Many of us are who we are because of our families -- they help shape our major life decisions: where to go to college, how we get married, even what career to pursue. R&B singer Frankie J's story isn't too different from anyone else's. But instead of listening to what his family told him to do, he decided to listen to their hearts instead. The result is a musical career that took him from frustrated Latin freestyle singer to breakout solo artist with his second album, The One.

Born Francisco Javier Bautista, Jr.,the star speaks with pride about his committed and supportive family who moved him and his siblings from Tijuana, Mexico to San Diego when he was a toddler. However, that same love made them apprehensive about supporting his artistic dreams. "In the beginning it was really difficult for my pops and my moms to really understand what I wanted to do with my life," he shares. Like many parents, they wanted the best for their son; after all Bautista men had been chasing musical dreams for generations.

Frankie's musical origins stem from his late grandfather Feliciano Bautista. "My grandfather, who passed away last year in October, used to play the violin in the church," he explains. "It all started through him and his through his vision." He says his grandfather "wanted to be a famous musician, but it never really happened for him." Francisco Sr., who sang lead in a band, also had musical leanings. "My father tried to do the same thing but he married my mom, had us and basically ended up taking care of four kids," he explains.

Talking to the 25-year-old Mexican American, you hear passion in his voice. That passion propelled him to fly to Corpus Christie and audition for the Kumbia Kings, a Latin band fronted by AB Quintanilla, producer and brother of the late Tejana singer Selena. After getting the job, his family began to believe in Frankie J's musical future.

After four years of success with the Kumbia Kings, the self-taught singer and piano player released What's a Man to Do? his first solo album in 2003. When he took this path professionally, his family lent their support and encouragement. Looking back he says he is "very lucky and very blessed to have a family that's really supportive." They have seen him struggle professionally but more importantly "they've seen me get up at the same time."

Now Frankie is receiving acclaim for The One's first single, a remake of the bachata classic "Obsession (No Es Amor)." Signaling to his fans that he's an artist who is unafraid of experimenting with musical fusion. His dream is to collaborate with country superstar Faith Hill following in the footsteps of Nelly and Tim McGraw. "It would be dope to do something like that and experiment that way," he exclaims.

Frankie J is where he is because he has the drive, talent and foundation that come from his family. He embraces his Latino culture, waxing that, "if God gave you a talent and two languages, why not use the best of both worlds?" Somewhere in heaven his abuelito, with violin in hand, is happily seeing his dreams fulfilled.

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Check out Frankie J's fan site at:

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/DigginFrankieStyle/

Or check out videos for his other hits:

"Don't Wanna Try"

"Suga, Suga"