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Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin


Ricky Martin was born on December 24, 1971 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His parents divorced when he was just 2 years old. As a child, he sang in the choir and performed in school plays. When the boy was six, he told his parents that he wanted to be in the show business. He took professional singing and acting lessons and at the age of 13 became a member and a lead singer of the popular Latin band Menudo. For five years Ricky was with Menudo. He says that it was like being in the army. “You are told what to say, how to act and dress. You lose your personality.”
At the age of 17 he quit the band and moved to New York. In 1909, Ricky went back home to Puerto Rico, where he finished high school.
In 1991 appeared his first album. It was an immediate success in Latin America. Two years later, he produced Me Amaras, which was an even bigger hit. His first 2 albums together sold over 1.5 million copies.
In 1994, Ricky joined the cast of the soap opera General Hospital. He also played the part of Mario in Les Miserables, a Broadway play, based on Victor Hugo’s famous novel.

Ricky Martin

In 1995, Ricky recorded his third album, A Medio Vivir, with the famous song Maria, which went to No 1 in 28 countries and brought Ricky success in non-Spanish speaking countries. His fourth album Vuelve has sold more than 5 million copies worldwide.

Ricky Martin in his youth

Ricky Martin in his youth


Ricky has nearly died three times. In 1993, while filming a video for the Me Amaras album, the motorcycle that he was riding, smashed into a harrier and caught fire but he only bruised a leg. Ricky escaped death when a plane he had just got off crashed after taking off again, killing the pilot. Ricky also survived a horrible crash in Buenos Aires, when his car was rammed by a truck. Once again, he only had minor injuries.

The singer doesn’t like sea food and is afraid of snakes.

Ricky Martin and his children

Ricky Martin and his children