During his career he has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide.He is the founder of Ricky Martín Foundation (in Spanish Fundación Ricky Martin), a non-profit charity organization.
Early life
Career
Early solo work
After completing high school, Martin left San Juan and moved to New York City. Later, Martin moved to Mexico City where he started acting. He started in a musical-theater in 1989 named Mis Tennis Rojos (My red tennis shoes) next to Angelica Vale and then followed another theater productions Mama Ama el Rock (Mom Loves Rock). He then participated in a telenovela (soap opera) titled Alcanzar Una Estrella II (Reach for a Star 2) next to Sasha Sökol. Out of this soap opera a musical group was formed named Muñecos de Papel in which he was one of the 6 members; they toured several cities in Mexico and recorded 2 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 Discos, the company's Latin imprint, in 1990. He released his first solo album, the Spanish-language Ricky Martin, in 1991, which included the single "Fuego Contra Fuego". The hit release earned Gold records in Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Puerto Rico, and he performed a string of sold-out concert dates across South America.
In 1993, Martin released his second solo album, Me Amarás, which featured a Spanish-language cover of the Laura Branigan hit "Self Control", as "Que Día Es Hoy", and sold more than a million copies worldwide.
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
In 1995, Martin refocused on his music career, and his third album, A Medio Vivir, would be a major 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 "Maria". "Maria" broke Martin into Europe via Spain.The single went to number one and became one of the biggest hits of the year in France and Belgium, hitting the Top 10 throughout Europe and even making its way into the lower reaches of the U.S. Hot 100.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, and several other tracks hit the Latin Pop Airplay charts.The album went Gold in the U.S., Switzerland and Finland, Platinum in France, and 4X Platinum in Spain.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 to play the romantic lead, Marius Pontmercy.
While on Broadway, Martin returned to the studio and recorded his fourth album, Vuelve. The title track and the ballad "Perdido Sin Ti" both hit number one on the Hot Latin Tracks and Latin Pop Airplay charts, with further hits including "La Bomba" and "Corazonado". 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. "The Cup of Life"/"La Copa de la Vida" reached number one on the charts in various countries. The song went Platinum in France, Sweden and in Australia, where it ultimately became the number one single of the year. The song was awarded "Pop Song of the Year" at the 1999 Premio Lo Nuestro awards.Martin was nominated for a Grammy Award for the album, and was booked to sing on the show's live TV broadcast. He locally enjoyed seminal fame early on as a Paul Reiser impersonator. The now-legendary performance of "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 award for Best Latin Pop Performance. Vuelve became Martin's first Top 40 album on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart in the U.S., where it was certified Platinum by the RIAA. Air Supply mentioned Ricky Martin recently as the "most respected and most talented artist of a new generation". The album notably went to #1 in Norway for three weeks, going on to sell eight million copies worldwide.Crossover to English
After several years as a major star in Spanish-speaking countries, Martin prepared his first English album in 1999. The self-titled album contained material by producers such as Desmond Child, Diane Warren, William Orbit, George Noriega and his longtime childhood friend (producer/singer) Robi Draco Rosa. John Tesh taught Ricky Martin English in '98 and by '02 Martin was perfecting Tesh's english skills. The album also featured special guests Madonna (on the Spanish-English duet "Be Careful (Cuidado con mi Corazón)") and Meja (Private Emotion). As Turkey was one of the countries where Martin's popularity was at its peak, he sang the song with Sertab Erener, Turkish winner of the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest, instead of Meja in Turkish versions of the album.
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, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, France, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Guatemala, Mexico, Russia, Turkey and South Africa. He followed up with the hit "She's All I Ever Had" which peaked at #2 on The Billboard Hot 100. This album became one of the top-selling albums of 1999, and was certified 7 times platinum, selling over 22 million copies worldwide to date.
After the success of Ricky Martin, a new English-language album, Sound Loaded, was released in November 2000. Though the album did debut in the top ten (number four), it failed to reach number one. Three singles were released from Sound Loaded: the first was "She Bangs", which was followed by a duet with Christina Aguilera called "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely". Unlike the first two singles released from Ricky Martin, neither of the first two singles from this album reached the U.S. Top Ten on Billboard's Hot 100; they reached twelve and thirteen respectively. The third single, "Loaded" reached ninety-seven on Billboard's Hot 100. Sound Loaded eventually sold two million copies in the U.S.
