Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin is a Puerto Rican singer, actor and author from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Born Enrique Martin Morales in 1971, he first comes to prominence as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo, where he performs from 1984 to 1989 before building a solo career from 1990 onwards. He is widely described as the King of Latin Pop and is associated with the development of Latin pop crossover success in international markets.

Career beginnings and Menudo

Martin attends Sagrado Corazón School and takes part in school activities, including the choir, where he begins to recognise the effect of his singing on audiences. Encouraged by his father, he takes voice lessons and auditions for television advertising. He joins Menudo as a replacement for Ricky Melendez and achieves his first major international exposure with the group. His early rise includes a first concert in Caguas, the band’s home base.

Solo work and international breakthrough

After leaving Menudo, Martin continues in Mexico City, where he works in theatre productions such as Mamá ama el rock and Los tenis Rojos with Angélica María and Angélica Vale. He also appears in the telenovela Alcanzar una Estrella and performs with the production’s music group, Muñecos De Papel. He later moves to Los Angeles and appears in General Hospital as bartender Miguel Morez.

He signs with Sony in 1990 and later establishes himself in Miami, working with Desmond Child, former Menudo bandmate Robi Draco Rosa and Puerto Rican agent Angelo Medina. With them he creates songs including “María”, “The Cup of Life” and “Livin’ La Vida Loca”. “The Cup of Life” brings him wide visibility through a World Cup broadcast, while “Livin’ La Vida Loca” becomes a major crossover hit.

Albums, collaborations and releases

Martin sells over 95 million albums during his career. He records “Cuidado” with Madonna and William Orbit, a Spanglish ballad that stands out as one of the high points of his catalogue. His album Life becomes his first English-language release since Sound Loaded and the tenth album of his career. Most of its songs are co-written by Martin, and it debuts at number six on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. The album includes “I Don't Care” with Fat Joe and Amerie, with a Spanish version titled “Qué Más Da”.

Public profile and recognition

In 1999, Martin and Félix Trinidad lead Puerto Rico’s worldwide tourism campaign. He receives a Lifetime Achievement Award at Premios Lo Nuestro in Miami in 2004. In 2006, he performs at the Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony in Turin.

Foundation work and personal life

Martin creates the Ricky Martin Foundation and its People For Children project, which aims to end the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children worldwide. He holds a first benefit event in Mexico City in 2005. He also adopts three girls from India. In 2010, he publicly states that he is gay.

Associated acts and genres

His work spans pop, latin, latin pop, dance, ballad, dance-pop, electro latino and electropop. He is associated with Menudo and Artists for Haiti.