Ricky Martin

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Biography

Enrique " Ricky " Martín Morales (born December 24, 1971), better known as Ricky Martin , is a Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican and Spain|Spanish Pop music|pop singer and actor who achieved prominence, first as a member of the Latin American music|Latin boy band Menudo (band)|Menudo , then as a solo artist since 1991. During his career he has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide. He is the founder of Ricky Martin Foundation (in Spanish language|Spanish Fundación Ricky Martin ), a non-profit charity organization aimed at ending human trafficking .

Martin got his start at age twelve with the all-boy pop group Menudo (band)|Menudo ; after five years with the group, he released his Spanish-language solo album, Ricky Martin (1991 album)|Ricky Martin , in 1991. He also acted on stage and on TV in Mexico , becoming a modest star there. In 1994 he starred on the American TV soap opera General Hospital , playing a Puerto Rican singer. In 1999, after several albums in Spanish, he released his first English-language album (also titled Ricky Martin (1999 album)|Ricky Martin ), which included " Livin' la Vida Loca ". The album sold 22 million copies and brought Martin international fame.. Retrieved July 16, 2011. His other studio albums include: Me Amarás (album)|Me Amarás (1993), A Medio Vivir (album)|A Medio Vivir (1995), Vuelve (album)|Vuelve (1998), Sound Loaded (2000), Almas del Silencio (2003), Life (Ricky Martin album)|Life (2005), and Música + Alma + Sexo (2011).

On the edge of the new millennium, Martin—almost by himself—gave Latino music an international face. An acclaimed performance at the 41st Grammy Awards|1999 Grammy Awards launched Martin into worldwide super-stardom. As Entertainment Weekly 's Andrew Essex reported, "his leather-pants, electro-pelvis version of ' La Copa de la Vida ' single-handedly goosed a very dull telecast, earning him a standing ovation." In 2010, Martin announced that he was a "fortunate homosexual man", ending years of fan speculation on the topic. His twin sons, Matteo and Valentino, were born via a surrogate mother in 2008. Martin also co-owns a Miami restaurant, Casa Salsa, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.

Early life

Martin was born on December 24, 1971, in San Juan, Puerto Rico , the son of Nereida Morales, an accountant, and Enrique Martín Negroni, a psychologist. His parents divorced when he was two; his father remarried. Martin has two maternal half-brothers, Fernando and Ángel Fernández, and two paternal half-brothers, Eric and Daniel Martín, and a paternal half-sister Vanessa Martín.. Celebritywonder.com. Retrieved on 2011-02-25. Martin grew up in a Catholic Church|Roman Catholic home and was an altar server|altar boy until he joined Menudo.
Martin has Spanish people|Spanish ancestry through his grandmother who was born in Spain and some Corsican people|Corsican ancestry as his paternal fourth great-grandfathers were born in Rogliano, Haute-Corse|Rogliano , Cap Corse , Corsica , and Vilanova i la Geltrú , Catalonia ( Spain ).

Ricky Martin was a member of Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican boy band Menudo (band)|Menudo between 1984 and 1989.

After completing high school, Martin left San Juan and moved to New York City . Later, Martin moved to Mexico City where he attended the national school of space. He played lead role in a 1989 musical-theatre release named Mis Tennis Rojos ( My Red Tennis Shoes ) next to Angélica Vale and then followed another theater production Mama Ama el Rock ( Mom Loves Rock ).

Career

Early solo work: 1991–1994

In 1991, Ricky Martin participated in a telenovela titled Alcanzar una estrella II next to Sasha Sokol . Out of this soap opera a musical group was formed named Muñecos de Papel in which he was one of the six members; they toured several cities in Mexico and recorded two albums. His main single was " Juego de Ajedrez ". A film based on the TV series was also produced in which Martin played Pablo, earning a Heraldo Award in 1993.

While acting in Mexico, Martin was signed to Sony Music Latin|Sony Discos , the Sony Music Entertainment 's Latin imprint, in 1990. He released his first solo album, the Spanish-language Ricky Martin (1991 album)|Ricky Martin , in November 1991, which included the hit singles: " Fuego Contra Fuego " and " El Amor de Mi Vida (song)|El Amor de Mi Vida ". Later, Ricky Martin performed a string of sold-out concert dates across South America .

In May 1993, Martin released his second solo album, Me Amarás (album)|Me Amarás , which featured a Spanish-language cover of the Laura Branigan song " Self Control (song)|Self Control ", titled " Self Control (song)#Ricky Martin version|Que Dia Es Hoy ".

Martin moved to Los Angeles , California in 1994 and landed a role as bartender and singer Miguel Morez in the American soap opera General Hospital .

