Enrique Martín Morales, known professionally
as Ricky Martin,
is a Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, and actor. He is known for his musical versatility, as his discography spans multiple genres, including Latin pop, pop, dance, reggaeton, and salsa. Dubbed the "King of Latin Pop", the "King of Latin Music", and the "Latin Pop God", he is regarded as one of the most influential artists in the world. Born in San Juan, Martin began appearing in television commercials at the age of 9 and began his musical career at age 12, as a member of Puerto Rican boy band Menudo. He started his solo career in 1991 while in Sony Music Mexico, gaining recognition in Latin America with the release of his first two studio albums, Ricky Martin and Me Amaras, both of which were focused on ballads.
Martin's third album, A Medio Vivir, helped him rise to
prominence in European countries. The chart-topping single "María",
incorporated a mixture of Latin music genres and became his first international
hit. His international success was further solidified with his fourth album,
Vuelve. The album, which earned Martin his first Grammy Award, spawned
chart-topping hits "Vuelve" and "La Copa de la Vida".
Martin performed the latter at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, which was greeted
with a massive standing ovation and is known as a game-changer for Latin music
worldwide. His first English album, Ricky Martin became his first US Billboard
200 number one. The lead single "Livin' la Vida Loca" is considered
to be Martin's biggest hit, topping both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK
Singles Chart. Martin's success in the late '90s is generally seen as the
beginning of the "Latin explosion". He has been credited for getting
Latin pop music genre to mainstream recognition, paving the way for a large
number of Latin artists to achieve global success.
Martin has since established his status as a sex symbol and
a pop icon, releasing several successful albums, including all-time Latin
bestsellers Almas del Silencio and MTV Unplugged, as well as Grammy Award
winner A Quien Quiera Escuchar. He has also amassed many successful singles and
chart-topper hits, including "She Bangs", "Nobody Wants to Be
Lonely", "Tal Vez", "Tu Recuerdo", "La
Mordidita", "Vente Pa' Ca", and "Canción Bonita". As
an actor, Martin gained popularity and stardom for his role in the hit soap
opera General Hospital, while his portrayal of Antonio D'Amico in The
Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story marked the acting
opportunity of his career, garnering him an Emmy nomination. He also starred as
Ché in the Broadway revival of the musical Evita in 2012, which broke the
theatre's box-office sales record seven times.
Having sold over 70 million records worldwide, Martin is one
of the best-selling Latin music artists of all time. He has scored 11 Billboard
Hot Latin Songs number-one songs, and won over 200 awards, including two Grammy
Awards, five Latin Grammy Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, two American
Music Awards, three Latin American Music Awards, three Billboard Music Awards,
nine Billboard Latin Music Awards, eight World Music Awards, fourteen Lo
Nuestro Awards, a Guinness World Record, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of
Fame. He is ranked among the Greatest Latin Artists of All Time, the Greatest
Music Video Artists of All Time, and the Most Influential Latin Artists of All
Time by Billboard. His philanthropy and activism focus on LGBT rights and
fighting against human trafficking; in 2004, he founded The Ricky Martin
Foundation, a non-profit, non-governmental organization that focuses on
denouncing human trafficking and educating about the crime's existence.
Life and career
1971–1982: Early life
Enrique Martín Morales was born on December 24, 1971, in San
Juan, Puerto Rico. His mother, Doña Nereida Morales, is a former accountant;
his father, Enrique Martín Negroni, is a former psychologist who previously
worked as a regional supervisor for a Puerto Rican mental-health agency. His
parents divorced when he was two years old, and although his mother had custody
of Martin, he could also move freely between his father's house in the
middle-class suburb of University Gardens in San Juan, and his paternal
grandmother's house nearby. In an interview with People, he told the magazine
the he "never had to make decisions" about who he loved more, and he
was "always happy". Martin has two older maternal half-brothers,
Fernando and Ángel Fernández, two younger paternal half-brothers, Eric and
Daniel Martín, and a younger paternal half-sister, Vanessa Martín. Martin has
Spanish heritage of Basque and Canarian descent. As he explained to ABC, the
Martins traveled from Spain to Puerto Rico in 1779. He also has some Corsican
origin through his paternal grandmother.
Martin grew up Catholic. The people closest to him called
him "Kiki". He began singing at age six, using wooden kitchen spoons
as make-believe microphones; he often sang songs by Puerto Rican boy band
Menudo, as well as English-language rock groups such as Led Zeppelin, Journey,
and REO Speedwagon. His mother's side of the family was musically inclined and
his maternal grandfather was a poet. Martin later reflected on his time spent
with his family as a child: "Every time I find myself in front of an
audience, be it twenty people or one hundred thousand, once again I feel the
energy that consumed me back at the family gatherings of my youth." He
attended Colegio Sagrado Corazón, a bilingual Catholic grade school in
University Gardens since fourth grade and was an "average" student
there. When he was nine years old, he began appearing in television commercials
for products such as soft drinks, toothpaste, and fast food restaurants, most
notably Orange Crush and Burger King. In a year and a half, he starred in 11
commercials.
1983–1989: Menudo
After achieving moderate fame in his country for his appearances
in television commercials, Martin auditioned for membership in Menudo. Although
the executives enjoyed his dancing and singing at his first two auditions,
Martin was rejected because he was too short. By the third audition, his
persistence impressed executives, and in 1984, 12-year-old Martin became a
member. A month after joining Menudo, he made his debut performance with the
group at the Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center in San Juan. During this
performance, he inadvertently disobeyed the choreography by walking around the
stage, when it was planned that he would stay still, and was chastised by the
band manager after the show: "The mistake was such a big deal that from
that moment on, never again did I move when I wasn't supposed to move. That was
the discipline of Menudo: You either did things the way you were told or you
were not part of the group." Although Martin enjoyed traveling and
performing onstage with Menudo, he found the band's busy schedule and strict
management exhausting, and later reflected that the experience "cost"
him his childhood. Despite this, Martin acknowledged his "opportunity to
have so many amazing experiences with so many amazing people" during his
time with the group. including the Grammy-nominated Evolución and their
highest-charting and longest-running album on the US Billboard 200, Menudo. The
former featured Martin's debut single, "Rayo de Luna" and the latter
included the hit single "Hold Me". "Hold Me" became the
group's first and only entry on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at
number 62. It was ranked among the "100 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All
Time" by Billboard, the "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time"
by Rolling Stone, and the "30 Best Boy Band Songs" by Complex. and
the Argentine soap opera, Por Siempre Amigos. He also developed an interest in
philanthropy when the group became UNICEF ambassadors, often working with
impoverished children in third world countries. His experiences as an
ambassador affected him greatly and inspired him to continue working with
charities later in his life. Menudo was ranked as one of the Biggest Boy Bands
of All Time by Us Weekly in 2021. The group has sold around 20 million records
worldwide, and has been acknowledged as the "Most Successful Latin Boy
Band of All Time" by Billboard. Martin returned to Puerto Rico to
"get a break from the pressures of the group, the promotional tours, and
the constant stress of work", but although his parents' divorce had not
affected him before, suddenly began to affect him; his parents "began
fighting more than ever" and they were forcing him to "choose between
the two people in the world" he loved most. As he understood they did this
because they loved him and wanted the best for him, he "forgave all of the
pain and anger they caused" him. He graduated from the high school, and 13
days after turning 18, he moved to New York City to celebrate his financial
independence; since he was a minor during his time with Menudo, Martin was not
allowed to access his own bank accounts. The album peaked at number five on the
US Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart and spent a total of 41 weeks on the list.
