Hilton Ruiz
Born in New York City on May 29, 1952, Hilton Ruiz was a jazz pianist of Puerto
Rican descent. He specialized in Afro-Cuban jazz and be-bop. Inspired by the
music of Duke Ellington, he began playing piano at the age of five. Three years
later, he performed the music of Mozart at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in
NYC. By the time he was in his early 20s, he was performing with jazz greats
such as Roland Kirk and Clark Terry. He also worked with such luminaries as
Betty Carter, Mongo Santamaria, and Tito Puente. Hilton Ruiz released Piano Man,
his debut album as a leader, in 1975. ...