Breakthrough: 1995–1998

In 1995, Martin refocused on his music career, and his third album, A Medio Vivir (album)|A Medio Vivir , became an international breakthrough. With this album, Martin made a shift from formulaic hit ballads to a more risky fusion of music centered around traditional Latin sounds, epitomized by the hit " María (song)|Maria ". The song broke Martin into Europe via Spain . "Maria" went to number one in France, Belgium Wallonia and Australia, and reached the top ten in most European countries; it even charted on the US Billboard Hot 100 , peaking at number eighty-eight.. lescharts.com. Retrieved on 2011-02-25. With the ballad " Te Extraño, Te Olvido, Te Amo ", Martin furthered his expansion from Latin American and Spanish-speaking audiences to the European and Asian markets. The album has sold over 3 million copies worldwide.

After the conclusion of a worldwide tour, Martin returned to New York to appear in a Broadway theatre production for the first time, joining the cast of the hit musical Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables to play the romantic lead, Marius Pontmercy .

While on Broadway, Martin returned to the studio and recorded his fourth album, Vuelve (album)|Vuelve (1998). The Vuelve (song)|title track and the ballad " Perdido Sin Tí " both hit number one on the Hot Latin Songs . The album's pinnacle, however, was " La Copa de la Vida ", which Martin made a major hit in an English version when he was chosen to sing the anthem of the 1998 FIFA World Cup . "La Copa de la Vida" reached number one on the charts around the world and went gold and platinum in various countries. It was awarded Pop Song of the Year at the 1999 Lo Nuestro Awards . Further singles included: " La Bomba (Ricky Martin song)|La Bomba ", " Por Arriba, Por Abajo " and " Corazonado ". Vuelve spent twenty-six weeks at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums . It became Martin's first top forty album on the Billboard 200 in the United States, where it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA . The album also went to number one in Spain and Norway, and sold over eight million copies worldwide.. norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved on 2011-02-25.

Martin was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album for Vuelve , and was booked to sing on the 41st Grammy Awards live TV broadcast. The now-legendary performance of " La Copa de la Vida|The Cup of Life " stopped the show, earning Martin an unexpected standing ovation and introducing the star to the mainstream American audience. Martin capped off the evening by winning the Grammy Award.

Crossover to English: 1999–2002

After several years as a major star in Spanish-speaking countries, Martin prepared his first English album in 1999. The Ricky Martin (1999 album)|self-titled album contained material by writers and producers such as Desmond Child , Diane Warren , William Orbit , George Noriega and his longtime childhood friend Draco Rosa . The album also featured special guests: Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna on the Spanish-English duet "Be Careful (Cuidado con mi Corazón)" and Meja on " Private Emotion ".

The first and most prominent single was " Livin' la Vida Loca ", which reached number one in many countries around the world, including the United States, United Kingdom , Canada , Ireland and New Zealand . It was followed by " She's All I Ever Had " which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 . Both tracks peaked at number one on the Hot Latin Songs . "Livin' la Vida Loca" is generally seen as the song that began the Latin pop explosion of 1999 and made the transition of other Latin artists (first Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias , then later Shakira ) into the English-speaking market easier. Ricky Martin (1999 album)|Ricky Martin became one of the top-selling albums of 1999, and was certified 7& times; platinum in the United States, selling over 22 million copies worldwide. In October 1999, Martin embarked on a very successful year-long Livin' la Vida Loca Tour .

After this success, a new English-language album, Sound Loaded , was released in November 2000. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and was certified 2& times; platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA . " She Bangs " and " Nobody Wants to Be Lonely " (duet with Christina Aguilera ) peaked at number twelve and thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. Both singles reached number one on the Hot Latin Songs. Sound Loaded has sold over 8 million copies worldwide.

In February 2001, Martin released a Spanish greatest hits album entitled La Historia (Ricky Martin album)|La Historia , which went to number one for five weeks on the Billboard Top Latin Albums and debuted at number eighty-three on the Billboard 200. It also topped the chart in Sweden for three weeks. The album contained reworkings of two of his early songs " Fuego Contra Fuego " and " El Amor de Mi Vida (song)|El Amor de Mi Vida ". In November 2001, an English-language greatest hits album, The Best of Ricky Martin was released outside North America. It contained two new remixes of " Amor (Ricky Martin song)|Amor ".