It sold over 500,000 copies worldwide, was certified gold in several countries,
and spawned his first solo hit singles, "Fuego Contra Fuego",
"El Amor de Mi Vida", and "Dime Que Me Quieres". To promote
the album, Martin embarked on a successful Latin American tour, breaking box
office records, In 1994, Martin's agent encouraged him to move to Los Angeles
to act in an American sitcom called Getting By. The show was canceled after two
seasons, but soon afterward, Martin was given the role of Miguel Morez on the
popular hit soap opera General Hospital; Morez, a bartender and singer, known
for his long and flowing hair, was a Puerto Rican citizen hiding in the United
States from his lover's criminal mastermind father and created a love triangle
with his fiancé Lily Rivera and Brenda. Martin portrayed the role for two years
and gained huge popularity and stardom, becoming "one of the most-talked
about actors on the soap opera". Despite this, Martin felt he lacked
chemistry with the rest of the General Hospital cast and observed that people
treated him differently because of his Puerto Rican accent. At the time, it was
relatively uncommon for Latin actors to appear on American television, and
people suggested that he take accent reduction classes, which he refused.
1995–1997: Breakthrough with A Medio Vivir
In 1995, Martin refocused on his music career, and began
working on his third studio album, A Medio Vivir. and became a huge success; it
sold over three million copies or even seven million copies worldwide,
according to different sources, being certified gold in the United States,
platinum in France, 4× platinum in Spain, as well as many other certifications
in Latin American countries. It spawned several successful hits, including
"Te Extraño, Te Olvido, Te Amo", "María", and
"Volverás". It topped the charts in 20 countries, and has sold over
five million physical copies worldwide.
In Australia, "María" spent six weeks at number
one, topped the country's year-end chart in 1998, and was certified platinum.
The song also spent nine weeks at number one in France, and was certified
diamond, Additionally, the track reached the top 10 in the United Kingdom, and became
Martin's first entry on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. To promote A Medio
Vivir, he embarked on the worldwide A Medio Vivir Tour, that lasted for more
than two years, through which he performed 63 shows and visited Europe, Latin
America and the United States. During an interview with The Miami Herald in
1996, Martin expressed an interest in performing on Broadway. In a few days, he
received a phone call from producer Richard Jay-Alexander, and was offered the
role of Marius Pontmercy in the play Les Misérables. After the conclusion of
the A Medio Vivir Tour in Latin America, Martin returned to New York to appear
in the play in an eleven-week run. He greatly enjoyed the experience, calling
his time in the play an "honor" and "the role of life".
Martin continued to tour after the conclusion of the show's run, and noted that
his audiences were growing in both size and enthusiasm. The album became a huge
success; it sold over eight million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling
Spanish-language album in history, according to his label. Also, some sources
have reported the album's sales as six million copies worldwide. It spent 26
weeks atop the US Billboard Top Latin Albums chart and was certified platinum
by the Recording Industry Association of America. Vuelve spawned big hits,
including the title track, "La Copa de la Vida", "Perdido Sin
Ti", and "La Bomba". "La Copa de la Vida" grew to be
an international success, appearing on the charts in more than 60 countries,
Both "Vuelve" and "Perdido Sin Ti" peaked at number one on
the US Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart; the former also reached number one in
eight countries.
To promote Vuelve, Martin embarked on the worldwide Vuelve
Tour; he performed in Asia, Australia, Europe, Mexico, South America, and the
United States. Although Latin music was not important to the Recording Academy
or the mainstream music industry at the time, Tommy Mottola, then-chief of
Columbia Records, was certain about Martin's stardom and pushed hard to have
him on the Grammy Awards ceremony. During an interview with Billboard, Mottola
told the magazine about it: "There was tremendous resistance from the
Grammys. They did not want an 'unknown' to perform, yet we he had already sold
10 million copies of Vuelve worldwide. To me, that was absolutely
UNACCEPTABLE." Finally, on February 24, 1999, cavorting with a 15-piece
band alongside and a large number of dancers and percussionists, Martin
performed a bilingual version of "La Copa de La Vida" at the 41st
Annual Grammy Awards, which was greeted with a massive standing ovation and met
with acclaim from music critics. At the same night, Vuelve earned Martin his
first Grammy award, for Best Latin Pop Performance.
1999–2000: Crossover to English
In October 1998, CNN confirmed that Martin has been working
on his first English language album, following the huge success of Vuelve. The
album was titled Ricky Martin and was released on May 11, 1999, two weeks ahead
of schedule, because of the huge interest in the disc, following Martin's
performance at the Grammy Awards. Tim Devin, the general manager of Tower
Records stated about Martin: "He's always been one of our strongest Latin
artists, but interest in him has picked up considerably since that
performance." Ricky Martin debuted atop the US Billboard 200 with
first-week sales of 661,000 copies, becoming the largest sales week by any
album in 1999. It also broke the record as the largest first-week sales for any
pop or Latin artist in history, as well as any Columbia Records artist during
the SoundScan era. It was certified 7× platinum by RIAA, denoting shipments of
over seven million copies in the US and breaking the record as the best-selling
album by a Latin artist in the country. Only within three months, Ricky Martin
became the best-selling album ever by a Latin artist. According to different
sources, the album has sold over 15 million copies or even 17 million copies
worldwide. It was nominated for Best Pop Album at the 42nd Annual Grammy
Awards. and one of the best-selling singles of all time. In the United States,
it topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for five consecutive weeks, becoming
Martin's first number one single on the chart. It also spent eight consecutive
weeks atop the Canada Top Singles chart and topped the country's year-end chart.
In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number one and stayed there for three
weeks, making Martin the first Puerto Rican artist in history to hit number
one. The track was ranked as the best '90s pop song by Elle, and was listed
among the Best Latin Songs of All Time by Billboard. It was nominated for four
categories at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and
Song of the Year. Its Spanish version reached the summit of the Billboard Hot
Latin Tracks chart, and was nominated for Record of the Year at the 1st Annual
Latin Grammy Awards. "She's All I Ever Had" was released as the
second single from the album in June 1999. It peaked at numbers two and three
on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Canada Top Singles charts, respectively.
