Martin, Ricky: 1971—: Singer, Actor

Ricky Martin: 1971—: Singer, actor

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Ricky Martin was already a superstar entertainer in Latin and South American nations, beginning with his stint in the hugely popular group, Menudo. But his singing the soccer anthem at the 1998 World Cup, and a sensational performance at the 1999 Grammy Awards ceremony, propelled the singer/actor to international megastar status. A music idol since the age of 12, Martin grew to establish himself as one of the leading pop stars of the 1990s, and has been at the forefront of a new generation of popular Latin artists.

Martin was born Enrique Jose Martin Morales IV on December 24, 1971, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the first child of Enrique Martin, a psychologist, and Nereida Morales, an accountant. His parents divorced when he was two. After six-year-old Martin told his father he wanted to be in show business, he was enrolled in singing and acting lessons. He began his entertainment career on the stage by performing in the choir and in school plays, and by age eight, he was appearing in television commercials.

Joined Latin Boy Band Menudo

In 1984, after three auditions, the 12-year old landed a spot in the Latin boy-band Menudo. The band's manager, Edgardo Diaz, said of Martin in Time, "He was small, not a big singer, and his voice was not so good then. But we thought he could learn a lot by being with the group." Martin toured with Menudo as a lead singer over the next five years, performing across the globe, singing in various languages, and learning much about the music industry. He told Gloria Estefan in Interview magazine, "It was five years of discipline … That band definitely helped me keep my feet on the ground." It also made him a teenage millionaire.

Throughout his early teen years, Martin spent most of his time rehearsing, reportedly up to 16 hours a day, and recorded and toured nine months out of the year. Although the band itself was very popular, some of Menudo's former members publicly complained about their experience. In a 1998 interview with Entertainment Weekly, an ex-member described his time with the band as "abusive, exploitative, and unsavory." Although Martin himself did not claim such, he did complain that the members' own musical compositions were rejected by management. "Our creativity was stifled," he told People magazine. "We were told [the songs we wrote] were no good."

At a Glance . . .

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

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

Awards: Billboard Video Award for Best New Latin Artist, 1993; Heraldo Award (Mexico) for best actor, 1993; Billboard Award for best debut of the year, 1999; Grammy Award for best Latin pop performance, 1999; MTV Video Award, 1999; Male Pop Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Video of the Year, Ritmo Latino Music Awards, 1999; Best Selling Latin Artist, World Music Awards, 1999; Billboard Spirit of Hope Award, 2002.

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

Constant touring with Menudo also strained Martin's relationship with his family. Although his parents had joint custody, they clashed over the little time each had to spend with him. Martin said in People, "When my dreams started coming true, my parents started fighting. I had everything I ever wanted, but my family was falling apart." Martin added that his father "wanted me to choose between him and my mother. How do you ask a child that?" According to People, in 1985 Martin "so resented his father that they became estranged and he changed his name from Enrique [to Ricky]." Nearly a decade later in 1994, father and son reconciled.

Released First Solo Album

By age 17 Martin had outgrown and left Menudo, graduated from high school in Puerto Rico, and moved to New York City. "I did a lot of growing up there," he remarked in People. "In Menudo they told you what silverware to use. Suddenly I was paying my own bills." Four years later Martin moved again, to Mexico City, and renewed his acting career with a role in a telenovela, or Spanish soap opera, titled Alcanzar una Estrella (Reach for a Star). A film adaptation of the series was produced, and for his performance in the big screen version, Martin earned a Heraldo, the Mexican equivalent of an Academy Award, in 1993.

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

Fresh into Hollywood, he appeared in the short-lived NBC comedy Getting By, but it was his singing career that got him cast on the ABC daytime soap General Hospital in 1994. After an executive producer of the popular soap opera saw a tape of Martin in concert, he was asked to play the recurring role of singing bartender Miguel Morez. After his year-long stint in daytime television, Martin performed on Broadway, playing Marius in the musical Les Miserables. At the same time Martin continued to record, and released his third album, A Medio Vivir (Halfway Through Life), in 1995. He further expanded his repertoire by providing the voice of the lead character in the 1997 Spanish-language version of Disney's animated film Hercules, and acting as a celebrity spokesman for tourism in his native Puerto Rico.