Almas del Silencio and Life : 2003–2006

In May 2003, Martin released a new Spanish album Almas del Silencio . The first single, " Tal Vez (Ricky Martin song)|Tal Vez ", debuted at number one on the Hot Latin Songs and stayed there for eleven weeks. Martin said of the new album: "I really needed to go back to focus, to my center, to the beginning. I had the need to search within, and really dig deep, and find those emotions that, because of the adrenaline and the euphoria that I lived for a couple of years, were probably sabotaged." Almas del Silencio debuted at number twelve on the Billboard 200 and reached number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums where it stayed for six weeks. The album sold more than one million copies worldwide.Adams, Steve: "Martin's World View", Billboard magazine, November 4, 2006, pp. 64–66. The next singles, " Jaleo " and " Y Todo Queda en Nada ", reached number one on the Hot Latin Songs. "Jaleo" also topped the chart in Spain for four weeks.

In October 2005, Martin released his first English-language album since 2000's Sound Loaded and the tenth album of his career. Most of the songs on the album, called Life (Ricky Martin album)|Life , were co-written by Martin. He commented on the album: "I was really in touch with my emotions. I think this album is very multi-layered, just like life is. It's about feeling anger. It's about feeling joy. It's about feeling uncertainty. It's about feeling. And all my emotions are part of this production." The album debuted at number six on the Billboard 200. The first single from the album, " I Don't Care (Ricky Martin song)|I Don't Care ", featured guest appearances by Fat Joe and Amerie . It peaked at number three on the Hot Dance Club Songs and number sixty-five on the Billboard Hot 100 . Another song from the album, " It's Alright (Ricky Martin song)|It's Alright " was re-recorded as a duet with French singer M. Pokora . It was successful in French-speaking countries, reaching number four in France.

Soon after, Martin announced his One Night Only with Ricky Martin tour. Starting in Mexico City, the tour premiered on November 15, 2005. After finishing the first leg which included Latin America and the United States, Martin performed at the 2006 Winter Olympics closing ceremony in Turin . A few days later, he announced the second leg of his world tour, which included Europe and Africa. The second leg started on April 21, 2006 in Manchester , UK, and ended on June 3, 2006 in Tel Aviv , Israel.

MTV Unplugged and a world tour: 2006–2007

On August 17, 2006, Ricky Martin taped his MTV Unplugged (Ricky Martin album)|MTV Unplugged concert in Miami. It premiered on MTV Latin America , Tr3s (TV network)|MTV Tr3s and WJPX|MTV Puerto Rico in October 2006 and was released on CD and DVD in November 2006. The album was a critical and commercial success. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums and number thirty-eight on the Billboard 200 . At the Latin Grammy Awards of 2008 , MTV Unplugged received Latin Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Album and for Latin Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video|Best Long Form Music Video . The first single, " Tu Recuerdo " which featured La Mari of Chambao , reached number one for three weeks on the Hot Latin Songs . The next single, " Pégate " peaked at number six on the Hot Dance Club Songs .

On February 19, 2007, Martin began his worldwide Black and White Tour which started with a performance at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in Puerto Rico and concluded with a presentation at the Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 14, 2007. He also recorded a duet with Eros Ramazzotti , " Non siamo soli " which topped the Italian chart for eleven consecutive weeks.

Career break: 2007–2010

After finishing his worldwide tour, Martin took a break from the music industry and focused on his private life. In November 2007, Sony Music Latin|Sony BMG Norte released Ricky Martin Live: Black and White Tour on CD, DVD and Blu-ray Disc. One year later, a Spanish-language greatest hits album was released, entitled 17 (Ricky Martin album)|17 . It was a summary of seventeen years of Martin's musical career, which included mostly Spanish-language songs.

Autobiography and a new album: 2010–present

Ricky Martin's autobiography, Me , was published on November 2, 2010. The book became The New York Times Best Seller list| The New York Times Best Seller list , debuting at number five on the Hardcover Nonfiction list. A Spanish-language edition entitled Yo was published simultaneously.

Martin's new single, " The Best Thing About Me Is You " featuring Joss Stone also premiered on November 2, 2010 and peaked at number seventy-four on the Billboard Hot 100 . The Spanish version, " The Best Thing About Me Is You|Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú " topped the Hot Latin Songs for two weeks. It was followed by a new studio album, Música + Alma + Sexo released on January 31, 2011., Billboard , October 20, 2010 It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and became the highest charting, primarily-Spanish language album in the United States, since Dreaming of You (album)|Dreaming of You by Selena .. Retrieved February 11, 2011. Música + Alma + Sexo also represents the highest ever chart debut on the Billboard 200 for a Sony Music Latin release.. Retrieved February 11, 2011. It spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums . On March 25, 2011, Martin started his Música + Alma + Sexo World Tour , which ended on November 12, 2011. The second single from the album, " Más (Ricky Martin song)|Más " was released on April 5, 2011 and peaked at number seven on the Hot Dance Club Songs . " Frío " featuring Wisin & Yandel was chosen as the third single.