2000–2005: Sound Loaded, Almas del Silencio, and Life
While the Livin' la Vida Loca Tour had not been concluded
yet, Martin returned to the studio to record his sixth studio album, Sound
Loaded. The album was released on November 14, 2000. It debuted at number four
on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 318,000 copies. being certified
double platinum in the US. The former reached number one in seven countries,
including Italy and Sweden, as well as the top five in Australia, Canada, the
United Kingdom, and several other countries. It was nominated for Best Male Pop
Vocal Performance at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards. "Nobody Wants to Be
Lonely" was re-recorded along with American singer Christina Aguilera,
peaking at number one in five countries, as well as the top five in Italy,
Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom, among others. It was nominated for Best
Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards. In February
2001, Martin released a Spanish compilation album entitled La Historia, which
spent five weeks at number one on the Top Latin Albums chart, topped the charts
in Argentina and Sweden, and was certified quadruple Latin platinum in the
United States. Martin's seventh studio album, Almas del Silencio was released
in May 2003. It debuted atop the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart with
first-week sales of 65,000 copies, according to data compiled by Nielsen
SoundScan, breaking the record as the largest first-week sales for a
Spanish-language album in the US. The album also debuted at number 12 on
Billboard 200, tying the 2002 album, Quizás as the chart's highest
Spanish-language debut. The album also debuted at number one in "at least
13 Latin American markets" and sold over two million copies worldwide.
Almas del Silencio spawned three Hot Latin Tracks
chart-topper hits: "Tal Vez", "Jaleo", and "Y Todo
Queda en Nada". It spent a total of 11 weeks at this position, surpassing
"Livin' la Vida Loca" as Martin's longest number-one single on the
chart, and was the longest-running number one of 2003. It also topped the
charts in several Latin American markets. In October 2005, Martin released his
third English album, Life. 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". To promote Life, Martin embarked on the worldwide One Night
Only with Ricky Martin tour.
2006–2012: MTV Unplugged, Música + Alma + Sexo, and Evita
Although Martin's team and MTV had discussed an MTV
Unplugged for years, but it became more serious after Martin's the One Night
Only tour, which featured an acoustic segment. Finally, Martin taped his MTV
Unplugged set in Miami in August 2006, performing both romantic ballads and
up-tempo tropical dance songs. During the performance, he debuted three new
tracks, including "Tu Recuerdo", which was released to radio stations
as the lead single from his debut live album MTV Unplugged. The album debuted
at number one on the Top Latin Albums chart and sold over two million copies
worldwide, marking his highest-certified album in Mexico. It won two Latin
Grammy awards and was nominated for Album of the Year. "Tu Recuerdo"
reached number one in five countries, as well as the Billboards Hot Latin Songs
and Latin Pop Airplay charts. The concerts in Puerto Rico were compiled into
his second live album Ricky Martin... Live Black & White Tour. Later
that year, he released his first Italian song, "Non siamo soli" as a
duet with Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti. The song debuted at number one in
Italy and spent eleven consecutive weeks atop the chart.
In January 2011, Martin launched his ninth studio album,
Música + Alma + Sexo. The album debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200
chart, becoming the highest-charting primarily-Spanish language set since
Dreaming of You by American singer Selena. It holds the record as the
highest-charting Latin album of the 2010s, and represents the highest-ever
chart debut on the Billboard 200 for a Sony Music Latin release. Música + Alma
+ Sexo also peaked at number one in Argentina and Venezuela, as well as
Billboards Top Latin Albums. Its lead single, "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú"
reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and was nominated
for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Short Form Music Video at
the 12th Annual Latin Grammy Awards. To promote the album, Martin embarked on
the Música + Alma + Sexo World Tour in 2011. In February 2012, he appeared as
Spanish teacher David Martinez on the twelfth episode of the third season of
the American musical television series Glee, The Spanish Teacher. Martin
starred as Ché in the Broadway revival of the musical Evita from March 2012 to
January 2013. The show became a hit, breaking the theatre's box-office sales
record after only six performances. Sine then, it broke its own record six
times and was nominated for Best Revival of a Musical at the 66th Tony Awards.
The show's soundtrack album debuted at number one on Billboards cast album
chart.
2013–2018: The Voice, A Quien Quiera Escuchar, and The
Assassination of Gianni Versace
Martin served as a coach on the second season of the
Australian singing competition television series The Voice in 2013. In the same
year, he released a compilation album, entitled Greatest Hits: Souvenir
Edition, which reached number two in Australia, as well as a new single,
entitled "Come with Me", which debuted at number three in the country.
The artist then embarked on the
Ricky Martin Live tour in Australia in October 2013. He
continued serving as a coach on both the third and fourth seasons of The Voice
Australia in 2014 and 2015, respectively. In 2014, Lars Brandle from Billboard
stated in an article: "Through his high-profile slot on The Voice, Ricky's
profile in Australia has never been as big as it is right now." It
received commercial success, peaking in the top-five of Bulgaria, Mexico,
Spain, and Billboards Hot Latin Songs chart. Its accompanying music video has
accumulated over 850 million views on YouTube. Later that year, Martin released
his single "Vida" for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The song reached the
top five in Spain and on the US Hot Latin Songs chart.
In February 2015, Martin released his tenth studio album, A
Quien Quiera Escuchar. The album debuted at number one on Billboards Top Latin
Albums chart and peaked at number one in Argentina. It won the award for Best
Latin Pop Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards and Album of the Year at the
1st Latin American Music Awards. The album spawned three Hot Latin Songs top-10
hits: "Adiós", "Disparo al Corazón", and "La
Mordidita". "La Mordidita" experienced huge commercial success,
being certified 15× Latin platinum in the United States. To promote the album,
Martin embarked on the One World Tour from 2015 to 2017. He served as an
executive producer and a judge on the American singing competition series La
Banda, which premiered in 2015 and 2016 on Univision. The first season was
"looking for the next Latin boy band", while the second season was
looking for a Latin girl band. The contestants would compete for a recording
deal with Sony Music Latin and Syco Music. CNCO, known as the first boy band to
make reggaeton, was the winner of the first season. Martin became their manager
and produced the band's debut album, Primera Cita, along with Wisin; the album
debuted at number one on Top Latin Albums and featured the hit single
"Reggaetón Lento ". CNCO opened many dates on One World Tour in 2016.
In 2020, Leila Cobo from Billboard compared the group with Menudo, noting:
"Not since Menudo had a Latin boy band melted our hearts or made us dance
quite like CNCO".
On September 23, 2016, Martin released a song called
"Vente Pa' Ca", featuring Colombian singer Maluma. The song became
one of the biggest Spanish-language songs of 2016, reaching number one in seven
countries, as well as Billboards Latin Airplay, Latin Pop Airplay, and Tropical
Airplay charts. It also reached top five in Spain and on the Billboard Hot
Latin Songs, being certified quadruple platinum in Spain and diamond in Mexico.