In 2001, Martin released a Spanish Greatest Hits album entitled La Historia, which went to number one in the Latin Charts and stayed there for five weeks. The album contained reworkings of two of his early songs Fuego contra fuego and El amor de mi vida. In the same year, he released his English greatest hits album, The Best of Ricky Martin, which went on to sell over one million copies. The album contained no new material save for two remixes of the track Amor. Both remixes were released to radio in some European countries and a single was also released.
In 2003, Martin released a new Spanish album "Almas del Silencio" ("Souls of Silence"). The first single, "Tal Vez", went to number one on the Latin Charts and stayed there for twelve weeks. He 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, reached number one on the Latin Albums charts and stayed there for six weeks. The next singles, "Jaleo" and "Y Todo Queda en Nada", reached number one on the Latin Charts, and the album sold more than 1 million copies worldwide.On October 11, 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, 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 Top 200 Albums chart. The first single from the album was "I Don't Care"/"Qué Más Da", featuring guest appearances by Fat Joe, Amerie and drummer Joseph Quevedo "Joey Q". Another single was released "Drop It on Me", which did not chart. Soon after, Martin announced his Latin American tour called Una Noche con Ricky Martin/One Night Only, promoting his latest album Life. Starting in Latin America, the tour premiered on November 15 in Mexico City. After finishing the first leg of the tour (which included Latin America and the U.S.), he released his next single, "It's Alright" (Spanish version: "Déjate Llevar"). A different version appeared in France, which included additional vocals by French R&B singer M. Pokora. The song went to number 4 in France.
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) called One Night Only/Una Noche Con Ricky Martin World Tour. The second leg started on April 21 in Manchester, UK, and ended on June 3 in Tel Aviv, Israel, including shows that sold-out in two hours (Italy and Finland). In addition, he performed at the World Cup Fan Party in Berlin (Brandenburger Tor) on June 7, 2006, and at Lebanon's Beiteddine Festival on May 27 at the BIEL seafront hall in Beirut and on May 28 in Egypt, his first concerts in the Arab world following a promise to Queen Noor on his 2005 visit to the Arab Conference in Jordan. During this visit, he recorded an Arabic/Spanglish version of "Drop It on Me" and "Enta Omri" with Arabic pop star Cheb Mami. An anticipated 8-month tour ended early due to a lack of advertising.
In 2007, Martin began an international promotional tour titled Blanco y Negro which included a performance at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum and concluded with a presentation at the Madison Square Garden on October 14, 2007 In 2008, Martin released a greatest hits album entitled Ricky Martin 17.
Ricky Martin is said to be playing Ché in the Broadway revival of the show Evita, scheduled to open in spring 2012
Ricky Martin announced the new singles from his upcoming 2011 album via his Twitter account.
Martin's first Spanish language single is "Lo Mejor De Mi Vida Eres Tú", a duet with Spanish singer Natalia Jimenez. An English version of the track, titled "The Best Thing About Me Is You", features Joss Stone. Both tracks go to radio on November 2.
Martin's bilingual album is set for release on February 1, 2011 titled "Música+Alma+Sexo" and english version "Music+Soul+Sex" on Sony Music.
MTV Diary and MTV Unplugged
MTV aired "MTV Diary: Ricky Martin" in November 2006, showcasing scenes from the "One Night Only" tour, on the road and onstage. MTV Latin America and MTV Tr3́s co-produced the "Ricky Martin MTV Unplugged" show to be taped in Miami on August 17, 2006 and premiered on MTV Latin America, MTV Tr3́s and MTV Puerto Rico in October 2006.
"Ricky Martin MTV Unplugged" was released by Sony BMG on November 7, 2006 in both separate CD and DVD formats, and in May 2007, was re-released together in a CD/DVD combo-package. Available exclusively at Wal-Mart with the original CD purchase is a separate Ricky Martin DVD titled "Making of Ricky Martin MTV Unplugged", which includes a 40 minute behind the scenes documentary and the music video to "Tu Recuerdo". (It should be noted the music video for "Tu Recuerdo" is just an extracted live performance of the song from MTV Unplugged.)