17: Greatest Hits was released on July 11, 2011 exclusively in the United Kingdom.

Ricky Martin will be playing Che Guevara in popular culture#In theater|Ché in the Broadway revival of the show Evita (musical)|Evita , scheduled to begin previews on Broadway theatre|Broadway in March 2012, ahead of an opening in April 2012.. Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved on 2011-02-25.

Ricky Martin guest-starred as a Spanish teacher on the FOX TV show Glee (TV Series)|Glee episode " The Spanish Teacher " on 7 February 2012.

Personal life

In the past Martin stated he was in love with Mexican TV host Rebecca de Alba , with whom he had an on-again off-again relationship for over 14 years. They even talked of starting a family together, and at one point Martin planned on proposing.. Metro.co.uk (2007-08-02). Retrieved on 2011-02-25.
However with the release of Life in 2005, Martin confirmed he and De Alba had parted ways.

In August 2008, Martin became the father of twin boys, Matteo and Valentino. The babies were birthed by a Surrogacy|surrogate mother .. Content.usatoday.com (2008-12-10). Retrieved on 2011-02-25.

After the success of "Livin' la Vida Loca", Martin's personal life became a subject of interest due to his large gay following, and he was questioned about his sexual orientation. In a December 2000 interview with Daily Mirror|The Mirror , Martin was asked to comment on the rumors surrounding his sexuality. He replied that "I don't think I should have to tell anyone if I am gay or not, or who I've slept with or not."Sally Morgan The Mirror , 9 December 2000Sally Morgan The Mirror , 9 December 2000, as reproduced on rmtee.com Along with this, Martin reportedly stated in an interview with Plus 7 Days magazine, "If I were gay, why not admit it? I am a normal man. I love women and sex. I am a real hot-blooded Puerto Rican, but I have never been attracted by sex with a man." It has been speculated that Ricky Martin should pay compensation to his female fans, because they purchased his music believing they were buying the music of a straight man.. SameSame.com.au. Published June 9, 2009. Retrieved January 10, 2011.

On March 29, 2010, Martin publicly coming out|acknowledged his homosexuality in a post on his official website stating, "I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.", PopEater.com Staff, March 29, 2010 Martin said that "these years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within, and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed.". Rollingstone.com (2010-03-29). Retrieved on 2011-02-25. In 2010, prior to Martin coming out, Barbara Walters expressed some regret for pushing Martin in a 2000 interview to admit if he was gay. The Toronto Star quoted her as saying, "When I think back on it now, I feel it was an inappropriate question."

Martin announced on The Oprah Winfrey Show that he was in a relationship.. Oprah.com (2010-11-02). Retrieved on 2011-02-25. In 2011, during his acceptance speech of the Vito Russo Award at the 22nd GLAAD Media Awards , Martin publicly thanked his boyfriend, Carlos González Abella, an economist . on El Nuevo Día (January 1, 2012) on PopEater; Mitchell, John (March 21, 2011) Martin has also expressed support for same-sex marriage in an interview on Larry King Live , and commented on his experience of being closeted and coming out. "Everything about saying that I am gay feels right...", Martin stated, adding "if I’d known how good it was going to feel, I would have done it ten years ago."

Martin was raised Catholic, but says he is open to all sorts of religious beliefs, especially the Buddhist philosophy, although he does not identify as a Buddhist.

On November 2011, he acquired Spanish nationality law|Spanish nationality in recognition of his artistic talents and for having roots in the country-Martin's grandmother is Spanish people|Spanish , and he owns a residence in Madrid . As a Spanish citizen he can now marry his boyfriend in Spain. He said he could marry in some states of the United States, but he wanted to marry in Spain to recognize the efforts of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero|Zapatero in defense of LGBT rights.
On September 9, 2011 he sold his home in Miami for $6.3 million that he had bought in 2007 for $16.5 million.

Humanitarian work

Martin is the founder of Fundación Ricky Martin (), a non-profit organization. Among the events promoted by the foundation was a summer camp, which included Martin's personal participation.

Martin has been honored with many accolades for his humanitarian efforts including: Leadership in the Arts Award, Billboard (magazine)|Billboard s Spirit of Hope Award, ALMA Award , GLAAD Media Award|Vanguard Award , International Humanitarian Award by the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children , Hispanic Heritage Award for his humanitarian work through the Sabera Foundation in rescuing three orphan girls from the streets of Kolkata (September 2002).

