​Q - Please tell us about your childhood and your beginnings?
A - Well I grew up in Castle Hill (in the Bronx), went to I.S.131 and lived the city life, you know, culturally hispanic but my neighborhood was diverse with different nationalities. I grew up as a Bronx girl and eventually went off to Stevenson H.S.. My best friends lived in the housing projects so I hung out there (The Randell Ave. Projects) also Brook Ave., hung out with my fly boys crew and the Brooklyn boys as the club scene emerged heavily in the Bronx and the other boroughs, we would hit The Roxy, Gotham's East as well as West, Ones etc...listening to The Fatboys, Kurtis Blow, Run DMC, even out there at St. Mary's Park. I knew that at the time, the South Bronx was the center of the evolution of music that I was really proud of.                                                                                                                                                                                              
Q - When did you realize that music was going to be important to you and your life?​
A - As a kid I was very shy and I would be taken to East Harlem (El Barrio) and tour the record shops, this became an eye opener as I realized at a young age that many of the greats were Hispanic like La Lupe, Tito Puente,  El Gran Combo, Celia Cruz, Willie Colon etc.......so it made me believe, there is a chance and that chance came one day when I was asked to sing a duet, it would be my first public appearance. I remember as a kid I would tape myself as a singer. (Stacy Lattisaw, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, The 3 Degrees, etc..) In High School this girl who had it in for me or just didn't like the challenge, performed as did I and as she was hitting a certain pitch she cracked and I'll never forget Natalie Cole "Inseparable", well as a result she apologized and I had to be humbled and except her apology. I set my sights on Lehman College at 17yrs. Old and majored in Broadcasting communication in journalism and minored in Performing Arts.  Though my powers that be at the time were against singing as a career, I was singing and knew music was in me since the age of 5yrs old.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
Q - Well your off to college and then at what point did this music career come around?
A - I was 18yrs old and was working at a T.S.S. Department store in the Bronx.  It so happened that Little Louie Vega worked there as well, back then he was a D.J. just starting to produce. Listen, I even (at the time) auditioned for this funk band. I have to say that I was discovered at PC's Willies Bar were my voice got me noticed, a contract and I signed it.
Q - So this was the beginning of your freestyle music adventure?
A - No, shortly after, I met a man by the name of Eddie Mercado who wanted me to get out of that contract and wanted to give me a record deal. It was during my early career with the label Midnight Sun that put me in contact with people like Tommy Musto.  As we were pitching out Idea's I wanted to give it a Supremes look.  I let them know that I'll do it if I had a group type setting and that's how Midnight Sun had gotten "Leather & Lace" to emerge on the label.
Q - What was your first recorded track?
A - Well I wanted to put out my own work and I knew that I loved to do poetry so lyrics wasn't a problem with me (I had written hundreds and hundreds of songs and poems), I got together with Jason Torres and on the staircase of my mother's house we wrote the lyrics to "Tender Heart".  Then the other girls were put together, we held auditions. We had Leather & Lace which was Lottie Dah (did Backgrounds), Mayra Resto, and myself (Lead Vocals), and yes "Tender Heart" was my first recorded record and the rest is history.
Q - Why the name leather and lace?
A - Oh....cause of the way I dressed, 1985 and the latin hip-hop

was our latin Madonna dress code back then.
Q - Tell us about that experience?
A - It was amazing at the time and we knew that this latin hip hop / freestyle

thing was about to blow up big.  We recorded "Tender Heart",  "Let Your Body Go", 

"Rock Me Shake Me"  and as we traveled and performed in New York, N.Y. City Djs

kept us on the top of the charts and we kept hitting city after city.  Miami, Boston,

Phillie, Conn., New Jersey and Chicago just to name a few.  We were everywhere!