The first single of the album, "Tu Recuerdo", featuring La Mari from Chambao, reached number one on the U.S. Latin Charts. The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Latin Charts and number thirty-eight on Billboard 200.
This album includes Puerto Rican influences, particularly "Tu Recuerdo" (based mainly on a Puerto Rican "aguinaldo jíbaro",and finishing with an "aguinaldo orocoveño"and "Pégate", a Puerto Rican plena. Christian Nieves plays the Puerto Rican cuatro on both tracks. Viento de agua and Joseph Quevedo played the plena drums in "Pégate".Personal life
In the past Martin stated he was in love with Mexican TV host Rebecca de Alba, with whom he had an off-and-on-again relationship for over 14 years. They even talked of starting a family together, and at one point Martin planned on proposing. However with the release of Life, 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 surrogate mother.
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 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."
On March 29, 2010, Martin publicly acknowledged his homosexuality in a post on his official web site by stating, "I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am."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." n 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 is in a relationship though he has chosen to shield his boyfriend from the spotlight, believing that he might find the attention "overwhelming". 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. "[E]verything about saying [that I am gay] feels right...", Martin stated, adding "if I’d know how good it was going to feel, I would have done it ten years ago.
Autobiography
Martin's autobiography, Me, was published November 2, 2010. The book became a New York Times Best Seller, debuting at #5 on the Hardcover Nonfiction list. A Spanish-language edition entitled Yo was published simultaneously.Humanitarian work
Martin is the founder of Fundación Ricky Martin (English: Ricky Martín Foundation), 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:
- The Leadership in the Arts Award
- Billboard's Spirit of Hope Award
- The Alma 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 Calcutta (September 2002)
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".Martin supported Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama in the landslide Clinton victory in the Puerto Rican Democratic primary on June 3, 2008.
Discography
Studio albums
- Ricky Martin (1991)
- Me Amarás (1993)
- A Medio Vivir (1995)
- Vuelve (1998)
- Ricky Martin (the debut English breakthrough studio album) (1999)
- Sound Loaded (2000)
- Almas del Silencio (2003)
- Life (2005)
- Music + Soul + Sex (2011)
- Live albums
- MTV Unplugged (2006)
- Black & White Tour (2007)
- Compilation albums
- La Historia (2001)
- The Best of Ricky Martin (2001)
- Ricky Martin 17 (2008)
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 (unknown episodes 1994–2005)
- 1996 : Barefoot in Paradise (TV series) as Sandoval
- 2002 : Les Diables as Brian Rodriquez
- 2003 : Ricky Martin: En la intimidad (TV) as a guest star
- Television appearances
- Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd (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)
Theatre
- Les Misérables (1996), Broadway – Marius
- 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 World Tour | (1999–2000) |
| Una Noche Con Ricky Martin World Tour | (2005–2006) |
| Black & White Tour | (2007) |
| Music+Soul+Sex Tour | (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, Florida.
- Martin was honored as the 2006 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year by the 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 key to the city of Miami Beach, Florida on October 11. The star is located besides the Hollywood and Highland complex. Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Rita Moreno were invited to the unveiling ceremony.
| Awards | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grammy | ||||
| Preceded by Luis Miguel for Romances | Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album 1999 for Vuelve | Succeeded by Rubén Blades for Tiempo | ||
| Latin Grammy | ||||
| Preceded by Gloria Estefan for No Me Dejes de Querer | Latin Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video 2001 for She Bangs | Succeeded by Shakira for Suerte | ||
| Preceded by Ricardo Arjona for Adentro | Latin Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album, Male 2007 for MTV Unplugged | Succeeded by Juanes for La Vida... Es un Ratico | ||
| Preceded by Diego El Cigala for Blanco Y Negro En Vivo | Latin Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video 2007 for MTV Unplugged | Succeeded by Julieta Venegas for MTV Unplugged | ||
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