Growing up in San Diego he became a freestyle artist under the stage name Frankie Boy in the late 1990s. After his debut freestyle album was shelved, he joined Kumbia Kings. Frankie J’s solo debut album, What’s a Man to Do, was released in 2003, followed by more English and Spanish language albums. He received his first Grammy Award nomination for his album Faith, Hope y Amor in 2013 for Best Latin Pop Album.