The track was nominated for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the
18th Annual Latin Grammy Awards. The accompanying music video has received over
1.75 billion views on YouTube. Martin signed a concert residency, named All In,
to perform at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas in 2017 and 2018.
He portrayed fashion designer Gianni Versace's partner Antonio D'Amico in the
FX true crime anthology television series The Assassination of Gianni Versace:
American Crime Story, marking "the acting opportunity of his career".
The role garnered him a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A
Limited Series Or Movie at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards. Running from January
to March 2018, The Assassination of Gianni Versace received generally favorable
reviews and numerous awards and nominations, including three Primetime Emmy
Awards, four Creative Arts Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two Critics'
Choice Television Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In February 2018,
Martin released a song titled "Fiebre", featuring Wisin &
Yandel. The song was commercially successful in Latin America, reaching number
one in Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Uruguay. It also reached the
summit of the Billboard Latin Airplay and Latin Rhythm Airplay charts.
2019–present: Amici di Maria De Filippi, PausaPlay, and
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
At the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, Martin performed
"Havana", "Pégate", and "Mi Gente", alongside
Camila Cabello, J Balvin, Young Thug, and Arturo Sandoval, as the opening
performance. Martin served as a coach on the eighteenth season of the Italian
talent show Amici di Maria De Filippi in 2019. In the same year, Maluma
released a song called "No Se Me Quita" from his album 11:11, which
featured Martin. The song reached number one in Mexico and was certified
quadruple platinum in the country. The artist started recording his eleventh
studio album, initially titled Movimiento, in the second half of 2019, inspired
by the 2019 political protests in Puerto Rico. He embarked on the Movimiento
Tour in 2020. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent personal
experiences, he decided to split the tour's associated album in two extended
plays, Pausa and Play; the former was released in May 2020, while the latter is
set to release in May 2022.
Pausa was nominated for Album of the Year and won the award
for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 21st Annual Latin Grammy Awards. The second
single from the EP, "Tiburones" reached number one in Argentina and
Puerto Rico, and was also nominated for Song of the Year at the 21st Annual
Latin Grammy Awards. The film was released on Netflix on November 13, 2020, and
received generally favorable reviews. In April 2021, Martin released his hit
single "Canción Bonita" with Colombian singer Carlos Vives, which
experienced huge commercial success in Latin America, reaching number one in 12
countries. It was also nominated for Song of the Year and Best Pop Song at the
22nd Annual Latin Grammy Awards. Later that year, he embarked on his first
co-headlining tour, the Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin Live in Concert
alongside Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias. Martin released Play on July 13,
2022. The EP included singles "Otra Noche en L.A." and "A Veces
Bien Y A Veces Mal"; the former reached number one in four countries.
Artistry
Influences
As a child, Martin used to sing songs by Menudo and American
rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, Journey, and REO Speedwagon, which were what
his "older siblings were listening to at the time". While Martin and
his brothers spent their time listening to classic rock, their mother would
interrupt them to make them listen to Latin music. She brought him CDs of Fania
All-Stars, Celia Cruz, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, and Gilberto Santa Rosa
that slowly made him appreciate the richness of Puerto Rican culture. Also, she
once took them to a Fania All-Stars concert, which Martin is "beyond
grateful" for it. He expresses that thanks to her mother, those influences
had a "profound effect" on his musical career. He stated about
Madonna: "I was very influenced by her and her music. I know every
choreography of Madonna." Additionally, he mentions Carlos Santana, José
Feliciano, Celia Cruz, and Gloria Estefan as the artists who paved the way for
him, naming Feliciano as one of the people who inspired him when he was a teenager:
"I was always fascinated with his music." While growing up, he used
to ask himself if he wanted to be like the openly gay singer Elton John or he
just liked him, admiring his music, colors, and wigs. He has also cited Barbra
Streisand as an entertainer he wants to be like: "I want to be an
entertainer, not just a singer."
Musical styles and themes
Considered to be a versatile artist, Martin describes his
music as Latin pop, saying: "When you say 'Latin pop', the spectrum is so
broad, It's inevitable to not be influenced by everything that’s happening in
the industry, but always keeping your identity firm by knowing who you
are." Music critics have described his songs as Latin pop, pop, dance,
ballad, reggaeton, Latin, African, rock, salsa, flamenco, urban, samba, cumbia,
merengue, rumba, Latin funk, bomba, batucada, vallenato, dancehall, mambo,
Europop, house, disco, EDM, dance-pop, electro, techno, dubstep, world music,
Middle Eastern, folk-pop, bossa nova, pop rock, soft pop, soft rock, R&B,
gospel, jazz, trap, hip hop, doo-wop, ska, and rock' n' roll. Martin sings in
Spanish, English, Portuguese, Italian, and French. About his lyrics, Martin has
emphasized that although his music will always make the listener dance, it does
not mean his lyrics "have to be meaningless" and he sings about love
and heartbreak, as well as "things that are good for a society", such
as "freedom, freedom of expression, and social justice".
Voice
Martin possesses a dramatic tenor vocal range. Peter
Gilstrap from Variety commented that his "powerful voice" is
"capable of belt or lilt", while The Jerusalem Posts Noa Amouyal
described his voice as "soulful" and "very powerful". In
1995, Enrique Lopetegui of the Los Angeles Times noted Martin's "improved
vocal skills" on A Medio Vivir. Also from the Los Angeles Times, Ernesto
Lechner later praised his vocal for being "charismatic enough to handle
both ballads and up-tempo tunes". Similarly, Billboards Chuck Taylor
expressed "She's All I Ever Had" boasts "a versatility that contrasts
nicely" with Martin's previous single, "Livin' la Vida Loca",
labeling his vocal on the former "tender and heartfelt". Steve
Gerrard of the Montreal Rocks complimented "his vocal maturity" on A
Quien Quiera Escuchar.
Music videos and performances
Billboard labeled Martin "a video icon", and
ranked him as the 79th Greatest Music Video Artist of All Time in 2020,
stating: "From the moment he sashayed up to the mic in 'Livin La Vida
Loca' all dressed in black, and gave us that look, the Menudo alum became the
most memorable and watchable drop-dead handsome guy in pop music." He has
collaborated with various directors to produce his music videos, including
Carlos Perez, Wayne Isham, Jessy Terrero, Simón Brand, Gustavo Garzón, Nigel
Dick, Kacho Lopez, and Memo del Bosque. "Livin' la Vida Loca" was
nominated for Video of the Year at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards, making
Martin the first Latin artist in history to receive a nomination in this
category. It won a total of five awards at the ceremony, making it rank among
the videos with most wins in the history of the MTV Video Music Awards. The
explicit sexual scenes of the music video for "She Bangs" were met
with criticism from the audience; several American television stations cut the
scenes when airing the video. According to the Daily Record's John Dingwall,
with the visual, Martin ditched his teen idol image by transforming to a more
mature one. It was consequently banned in several Latin American countries,
such as the Dominican Republic. Martin told MTV News that the video represented
freedom rather than his sexuality. The video was awarded Best Music Video at
the 2nd Annual Latin Grammy Awards, Best Clip of the Year — Latin at the 2001
Billboard Music Video Awards, and Video of the Year at the 13th Lo Nuestro
Awards.
