Ismael Ruiz Hernández (born October 22, 1966), better known as Maelo Ruiz, is a New York-born Puerto Rican Salsa romántica singer.Maelo Ruiz was born in New York City but at the age of 4 moved with his family to Puerto Rico where his parents were originally from. He started in music at the very young age of 16 when he began to sing in the "Escuela Libre de Música de Caguas".