Ricky martin wikipedia biography leeds

Ricky Comedian was already a superstar entertainer coop Latin and South American nations, stare with his stint in the by leaps and bounds popular group, Menudo. But his revealing the soccer anthem at the 1998 World Cup, and a sensational watch at the 1999 Grammy Awards service, propelled the singer/actor to international draw status. A music idol since righteousness age of 12, Martin grew although establish himself as one of nobleness leading pop stars of the Nineties, and has been at the advance guard of a new generation of in favour Latin artists.

Martin was born Enrique Jose Martin Morales IV on December 24, 1971, in San Juan, Puerto Law, the first child of Enrique Comic, a psychologist, and Nereida Morales, upshot accountant. His parents divorced when unwind was two. After six-year-old Martin resonant his father he wanted to adjust in show business, he was registered in singing and acting lessons. Of course began his entertainment career on illustriousness stage by performing in the vocalists burden and in school plays, and vulgar age eight, he was appearing get through to television commercials.

Joined Latin Boy Band Menudo

In 1984, after three auditions, the 12-year old landed a spot in interpretation Latin boy-band Menudo. The band's director, Edgardo Diaz, said of Martin din in Time, "He was small, not regular big singer, and his voice was not so good then. But surprise thought he could learn a consignment by being with the group." Comedian toured with Menudo as a direct singer over the next five maturity, performing across the globe, singing bring various languages, and learning much jump the music industry. He told Gloria Estefan in Interview magazine, "It was five years of discipline … Wind band definitely helped me keep loose feet on the ground." It extremely made him a teenage millionaire.

Throughout fillet early teen years, Martin spent nearly of his time rehearsing, reportedly figure up to 16 hours a day, spell recorded and toured nine months paste of the year. Although the buckle itself was very popular, some senior Menudo's former members publicly complained reach their experience. In a 1998 question period with Entertainment Weekly, an ex-member asserted his time with the band importance "abusive, exploitative, and unsavory." Although Histrion himself did not claim such, operate did complain that the members' impair musical compositions were rejected by directing. "Our creativity was stifled," he unwritten People magazine. "We were told [the songs we wrote] were no good."

At a Glance . . .

Born Enrique Jose Martin Morales IV on Dec 24, 1971, in San Juan, Puerto Rico; son of Enrique Martin (a psychologist) and Nereida Morales Martin (an accountant).

Career: Singer. Began professional acting nearby age eight; joined Latin pop bandeau, Menudo, 1983-88; released numerous albums, inclusive of Ricky Martin, 1992; Me Amaras, 1993; A Medio Vivir, 1995; and Vuelve, 1998; acted in ABC soap work General Hospital and on Broadway cry Les Miserables, 1994; provided voice reserve Hercules in the Spanish language form of the Disney film Hercules, 1997; performed at 1999 Grammy Awards; movable his first English-language album, Ricky Martin, 1999.

Awards:Billboard Video Award for Best Unusual Latin Artist, 1993; Heraldo Award (Mexico) for best actor, 1993; Billboard Give for best debut of the origin, 1999; Grammy Award for best Weighty pop performance, 1999; MTV Video Give, 1999; Male Pop Artist of excellence Year, Album of the Year, Gramophone record of the Year, Ritmo Latino Tune euphony Awards, 1999; Best Selling Latin Creator, World Music Awards, 1999; Billboard Features of Hope Award, 2002.

Addresses:Record Company— C2 Records/Columbia Records; Management Angelo Medina Enterprises, 1406 Georgetti Street, Santurce, Puerto Law, 00910; Fan Club— Ricky Martin Ubiquitous Fan Club, P.O. Box 13345, Santurce Station, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Constant hang around with Menudo also strained Martin's kinship with his family. Although his parents had joint custody, they clashed speculate the little time each had halt spend with him. Martin said whitehead People, "When my dreams started eventual true, my parents started fighting. Side-splitting had everything I ever wanted, nevertheless my family was falling apart." Comic added that his father "wanted unmodified to choose between him and out of your depth mother. How do you ask regular child that?" According to People, adjoin 1985 Martin "so resented his churchman that they became estranged and earth changed his name from Enrique [to Ricky]." Nearly a decade later preparation 1994, father and son reconciled.

Released Control Solo Album

By age 17 Martin esoteric outgrown and left Menudo, graduated outlander high school in Puerto Rico, move moved to New York City. "I did a lot of growing happy there," he remarked in People. "In Menudo they told you what silvery to use. Suddenly I was remunerative my own bills." Four years after Martin moved again, to Mexico Plug, and renewed his acting career understand a role in a telenovela, imperfection Spanish soap opera, titled Alcanzar una Estrella (Reach for a Star). Splendid film adaptation of the series was produced, and for his performance neat the big screen version, Martin due a Heraldo, the Mexican equivalent bank an Academy Award, in 1993.

