The legendary late Frankie Ruiz returns to the top 10 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay for the first time since 1998 — the year he died — thanks to his featured role on Victor Manuelle’s “Otra Noche Más,” which debuts at No. 9. It’s Ruiz’s seventh top 10, and Manuelle’s record-extending 65th.
“Otra Noche Más,” a tribute to the legacy of one of salsa’s biggest artists, integrates excerpts of Ruiz’s 1989 single, “Deseándote,” and musical arrangements by Junito Dávila.
“Otra” is Ruiz’s first entry on the chart since 2012, and debuts with 2 million audience impressions earned in the U.S. in the week ending Feb. 29, according to Luminate. The song was released Feb. 22 via Sony Music Latin.
The time-traveling collaboration previews Victor Manuelle’s upcoming album Retromántico, a project that pays homage to classic salsa of the 1990s.
“Otra Noche” becomes Ruiz’ seventh top 10 on Tropical Airplay. He was a prolific presence on the chart during the 90s, scoring six top 10s, including two No. 1s: his last being the seven-week champ “Ironía” in 1996.
Victor Manuelle, meanwhile, extends his record for the most top 10s on Tropical Airplay since the charted launched in 1994, with 65 top 10s. “Otra Noche” follows the Puerto Rican’s last chart hit, the No. 9-peaking “Esta Noche Te Conviene” in April 2023.