Martin has also collaborated with the International Organization for Migration on the Llama y Vive ( Call and Live ), a campaign which is aimed to facilitate prevention of human trafficking, protection of the youngest victims of child trafficking, and prosecution of the traffickers. For his work against human trafficking , the United States Department of State named Martin one of its Heroes in Ending Modern-Day Slavery in 2005.

Politics

Martin was a headliner in the 2001 inauguration ball for President George W. Bush ; he even invited the newly elected president to join him on stage to dance. This image was captured by photographers and broadcast in various media throughout the world. Martin referred to it in a later song, " Asignatura Pendiente ".

Martin has since changed his position on the former President. In a concert in Puerto Rico during the song Asignatura Pendiente Martin thrust his middle finger disapprovingly in the air while singing the line "photo with Bush". The gesture met with audience approval but caused a minor controversy with the media. Martin said in an e-mail statement sent to the Associated Press via a spokesman: "My convictions of peace and life go beyond any government and political agenda and as long as I have a voice onstage and offstage, I will always condemn war and those who promulgate it"."". Associated Press , February 16, 2007.

Martin supported Hillary Rodham Clinton over Barack Obama in the landslide Clinton victory in the Puerto Rico Democratic primary, 2008|Puerto Rican Democratic primary on June 3, 2008., Los Angeles Times , February 16, 2007.

Discography

Ricky Martin (1991 album)|Ricky Martin (1991)

Me Amarás (album)|Me Amarás (1993)

A Medio Vivir (album)|A Medio Vivir (1995)

Vuelve (album)|Vuelve (1998)

Ricky Martin (1999 album)|Ricky Martin (1999)

Sound Loaded (2000)

Almas del Silencio (2003)

Life (Ricky Martin album)|Life (2005)

Música + Alma + Sexo (2011)

Filmography

1987 : Por siempre amigos (TV series) as Ricky

1990 : Alcanzar una estrella (TV series) as Pablo Loredo

1991 : Alcanzar una estrella II (TV series) as Pablo Loredo

1992 : Más que alcanzar una estrella as Enrique

1993 : Getting By (TV series) as Martin

1993 : General Hospital (TV series) as Miguel Morez (1994–1996)

1996 : Barefoot in Paradise (TV series) as Sandoval

1997 : Hercules (Spanish Language, Voice Only) as Hercules.

2002 : Les Diables as Brian Rodriquez

2003 : Ricky Martin: En la intimidad (TV) as a guest star

;Television appearances

Phua Chu Kang (2003) – as himself (guest appearance in season 6)

General Hospital (1995) (television series) – Miguel Morez (unknown episodes, 1994–95)

Alcanzar una estrella (1991) (television series)

Sos mi vida (2006) – as himself

The Oprah Winfrey Show (1999, 2004, 2005, 2011) – as himself

The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2010) - as himself

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (2011) - as himself

American Dad (2011) - as himself

Glee (TV series)|Glee (2012) - as David Martinez

Theatre

Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables (1996), Broadway – Marius

Evita (musical)|Evita , (2012), Broadway – scheduled

Tours

Ricky Martin Tour (1992)

Me Amaras Tour (1993–1994)

A Medio Vivir Tour (1995–1997)

Vuelve World Tour (1998)

Livin' la Vida Loca Tour (1999–2000)

One Night Only with Ricky Martin (2005–2006)

Black and White Tour (2007)

Música + Alma + Sexo World Tour . Twitter.com (2010-12-09). Retrieved on 2011-02-25. (2011)

Records and achievements

Martin was chosen along with Félix Trinidad in 1999, to lead Puerto Rico's worldwide tourism campaign, both exemplifying Puerto Rico's youthfulness, enthusiasm and indefatigable character.

In February 2004, Martin received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Lo Nuestro Awards in Miami .

Martin was honored as the 2006 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences|Latin Recording Academy on November 1, 2006. He was chosen for his accomplishments as a world renowned entertainer, consummate performer and passionate humanitarian. A portion of the proceeds from the evening's tribute dinner was used for benefitting Ricky Martin's charitable efforts.

On October 16, 2007, Martin received the 2351st Hollywood Walk of Fame star, shortly after receiving the Freedom of the City|key to the city of Miami Beach, Florida on October 11. The star is located beside the Hollywood and Highland complex. Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Rita Moreno were invited to the unveiling ceremony.

In 2011, Martin was awarded Spain|Spanish citizenship to honor his contributions to the arts.

In addition to the numerous awards received throughout his musical career, Martin has also been honored with many accolades for his humanitarian efforts.

Copyright Citations

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