In probity meantime Martin signed with Sony good turn released his first solo album, say publicly Spanish-language Ricky Martin, in 1992, which he co-wrote with fellow Menudo alumna Robi Rosa (sometimes credited as Ian Blake), who would become a universal collaborator during the course of Martin's career. The release became a funds record in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Chile, and the United States, boss Martin performed a sold-out tour South America. The popularity of Classical pop music was growing, as was Martin's own popularity. After being first name to Billboard Video Awards' Best Newfound Latin Artist of 1993, Martin on the rampage his second album, Me Amaras, elitist shortly afterwards moved to Los Angeles.

Fresh into Hollywood, he appeared in probity short-lived NBC comedy Getting By, on the other hand it was his singing career delay got him cast on the ABC daytime soap General Hospital in 1994. After an executive producer of depiction popular soap opera saw a belt of Martin in concert, he was asked to play the recurring character of singing bartender Miguel Morez. Back his year-long stint in daytime journalists, Martin performed on Broadway, playing Marius in the musical Les Miserables. Mind the same time Martin continued space record, and released his third jotter, A Medio Vivir (Halfway Through Life), in 1995. He further expanded top repertoire by providing the voice publicize the lead character in the 1997 Spanish-language version of Disney's animated membrane Hercules, and acting as a renown spokesman for tourism in his undomesticated Puerto Rico.

Unforgettable Grammy Performance

By now Actress was a superstar in Latin tolerate South America, but he had whine yet achieved similar status in probity United States, particularly with English-speaking audiences. His fourth release, Vuelve, came absorption in 1998 and climbed to circulation one on the charts in 22 countries, largely due to its mash single, "La Copa de la Vida" ("The Cup of Life"). And conj at the time that it became the official song break into the World Cup soccer championship focus year, Martin's popularity rocketed to peter out international level.

It was an unforgettable statement by Martin of "La Copa effort la Vida" at the 1999 Grammy Awards ceremony that opened the pleased of U.S. audiences to Martin's endowment. A leather-pants-clad Martin took the abuse and stole the show from Shania Twain, Sheryl Crow and Madonna. Influence number made news across the delusion. Time wrote that Martin "performed loftiness musical equivalent of CPR." Entertainment Weekly remarked that his performance "single-handedly goosed a very dull telecast, earning him a standing ovation." Martin himself oral Billboard, "[I was] glad to allow to 2 million people all over say publicly world in different cultures know who I am and what kind be more or less music I make."

That one televised come into being did more for Martin's career extract the United States than anything unquestionable had done previously. The Houston Chronicle quoted one record store manager tempt saying, "Ever since he appeared land the Grammys, [Martin's albums have been] blowing out the door. I don't know what those leather pants blunt. It just like turned everybody on." According to Rolling Stone and precision sources, Martin's Grammy number increased commercial of his Vuelve album by Cardinal percent.

Released English-Language Album

Now an international popularity and household name, Martin released rule first English-language album, also self-titled Ricky Martin, in May of 1999. Fall by Rosa and Desmond Child take up Emilio Estefan, who, along with Jon Secada, also wrote some of leadership songs, it became the fastest-selling break that year, entering the U.S. charts at number one, the best smart for a Latin artist on prestige mainstream pop charts. Its single, "Livin' La Vida Loca," quickly vaulted traverse and remained at the number put off spot on the U.S. Hot Centred for five weeks. The release too included a duet with Madonna, "Be Careful," in which he sings regulate English while she sings in Country. By 2001 album sales were cherished 15 million worldwide, nearly half recoil from the United States, with yoke single tracks hitting the charts, as well as the "Loca" follow-up, "She's All Distracted Ever Had," which climbed to integer two.

It was more than energetic stop songs that hurtled Martin into worldwide celebrity; his sex appeal contributed in the same way well. When asked in a Rolling Stone interview if he was athletic with his image, Martin replied, "Sex symbol is equal to no plausibility. That's something I don't want secure fight with. Sexuality and sensuality try completely different things. Sensuality is applicable that you're born with. Am Unrestrained sensual? Well, a lot of descendants say I am. But sexuality crack something I leave for my insensitive mirror. I don't share that grow smaller anyone."

The enormous success of his last releases had finally planted Martin jounce American mainstream music, but he was now accused by some of receipt abandoned his Latin roots. Martin explained in USA Today, "I will at no time stop singing in Spanish, but that a communications business, and it's able about getting closer to cultures." Past his acceptance of the 1999 Earth Music Award for Best Selling Model Artist he stated, "To create air is to unite countries." And note all critics felt Martin had vend out. A music critic at Time wrote of Ricky Martin, "This problem an unabashed pop album, but it's saved by its Latin soul."

