Frankie J facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frankie J
Born	Francisco Javier Bautista Jr. (1975-12-07) December 7, 1975 (age 49) Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Other names	Frankie Boy Cisko Frankie J
Occupation	Singer songwriter
Years active	1993–present
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)

Francisco Javier Bautista Jr. (born December 7, 1975), who is better known by his stage name Frankie J, is an American singer and songwriter. He was once a member of the popular musical group Kumbia Kings.

Frankie J was born in Mexico but grew up in San Diego, California. In the late 1990s, he started his music career as a freestyle artist named Frankie Boy. After performing with the Kumbia Kings, he began a successful solo career. His first solo album was called What's a Man to Do, which came out in 2003. He has released many albums in both English and Spanish. In 2013, his album Faith, Hope y Amor was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Early Life and First Steps in Music

Frankie J was born in Tijuana, Mexico. When he was two years old, his uncle brought him and his siblings to live in San Diego, California. Growing up, he enjoyed listening to both traditional Latin music and American R&B and hip hop.

He went to Southwest Senior High School in San Diego. With encouragement from his family, he became more interested in singing. He started performing in talent shows and at school events. He graduated from high school in 1995.

Music Career

Frankie J's first experience in the music business was in 1993. He was featured on a song called "Margarita" by a Turkish artist named Atilla. In 1997, he signed with a record label as a freestyle artist under the name Frankie Boy. However, his first solo album was never released.

Joining the Kumbia Kings

In 1999, Frankie J joined the famous group Kumbia Kings. The group was created by A.B. Quintanilla, the brother of the legendary singer Selena. While in the group, Frankie J used the nickname Cisko.

Going Solo and Finding Success

After leaving the Kumbia Kings, Frankie J signed with Columbia Records as a solo artist. He released his first album, What's a Man to Do, on May 27, 2003. The album's first single, "Don't Wanna Try", became a hit and reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. That same year, he was featured on the hit song "Suga Suga" with the rapper Baby Bash.

His second album, The One, came out in 2005 and was a huge success. It included the song "Obsession (No Es Amor)", which also featured Baby Bash. This song was a top 5 hit on the Billboard charts. Because the album sold over a million copies, it was certified platinum by the RIAA.

Frankie J released his third English album, Priceless, in 2006. The main single, "That Girl", featured rappers Chamillionaire and Mannie Fresh.

Becoming an Independent Artist

After leaving Columbia Records, Frankie J started his own record label called Soulsick Records. He continued to release his own music and also wrote songs for other artists. For example, he helped write the hit song "Take a Chance on Me" for the British boyband JLS.

In 2011, he released the album Courage. A year later, he was a special guest on a tour with Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias.

Grammy Nomination and Recent Work

In 2013, Frankie J released the Spanish-language album Faith, Hope y Amor. This album was very successful and earned him a Grammy Award nomination for Best Latin Pop Album.

He has continued to release new music over the years. In 2017, he released the album Eleven. He often works with other artists, especially his longtime friend Baby Bash.

Acting Appearances

Frankie J has also appeared on television. He was a celebrity guest on the MTV show My Super Sweet 16. In 2011, he played a mechanic named Ramon in the TV series RPM Miami.

Studio Albums

Here is a list of Frankie J's main studio albums.

See also

In Spanish: Frankie J para niños