Martin has been noticed for "dance moves of his
own" and his "bon-bon shaking dance moves". Carol Sandoval from
VIX named him the "best dancer on any stage worldwide", highlighting
his hips movement and "successful turns". He was ranked as the ninth
best male dancer by the Evening Standard and the tenth Male Singer Who Can
Dance by WatchMojo, being the only Latin entertainer on both lists. Writing for
The Hollywood Reporter, Scott Feinberg introduced Martin as "an incredible
dancer". Jon Pareles of The New York Times described him as "an
all-around showman" and Varietys Peter Gilstrap called him "every
inch the showman", both recognizing his vocal abilities, while the former
also commented he is "a dancer as muscular and hard-working as anyone in
his troupe", mentioning his "likable, good-hearted character"
and "steadfast Puerto Rican pride". Music critics have mostly praised
his concerts for the choreographies, video screens, visual effects, stage,
Latin influences, and Martin's vocals, costume changes, energy, sensuality,
dance moves, and gestures, while the quality of sounds and sound mixes have
received mixed reviews. Billboards Marjua Estevez described Martin's
performance of "La Copa de la Vida" at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards
as "the most memorable Latin performance at a Grammy Awards show",
and the publication ranked it as the 54th Greatest Award Show Performance of
All Time on their 2017 list. The performance was additionally placed on a 2017
unranked list of "Top 20 Best Grammy Performances of All Time" by
Gold Derby, and on a 2019 list of "The Most Unforgettable Grammys
Performances of All Time" by InStyle.
Public image
Martin became a teen idol with his debut as a member of
Menudo, and a pop icon following global fame as a solo artist. Journalists have
written about his humble personality and "beautiful soul". Writing
for The Hollywood Reporter, Scott Feinberg introduced Martin as "one of
the most acclaimed and admired creative artists ever". Also from ¡Hola!,
Cristina Noé named him "one of the most loved artists in the world",
while a writer of Clarín named him "one of the most applauded Latin
singers on the planet". Metro Puerto Rico stated that he "raised the
name of Puerto Rico internationally". He was ranked as one of the top-10
"emerging personalities" of 2010 by Google Zeitgeist. In 2014, Gay
Star News referred to Martin as "the most famous Latin pop star in the
world", while Variety described him as "Puerto Rico's arguably most
famous son" in 2021. He is ranked as the second-most famous Latin music
artist in the United States, according to YouGov surveys in 2021.
During the 2000s, Martin was known for "guarding his
private life" and being "uncomfortable discussing intimate aspects of
his personal life"; he used to insist on asking public to focus on his
music and "steered interviewers away from his personal life".
However, he chose to live both his "professional and personal life",
making his private life public since the early 2010s. In 2021, he went on the
cover of People with the title "No More Secrets" and told the
magazine that he is "a man with no secrets", stating that he is
"more comfortable in his own skin than ever before". Martin is one of
the most followed celebrities on social media, with accounts on Instagram, Twitter,
Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. He stated about social media that he wishes he
had "something as powerful as" them since his debut: "Obviously
I like to have direct contact with the public, with the media. It's extremely
important, but today, from my home, I can talk to millions of people and see
their immediate reaction." He is noticed for his friendly interactions
with his fans, who are called "Sexy Souls". Wax statues of Martin are
on display at the Madame Tussauds wax museums in San Francisco, Sydney, and
Orlando. The last one was moved from Las Vegas to Orlando for the opening of
the museum in spring 2015.
Fashion
Martin is considered to be a sex symbol, and journalists
describe him as "the Latin heartthrob". His fashion and style
evolution, from "as '80s as you'd expect" during his time with Menudo
to "a style groove, often opting for sharp, tailored suits with clean
lines" since 2009, has been noticed by the media. Natalia Trejo from
¡Hola! described him as "one of the most stylish Latin men in the
entertainment industry", highlighting his "baggy leather pants",
"tailored suits", and "color-block blazers" that have
marked "some of the noteworthy trends of each decade". The reviewer
also commented that Martin is "an example of mixing business with casual"
and has "always had a personal sense of style". JD Institute of
Fashion Technology views Martin as a fashion icon, praising him for
"pushing the fashion boundaries with every new look". In 1997, he
went on the cover of People en Españols first edition of 25 Most Beautiful; he
has since "been a constant presence" on their 25 or 50 Most Beautiful
lists. Two years later, he was featured on the cover of both Rolling Stone and
Time magazines.
Martin is considered to be one of the sexiest men in the
world, according to various publications. In 2012, he was voted the sexiest man
alive on Broadway.com. The following year, VH1 ranked him as the 28th Sexiest
Artist of All Time, stating: "Ricky looks like the model in the magazine
ads you stare at in awe thinking, 'There's no way he's that perfect in
person'." In 2014, Entertainment Tonight listed him among the Sexiest Men
Alive, while Revista Estilo placed him on the list of "the 10 Sexiest
Singers" in 2016. He was ranked at number 16 on the list of "the 50
Hottest Men of All Time" by Harper's Bazaar in 2018, being the only Latin
man on their list. In 2019, TN described Martin as "the sexiest man in the
world". He has been noted for looking younger than his age, the Dior men's
pre-fall 2020 show, and the Virgil Abloh Spring-Summer 2022 show held by Louis
Vuitton.
Personal life
Sexual orientation and early relationships
According to an interview with Rolling Stone in 1999, Martin
experienced his first kiss at age 13 and lost his virginity at age 14 in
Argentina. In the same year, Martin was rumored to have a relationship with
Argentine tennis player Gabriela Sabatini. Sabatini's sister-in-law, Catherine
Fulop, confirmed the rumor in 2020. During the time he was playing in General
Hospital, he met a "very handsome" man at a radio station,
"stopped fearing sexuality", and started dating him. Martin's mother
supported him when she discovered that he was in love with a man, saying:
"I love you, my son, I'm so happy for you. Bring it on. I'm right behind
you." However, after the relationship ended, Martin "locked feelings
even deeper inside" and began dating women again. He recalls: "I
already felt it was hard to be a Latino in Hollywood; what could have been more
difficult than being Latino and gay?" Martin began dating Mexican
television host Rebecca de Alba in 1994; they were in an on-and-off
relationship until 2005. In May 2021, Alba revealed that she became pregnant
several times in her life, but lost all of the pregnancies, expressing that one
of them was from Martin. Martin also had relationships with Lilly Melgar,
Adriana Biega, Maital Saban, and Inés Misan during his break-up times with Alba
in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He declared that "there was chemistry
with them" and he "wasn't fooling anyone".
