Ricky Martin's Biography
Ricky Martin is a pop singer from Puerto Rico, one of the key popularisers of Latin American music globally. His hits "Livin' La Vida Loca" and "The Cup of Life" continue to resonate on dance floors years after their release.
Childhood and Career Beginnings
Enrique Martin Morales was born to psychologist Enrique Martin Negroni and accountant Nereida Morales. His parents divorced when he was two years old. Both his parents found new love, giving Ricky a large extended family that included brothers Daniel, Eric, Fernando, and Ángel, and sister Vanessa.
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Solo Career
After school, the young artist planned to become a student at the New York School of Arts. However, life had other plans - before he could start his studies, Ricky was invited to the Mexican musical Mama Ama el Rock ("Mama Loves Rock"). He was spotted on stage by a Mexican television producer and was cast in the soap opera "Alcanzar una estrella" ("Reach for a Star").
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Breakthrough
In 1995, the English-speaking world's perception of Latin American music fundamentally changed, all thanks to Ricky Martin's new album "A Medio Vivir". Nearly half of the three million copies sold were purchased in Europe, where the title song of the album - "Maria" - was particularly beloved. This track became Ricky Martin's first international hit. In France alone, 1.4 million copies of the single were bought.
Career Peak
After performing at the 1998 World Cup, Ricky decided it was time to sing in English. So, in 1999, his first album "Ricky Martin" was re-released in English, featuring new hits. The album, purchased by 22 million listeners worldwide, also included duets with Madonna and Meja, the hit "Private Emotion" recorded with Turkish star Sertab Erener, and of course, "Livin' La Vida Loca" which became Ricky Martin's signature song for many years. This song is widely credited with sparking an international boom in Latin music and paving the way for Jennifer Lopez, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, and Thalia on the global stage.
However, the album received a rather cold reception, selling only 700,000 copies worldwide. Perhaps the trend for Latin music had passed, or new, brighter stars had emerged in the Spanish-speaking sky. Either way, Ricky Martin took a long break from recording new songs, dedicating himself to other areas of activity.
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Another single from the artist, "Vente Pa’ Ca" ("Come Here"), was released back in 2016. The music video amassed 150 million views in less than two months.
Ricky Martin's Personal Life
Ricky Martin was twice included in People's list of the most beautiful people in the world, in 2000 and 2006.
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Charity and Political Views
In 2002, the artist visited India, where he was shocked to learn about the slave trade. He personally saved three girls from being sold into slavery, and upon returning to the United States, he founded the "Ricky Martin Foundation." The main focus of the organization is to raise awareness of human trafficking on an international level and to assist victims of slave traders.
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