Unforgettable Grammy Performance

By now Martin was a superstar in Latin and South America, but he had not yet achieved similar status in the United States, particularly with English-speaking audiences. His fourth release, Vuelve, came out in 1998 and climbed to number one on the charts in 22 countries, largely due to its smash single, "La Copa de la Vida" ("The Cup of Life"). And when it became the official song of the World Cup soccer championship that year, Martin's popularity rocketed to an international level.

It was an unforgettable performance by Martin of "La Copa de la Vida" at the 1999 Grammy Awards ceremony that opened the eyes of U.S. audiences to Martin's talent. A leather-pants-clad Martin took the stage and stole the show from Shania Twain, Sheryl Crow and Madonna. The number made news across the nation. Time wrote that Martin "performed the musical equivalent of CPR." Entertainment Weekly remarked that his performance "single-handedly goosed a very dull telecast, earning him a standing ovation." Martin himself told Billboard, "[I was] glad to let 2 million people all over the world in different cultures know who I am and what kind of music I make."

That one televised appearance did more for Martin's career in the United States than anything he had done previously. The Houston Chronicle quoted one record store manager as saying, "Ever since he appeared on the Grammys, [Martin's albums have been] blowing out the door. I don't know what those leather pants did. It just like turned everybody on." According to Rolling Stone and other sources, Martin's Grammy number increased sales of his Vuelve album by 500 percent.

Released English-Language Album

Now an international superstar and household name, Martin released his first English-language album, also self-titled Ricky Martin, in May of 1999. Produced by Rosa and Desmond Child and Emilio Estefan, who, along with Jon Secada, also wrote some of the songs, it became the fastest-selling release that year, entering the U.S. charts at number one, the best ever for a Latin artist on the mainstream pop charts. Its single, "Livin' La Vida Loca," quickly vaulted to and remained at the number one spot on the U.S. Hot 100 for five weeks. The release also included a duet with Madonna, "Be Careful," in which he sings in English while she sings in Spanish. By 2001 album sales were at 15 million worldwide, nearly half coming from the United States, with three single tracks hitting the charts, including the "Loca" follow-up, "She's All I Ever Had," which climbed to number two.

It was more than energetic pop songs that hurtled Martin into international celebrity; his sex appeal contributed as well. When asked in a Rolling Stone interview if he was comfortable with his image, Martin replied, "Sex symbol is equal to no credibility. That's something I don't want to fight with. Sexuality and sensuality are completely different things. Sensuality is something that you're born with. Am I sensual? Well, a lot of people say I am. But sexuality is something I leave for my own mirror. I don't share that with anyone."

The enormous success of his latest releases had finally planted Martin into American mainstream music, but he was now accused by some of having abandoned his Latin roots. Martin explained in USA Today, "I will never stop singing in Spanish, but this a communications business, and it's all about getting closer to cultures." During his acceptance of the 1999 World Music Award for Best Selling Latin Artist he stated, "To create music is to unite countries." And not all critics felt Martin had sold out. A music critic at Time wrote of Ricky Martin, "This is an unabashed pop album, but it's saved by its Latin soul."

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

Opened Doors for Others

Sound Loaded, released in 2000, featured the single "She Bangs," a hit overseas, but less so in America. It also featured a highly acclaimed duet with Christina Aguilera, "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely." Although it was a top ten hit around much of the world, in the United States it only reached No. 13 on the Hot 100. Billboard was critical about the album's tame reception compared to Martin's two previous releases: "The signs continue to point to massive burn-out on this artist. Unfortunately, 'Loaded' is not going to bring new luster to … his career at top 40 radio." Yet Martin's energetic live performances continued to thrill throngs of concert-goers.

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

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

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

In addition to his charitable work, Ricky Martin has continued to explore his entertainment career. He told People: "I've been working on acting. I want to go back to film and theater. But music will always be my priority. Being onstage is really what I live for. I think it's the most beautiful addiction that there is. I don't really see myself doing anything else 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, March 17, 1997; September 5, 1998; March 13, 1999; May 29, 1999; June 5, 1999; June 2, 2001; May 11, 2002; January 27, 2001; February 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; May 10, 1999; June 7, 1999; May 6, 2002.

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

San Francisco Chronicle, May 9, 1999.

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

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

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

On-line

"Artist 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