In August 2008, Martin became a father to twin boys named
Matteo and Valentino, born via gestational surrogacy. He explained that he
chose surrogacy to become a parent for being "intriguing and faster"
than adoption, which was complicated and could take a long time. In March 2010,
Martin publicly came out as gay via a message on his website, stating: "I
am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be
who I am." Years later, he revealed that although his music was "heard
all over the world" and he "could high five God" in 1999, he
"wasn't living to the fullest" and was sad and depressed. Martin also
told Fama!: "I know that I like both men and women, I'm against sexual
labels, we are simply human beings with emotional and sexual needs. I like to
enjoy sex in total freedom, so I'm open to having sex with a woman if I feel
desire." Despite this, he expressed that he wouldn't be interested in
"an ongoing relationship with a woman", stating: "Men are my
thing". In 2000, American broadcast journalist Barbara Walters asked
Martin about his sexuality on national television: "You could stop these
rumors. You could say, 'Yes I am gay or no I'm not.'" In 2021, Martin, who
had answered with "I just don't feel like it" at the time, revealed
that her question had made him "felt violated", since he "was
just not ready to come out" and was "very afraid"; he said that
it resulted in "a little PTSD" that "still haunts him".
Marriage
Syrian-Swedish painter Jwan Yosef shared a photo of himself
and Martin on Instagram on March 30, 2016, with the caption: "Obviously
we're starting a band." Soon it was rumored that Yosef is Martin's new
boyfriend. Martin confirmed their relationship on April 18, 2016, and they made
their red carpet debut as a couple at the amfAR Inspiration Gala. Martin later
revealed that he met Yosef on Instagram and they "were talking for like
six months without hearing his voice". Subsequently, Martin went to
London, where Yosef was living, and they met each other. On November 15, 2016,
during an interview on The Ellen Show, he announced that he has proposed to
Yosef and they are engaged. In January 2018, Martin confirmed that he has
secretly married Yosef: "I'm a husband, but we're doing a heavy party in a
couple of months, I'll let you know." On December 31, 2018, they announced
that they have welcomed their first daughter together, named Lucia
Martin-Yosef. Martin later explained that Lucia was born on December 24,
coinciding with his 47th birthday. In September 2019, while accepting an award
at the 23rd annual Human Rights Campaign National Dinner, he announced that
they are expecting their fourth child. On October 29, 2019, he shared a photo
of himself, Yosef, and their new-born son, named Renn Martin-Yosef, with the
caption: "Our son Renn Martin-Yosef has been born."
Beliefs and religion
During an interview with People in 2002, Martin expressed
that he believes in "love", "the power of healing", and
"God", thanks to his parents. The name he chose for his son Matteo
means "gift from God". According to his statements in a 2021
interview, he still believes in God. He was raised Catholic but he said is not
"the person who would ever look down upon one religion". He expressed
that he also admires and likes Buddhist philosophy, but does not subscribe to
the religion, since if he does, he cannot "be of anything else"; he
does not want to be limited in certain aspects and follow a religion's specific
rules. He tries to remain "open to everything" and makes "a
concerted effort to always find new teachings and new paths" everywhere he
goes and in every situation he finds himself in. Martin believes that everyone
can "decide what makes them happy" and although "everyone needs
to accept the life they were given", it does not mean they "should
not live it as fully as possible".
Health and sports
Martin began practicing yoga after a trip to Thailand in
1997. He also began practicing meditation following a trip to India. In 2021,
he explained that he gets up every morning at 5:30, before his family and puts
himself in a lotus position and oxygenates his body. He also expressed that has
a gym in his house, saying: "If I have space to see myself in the mirror
and put on my products, then I also have to have space for my body." In
2020, he opened up that he suffered from anxiety for the first time in his
life, following the COVID-19 lockdowns, stating that making music became his
"medicine". In September 2004, he paid $11.9 million for a
11,000-square-foot Mediterranean-style villa in Los Angeles, which he sold in
2006 for $15 million. In May 2005, he purchased a 9,491-square-foot house in
Miami Beach for $10 million; he sold the villa for $10.6 million in 2012. In
2007, he paid $16.2 million for a mansion in Golden Beach. He sold the property
in 2012 for $12.8 million, incurring a loss. In the same year, he bought a
3,147-square-foot condominium in New York City for $5.9 million; he sold the
condo for $7.1 million in 2017. In 2014, he rented a 900-square-metre mansion
in Sydney, which became famous as "the Bronte Wave House" and was
sold for $16 million in May 2015, marking one of the most expensive properties
sold in the city that year. In December 2016, he purchased a 11,300-square-foot
mansion in Beverly Hills. The estate, which is Martin's current house, has seven
bedrooms and eight bathrooms with outdoor seating areas scattered throughout
33,000 square feet. It is a "private getaway in the middle of the
city", located up the street from the Beverly Hills Hotel. He purchased
the latter for $8 million in 2008.
Legal issues
On July 2, 2022, Puerto Rican authorities issued a
restraining order against Martin. Police states that the petitioner, whose
identity is undisclosed under the Puerto Rican Domestic Violence law, had gone
to court to issue a complaint against Martin. The police revealed from a court
document, that Martin did not accept the terms of their separation, from the
petitioner's side, two months ago, and was seen "loitering around"
his residence, as well as calling him, frequently. Police also noted that the
petitioner did not file a police report and went straight to court to make the
allegations. Martin and his representatives denies the allegations, and claims
that the restraining order was issued based on allegations that are
"totally false". The matter is ongoing, and will have a hearing
scheduled for the issue on July 21, according to a Puerto Rican newspaper. On
July 15, it was reported that the petitioner was Martin's 21-year-old nephew,
Dennis Yadiel Sanchez. If convicted, Martin could face up to 50 years in prison
due to the involvement of incest.
Legacy and influence
Martin has been regarded as the "King of Latin
Pop" by various publications, such as the Grammy Awards, Billboard,
Rolling Stone, Time, People, Entertainment Weekly, NBC News, Additionally, he
has been referred to as the "King of Latin Music", the "Latin Pop
God", the "Latin King of Pop", the "Latin American King of
Pop", the "Latin King", the "Crossover Latin King",
the "Puerto Rican Pop King", the "Salsa-Pop King", and the
"King of World Cup". Martin is known as one of the most influential
artists in the world. while NBC News introduced him as an "influential
Latin celebrity". In 2014, he won the award for the most influential
international artist at the 18th China Music Awards. He was ranked among
"25 musicians who broke barriers" by Stacker in 2019, while in 2020,
Spin ranked him at number 27 on the list of "most influential artists of
the past 35 years", as the only Latin artist on their list. In 2022, Show
News named him "the most influential global artist in history".
