Ralph Mercado received the El Premio Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award.
11.
On September 28,2008, Ralph Mercado was honored by Union City, New Jersey with the key to the city and a star on the Walk of Fame at Union City's Celia Cruz Park.
12.
Ralph Mercado had lived in Cresskill and Hackensack, New Jersey, before moving to Cliffside Park, New Jersey, where he lived the rest of his life, though he owned an apartment in Manhattan.
13.
Ralph Mercado died on March 10,2009, at age 67 at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack from cancer.
14.
Ralph Mercado was survived by his daughters - Debra, Damaris, Melissa and Chanel; his son - Ralph III; his brothers - John Ayala, Richard Ayala and Jorge Sanchez; his sister - Angelica Kreiger; and six grandchildren.