We were there with the likes of the freestyle world;  Safire, Expose, Judy Torres,

TKA, George Lamond, etc.....it was unreal!! Then came the big Miami Freestyle

Explosion and it took off like a rocket.
Q - What were the mistakes made along the way?
A - This business is serious and only the strong will survive.  I eventually went

solo and recorded "We Can Work It Out" which did very well for me , "Band Of Gold"

and a slew of others but you have to be careful in this business and always be on

your toes. First I had power of attorney which helped me a great deal but today I

advise to please be protected and do not sign anything without a lawyer present,

learn the business as it is very important. I do it today for the love of song and not

for the love of the game cause you will lose yourself along the way (I did).
Q - Let's fast forward a bit and tell us about a play that you wrote and directed after all the experience of the music craze. How did this happen?
A - Well John, 18yrs ago,  after my life was in a twisted and confused state, I was born again in Christ our Lord and I wrote "Were You There?" a play which was inspired by my own life experiences (could call it a Bio). As I attended The Crossroads Tabernacle Church in Castle Hill for outreach, I have also reached out  my love for My Lord and I became an actress who played the girlfriend in the Nicky Cruz story - "Run Baby Run" and toured N.Y., Milwaukee, Houston, (for three Summers) and was with the Harvest Church in the Bronx for years as well. It gave me back a self worth like no other and inspired me to touch lives.  Made me selective and kept me positive til this day. (salvation is the most beautiful thing in the world).
Q - Who inspired your singing early on?
A - Barbara Streisand
Q - What makes Arlene happy?
A - Knowing that today I'm doing the Lord's work in all aspects of my life, entertainment, my internet show "Adelante With Arlene", new book that I've published, and the "My Thoughts" inspirational blogs on youtube.  it's all about serving my Lord and giving back.  Allowing God to use me as a vessel to display his works on Unidos Magazine inspirational segment has been an honor as well as a blessing for latinos all over the world. In 2008 my decision to get back into the business (music) and perform once again wasn't easy and through prayer I was given my goals and script to live my life, but in the Lord it is different and there is a guideline and a wonderful sense of peace that brings out the best in me.  I sing knowing that it is a gift from God and it makes me humble and loved. That is the most important feeling in the world, to feel loved by your creator -amen!!

This is our fast question round, where I ask you a series of questions and you tell me what comes to mind .
                                                                                                                                                                                                  ​Favorite color? red. Favorite Dish (food)? asian food & pastelon. Favorite book? the Bible.  Favorite dream vacation? Greece. Favorite T.V. program as a child? Flinstones / I Dream Of Jeanie.  today? Dancing With The Stars / The Voice.  Favorite movie? Facing The Giants / City Of Angels.  Favorite actor? Will Smith.  Favorite actress? Marilyn Monroe.  Favorite recording artist * male? Marc Anthony.  female? Barbara Streisand. group? The Three Degrees. Favorite song you've ever recorded?  "Tender Heart". If you were in a foxhole (at war) who would you want beside you watching your back?  God / Jesus.
Q - You have a "My Thought's" book out, tell us who encouraged you to right this book?  
A - Well my fans and the many who have been inspired by my blogs and my internet work. I have many of them published on Unidos Magazine inspirational segment and youtube so the many fans as I have a great following really motivated me to share them in a book.
Q - Give us one of your most awkward moments that you laugh about today?
A - Well (she laughs) in 1988 we (about twenty freestyle artists) were flying out to a big concert in Boston. Some artist that performed there prior mentioned the floor of the stage and that with certain type shoes it could get slippery, the stage had these black shiny tiles that didn't look bad at all. The stage must've been shallacked and I had these high heels well I slipped on stage and kept performing (very professional) but it was very awkward as well as embarrassing (she continues to laugh).
Q - What have you been up to lately and what lies ahead for Arlene Ramirez?
A - Well I have been called in 2008 to perform again on stage as a singer and to inspire. I have really been extremely active in all facets of abuse, whether it be substance, verbal, physical, emotional etc..... and believe that we should use our own life's experiences to teach and help others find that lighted path on the other side of the storm. ​
I have also administratively focused and used all of today's technology like facebook, youtube, blogs, books, magazines, even on stage to touch and inspire many. I have been with an outreach that gives new generations as well as our own, a chance to find the most important part of there lives..........themselves through Christ.​
I know that this is my life's journey and that the Lord is using me today to change even one of the many. You know something that I didn't have at the beginning of my career?.........and that is satisfaction, touching lives and being an inspiration. ​
I now can say that I have come full circle. God has given me what nothing in this world will ever come close to and that is the knowledge and wisdom to know his unconditional love for me. ​
Now that is satisfaction, so as God continues to bless me through life I will continue to honor and give my service to my Lord........................................... (JOHN R.)-"You Go Girl"!!!!!!!!!​