Martin's song "María ", which was ranked among the
"Greatest Latin Pop Song of All Time" by Rolling Stone, and "11
remixes of classic Latin hits" by Billboard, "launched the Latin and
dance music crossover of the '90s", according to the latter. Olivier Pérou
from Le Point commented that "some have even learned, thanks to him, to
count to three in Spanish" following the popularity of the song. became a
"musical template" for World Cup anthems, and Martin's Latin and
dance crossover style has been much copied in the anthems, as well as soccer
chant "Ole! Ole! Ole!" in the lyrics, according to The Hollywood
Reporter. As believed by Esquire, the song "inaugurated this musical
subgenre" of Latin. In his review for Pitchfork, Corban Goble wrote that
if World Cup anthems someday would be "given their own textbook",
"La Copa de la Vida" would be "the standard-bearer for the whole
genre".
Martin is known as the pioneer in getting Latin pop music
genre to mainstream recognition. Following his performance of "The Cup of
Life" at the Grammys, and the success of "Livin' la Vida Loca"
and Ricky Martin, he opened the gates for many Latin artists such as Jennifer
Lopez, Shakira, Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony, Santana, and Enrique Iglesias
who released their crossover albums and followed him onto the top of the
charts. His performance of "The Cup of Life" at the Grammys not only
changed the course of his career, but also altered how people regard Latin
music in America. According to The Independent, the single is "widely
regarded as the song that began the first Latin pop explosion", while
Peoples Jason Sheeler credited it as the song that "led the way for the
late-'90s so-called 'Latin explosion' that dominated pop music into the new
century: Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, Marc Anthony, and Jennifer Lopez".
Angie Romero from Billboard wrote: "If you look up 'crossover' in the
dictionary, there should be a photo of Ricky shaking his bon bon and/or 'Livin'
la Vida Loca'."
Jim Farber from Daily News noted that Ricky Martin
"provides a textbook example of how to mix Latin beats with pop tunes and
rock intonations". St. Louis Post-Dispatch critic Kevin C. Johnson stated
that Martin took "the music to places Jon Secada, Selena and Santana never
could". He also mentioned that even "Gloria Estefan at her peak,
failed to muster up the kind of hype and hoopla surrounding Martin". In
her review for Grammy.com, Ana Monroy Yglesias said Martin led a "major
music moment in 1999" with Ricky Martin, and along with him, "the
first major boom of Spanish-language artists", such as Shakira and Lopez,
came into the "U.S. pop landscape".
The late '90s Latin explosion also resulted in the launch of
the Latin Recording Academy. Gabriel Abaroa Jr., the president and chief
executive officer of the Latin Recording Academy, expressed that the plan of
its launch was "immediately after the Ricky Martin success". Cuban
American musician and producer Emilio Estefan added: "After the success
with Ricky Martin, everybody opened their eyes and realized how important it
was to bring diversity and multiethnic elements into music." Many artists
have cited Martin as an influence or declared themselves as his fan, including
Abraham Mateo, Bad Bunny, Camila Cabello, Camilo, Carla Morrison, Christian
Chávez, CNCO, Danna Paola, Enrique Iglesias, J Balvin, J-Hope, Jimin, India
Martínez, Luis Fonsi, Maite Perroni, Maluma, Neha Mahajan, Pedro Capó, Prince
Royce, Rauw Alejandro, Rosalía, Sebastián Yatra, Shakira, Tini, Vadhir Derbez,
William Hung, Wisin, and Ximena Sariñana.
Both Maluma and J Balvin have described Martin as a
"teacher" and credited him as an artist who "opened the
doors" for them, while Maluma has also expressed: "Ricky Martin is
one of the artists I wanted to be growing up. He's my idol in the
industry". Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny talked about Martin's legacy
during an episode of Behind the Music: "There's no doubt that he opened
the door for an entire generation of Latin artists. I am doing great things
today in the music industry thanks to those doors that he opened." He also
mentioned that he is inspired by Martin's coming out as gay: "You don't
have to be gay to be inspired by that action of honesty and freedom, of being
yourself against the world despite everything you deserve. I look at it like a
very inspiring moment for anybody. At least for me, it's very
inspirational." Brazilian singer-songwriter Anitta explained to The
Guardian that "some Latin stars such as Maluma and Bad Bunny sing in their
native language" and do not need to sing in English to get noticed,
because they already had representatives like Shakira, Martin, and Jennifer
Lopez, but since her country "hasn't had a major international pop star
before", she uses "whatever language will get the market's
attention".
Portrayal in television
In July 2019, SOMOS Productions, Endemol Shine Boomdog, and
Piñolywood Studios announced the production of a biographical web television
series about Menudo, titled Subete a Mi Moto. Consisting of 15 episodes of 60
minutes each, the series premiered on Amazon Prime Video on October 9, 2020, in
Mexico, Latin America, and Spain. It was filmed in Mexico and Puerto Rico, and
Martin was portrayed by actors Felipe Albors and Ethan Schwartz. The series
premiered in the United States on February 14, 2021, on Estrella TV. On the
review aggregation website Tomatazos, the first season has a positive score of
75%. The website's critical consensus summary states, "A good trip to the
past that recalls a band that defined the youth of a certain public, but that
doesn't ignore the darkest moments in the lives of its members."
Other ventures
Books
On August 19, 2010, Martin announced that he had been
working on his memoir, mentioning its title as Me and publish date as November
2, 2010. He expressed that writing the book was "one of the reasons"
he decided to come out earlier that year. The book also had a Spanish edition
title Yo, which was published simultaneously by Celebra. He stated that writing
his memoir allowed him "to explore the different paths and
experiences" that have led him to be who he is, noting that it "was
not easy but allowed for an incredible spiritual journey". Me spent
several weeks at number one on the New York Times Best Seller list. In 2019,
¡Hola! staff ranked the book among "12 Books by Celebrities to Inspire and
Motivate You", while Book Riot placed it on an unranked list of the
"Best Celebrity Books You Should Read This Year" in 2020. Martin's
first children's book Santiago the Dreamer in Land Among the Stars was
published by Celebra and illustrated by Patricia Castelao in November 2013 for
ages between five and nine. Its Spanish-language edition, Santiago El Soñador
en Entre Las Estrellas, was published simultaneously. Martin expressed that the
book was inspired by his "personal life, with fantasy added to it",
as well as "a lot of cartoons".
Products and endorsements
Martin endorsed the 2012 Viva Glam campaign with Trinidadian
rapper Nicki Minaj, which raised $270 million for the Mac AIDS Fund. In October
2020, Martin announced that he would launch his company, Martin Music Lab in
partnership with music engineers Jaycen Joshua and Michael Seaberg. The company
is centered around a new audio technique called "Orbital Audio", that
"creates a new type of immersive, headphone listening experience".
Martin used the technique on his EP Pausa, while several artists including Bad
Bunny, Residente, Myke Towers, and A$AP Rocky are going to work with the
company. The latter plans to release his whole upcoming studio album, using
"Orbital Audio". Martin is going to expand the technique "beyond
the music industry and tap into the movies, sports and, most notably, the
wellness and meditation space". In 2021, Martin partnered with skin care
company Kumiko. The skincare line, created by Chilean cosmetologist Catalina
Aguirre, is the first to combine "mesotherapy, matcha, and cutting-edge
European technology into unique multi-action formulas that penetrate the dermis
with powerful anti-aging properties and lifting benefits".