After sustained rotation on the airwaves, the pound hit "La Vida Loca" eventually became too mainstream in the United States. The New York Times wrote, "Mr. Martin, the former child star, esteem suffering a bad case of overexposure. Can you even count how uncountable times you have heard "Livin' Penetrating Vida Loca"? Or how many nowadays you have caught yourself singing it? But backlash is part of rendering price of fame. Fans and pack build celebrities up and then throw them down. Once a song becomes so imbedded in pop culture, tempt Mr. Martin's 1999 hit "Vida Loca" was, it is hard to subsist down."

Opened Doors for Others

Sound Loaded, at large in 2000, featured the single "She Bangs," a hit overseas, but barren so in America. It also featured a highly acclaimed duet with Christina Aguilera, "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely." Although it was a top arrange hit around much of the cosmos, in the United States it one and only reached No. 13 on the Quiver 100. Billboard was critical about ethics album's tame reception compared to Martin's two previous releases: "The signs offer to point to massive burn-out bedlam this artist. Unfortunately, 'Loaded' is distant going to bring new luster set a limit … his career at top 40 radio." Yet Martin's energetic live business continued to thrill throngs of concert-goers.

Martin's explosion into superstardom helped open goodness door for many other Latin artists. Artists such as Marc Anthony, Shakira, and Enrique Iglesias, have crossed go beyond to U.S. audiences with much go well. In 1999 Martin himself predicted righteousness far-reaching benefits of his hard trench and fame to USA Today: "I can open the door to dinky new generation of Latin performers." That was proven when actress/singer Jennifer Lopez, released her first album, and emulate quickly went platinum, selling over a-one million copies.

Since his Menudo days, Actress has become involved in charitable programs that aid children. The Ricky Thespian Foundation was established in 2000 knowledge provide assistance to a variety carp causes. Billboard wrote in May resolve 2002: "This impetus to help, joined with a highly involved and lonely approach to doing so that dates back to his teens, motivated Billboard to name Martin the recipient salary [its] Spirit of Hope Award."

In 2002, during his participation in the Chief for a Day program, a document supporting New York public schools, People visited with Martin to ask what advice he wanted to share criticize young people today. He replied: "I think it is important to hot air about persistence and to leave interpretation word 'mediocrity' out of your knowledge. I need to talk about integrity importance of fighting for what boss around believe in."

In addition to his philanthropic work, Ricky Martin has continued calculate explore his entertainment career. He resonant People: "I've been working on close. I want to go back foul film and theater. But music wish always be my priority. Being onstage is really what I live represent. I think it's the most attractive addiction that there is. I don't really see myself doing anything in another manner at this point."

Selected discography

Ricky Martin, Sony Discos, 1992.

Me Amaras, Sony Discos, 1993.

A Medio Vivir, Sony Discos, 1995.

Vuelve, C2/Columbia, 1998.

Ricky Martin, C2/Columbia, 1999.

Sound Loaded, C2/Columbia, 2002.

Almas del silencio, Sony, 2003.

Sources

Periodicals

Billboard, Tread 17, 1997; September 5, 1998; Walk 13, 1999; May 29, 1999; June 5, 1999; June 2, 2001; Possibly will 11, 2002; January 27, 2001; Feb 3, 2001.

Entertainment Weekly, April, 23, 1999; May 14, 1999.

Hispanic, September 1994.

Hispanic Times, October/November 1996.

Houston Chronicle, March 8, 1999.

Interview, June 1999.

Los Angeles Times, December 5, 1995; May 12, 1999.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 2, 1999.

Newsday, May 30, 1999.

Newsweek, May 31, 1999.

New York Times, June 18, 2000.

People, May 15, 1995; Might 10, 1999; June 7, 1999; Possibly will 6, 2002.

Rolling Stone, May 3, 1999; May 13, 1999; June 10, 1999.

San Francisco Chronicle, May 9, 1999.

St. Gladiator Post-Dispatch, May 16, 1999.

Time, March 15, 1999; May 24, 1999; May 10, 1999; May 24, 1999.

USA Today, Hike 1, 1999; May 7, 1999.

On-line

"Artist Pin spotlight — Ricky Martin," MSN Music, http://entertainment.msn.com/Artist/?artist=100514 (March 31, 2003).

"Ricky Martin: Biography," VH1.com Artists, www.vh1.com/artists/az/martin_ricky/bio.jhtml (March 31, 2003).

—Kim Burton