Activism
Philanthropy
While on a trip to India in 2002, Martin witnessed three minor
girls who were about to be sold into prostitution and rescued them. The
following year, he became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and then met with
activists and decided to fight against human trafficking, which is the
second-most lucrative crime in the world. In 2004, Martin launched the Ricky
Martin Foundation, a non-profit, non-governmental organization that focuses on
denouncing human trafficking and educating about the crime's "existence
through research and community initiatives, anchored in the defense of children
and youth rights". In the same year, he appealed to the United Nations for
international help to fight against sex tourism. In January 2005, following the
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Martin visited Thailand to assess the
needs of the minor survivors who were "extremely vulnerable to
traffickers". Later that year, the Ricky Martin Foundation signed an
alliance in partnership with Habitat for Humanity to construct 224 homes for
the tsunami-affected families. The project was completed in December 2006. In
March 2006, the foundation collaborated with the International Organization for
Migration in the Llama y Vive campaign, which focuses on facilitating "the
prevention of human trafficking and the protection of young people, victims of
child trafficking and prosecution of traffickers".
In January 2010, along with many celebrities, Martin
operated the charity telethon Hope for Haiti Now to raise donations for the
2010 Haiti earthquake. Later that year, the Ricky Martin Foundation created the
first program of community social action against child trafficking in Martin's
native Puerto Rico, titled "Se Trata". In 2012, the foundation
participated in the making of the Child Protection Model Law on the
International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children. Following the
Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017, the Ricky Martin Foundation helped
people and handed over homes that were rebuilt after the losses; Martin
launched a viral campaign of selling a black T-shirt with the Puerto Rican flag
stamped on it in order to raise the funds. The T-shirts were designed by
Martin's twin boys Matteo and Valentino, while many celebrities including Will
Smith, Bad Bunny, Marc Anthony, Luis Fonsi, and Maluma supported the campaign.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Martin created a campaign to help health care
workers through the non-profit organization Project Hope. He expressed:
"As you know, health care professionals are extremely vulnerable and
professionals around the world don’t have personal protection equipment they
need to prevent them getting infected." In February 2021, Martin
collaborated with Antonia Novello to launch mass vaccination events in Puerto
Rico. Following the murder of George Floyd and Black Lives Matter protests in
2020, Martin honored an effort called "Black Out Tuesday" and
launched the hashtag #knowthestruggle, giving his social media to the voices of
the community that are "looking for justice", to learn more about
what is happening.
For his humanitarian efforts and fighting against human
trafficking, Martin has been honored with numerous accolades, including the
Peace Summit Award by the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, the TIP Report
Hero Award by the United States Department of State, the Spirit of Hope Award
by Billboard Latin Music Awards, the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year
Award, the Leader of Change Award by the Foundation for Social Change, the
Humanitarian Award by the Global Gift Foundation, the Humanitarian Award by the
Hispanic Federation, the Corazón Latino Award by the iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina,
the International Humanitarian Award by the International Center for Missing
and Exploited Children, the Agent of Change Award by the International Peace
Honors, the PODER Social Leadership Awards, and the Agent of Change Award by
the Premios Juventud.
Politics
On January 20, 2001, during the first inauguration of George
W. Bush, Martin performed "The Cup of Life" and danced with him.
Martin's view of Bush changed over the Iraq War, as expressed in his declaration
to BBC News that he will "always condemn war and those who promulgate
it". He also stuck up his middle finger while singing the president's name
in his 2003 song "Asignatura Pendiente" at a concert. At the 2010
Billboard Latin Music Awards, Martin expressed his disagreement with the
Arizona SB 1070 bill, a proposed law that would have required police officers
to request documents from individuals whom they suspected to be illegal
immigrants. Martin campaigned for the 44th president of the United States
Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, and thanked him for an "outstanding
presidency" in 2016, while calling him "an amazing leader". Also
in 2016, he was an active ally to the Democratic Party presidential candidate
Hillary Clinton campaign, while condemning Donald Trump's hateful comments
about immigrants. He also performed his hits during the "Hillary Clinton:
She's With Us" concert at the Greek Theatre on June 6, 2016.
Telegramgate, also known as Chatgate, was a political
scandal involving Ricardo Rosselló, then Governor of Puerto Rico, which began
on July 8, 2019, with the leak of hundreds of pages of a group chat on the
messaging application Telegram between Rosselló and members of his cabinet. The
messages were considered vulgar, misogynistic, and homophobic toward several
individuals and groups, including Martin. Therefore, Martin, Bad Bunny,
Residente and several other artists, and more than half a million Puerto Ricans
led the call to take to the streets of Puerto Rico, demanding Rosselló's
resignation. In September 2020, Martin, Luis Fonsi, and actress Eva Longoria
attended a campaign event in Kissimmee, Florida to support the Democratic
presidential candidate Joe Biden for the 2020 United States presidential
election. During an interview with Variety, Martin stated: "I've been
supporting Biden forever, I think he is the only option we have and he is great
and he has been in politics all his life. This is the moment. We all need to
get together and be loud about the course of this nation." Following the election
of Biden as 46th president of the United States, Martin said
"Bye-bye" to Trump on social media, and shared a photo of himself
along with Biden on Instagram.
In May 2021, Martin demonstrated his support for the Ni una
menos movement, condemning femicides and violence against women in Puerto Rico,
while calling authorities to protect women. He further expressed that no woman
should fear for her safety and urged authorities to take steps in order to
prevent these acts. In the same month, he supported the 2021 Colombian
protests. Later that year, the singer raised his voice in support of the 2021
Cuban protests against the Castro regime for the restrictions due to the
COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis, stating: "This is very
important. Our brothers and sisters in Cuba need us to inform the world what
they are experiencing today. Let's fill the networks before they remove the
internet in the country. Humanitarian aid for Cuba NOW."
LGBT advocacy
As a gay man, Martin actively supports LGBT rights worldwide
since his coming out in 2010. Even before coming out, he was noted by the
mainstream media for being popular among gay men and having a large gay fan
base. He also went on the cover of the American LGBT-interest magazine The
Advocate in July 1999. Despite this, he admitted that he felt homosexuality was
evil since he was raised as a Catholic and targeted his anger toward others,
especially gay men: "I was very angry, very rebellious. I used to look at
gay men and think, 'I'm not like that, I don't want to be like that, that's not
me.' I was ashamed." He added that he "had internalized
homophobia" back then. He is currently considered to be a gay icon, with
PinkNews labeling him "a strong advocate of LGBT rights" who "expressed
support for equal marriage" since coming out. Martin's coming out was a
game-changer for "Latin Pride". Billboards Lucas Villa stated:
"With Martin's announcement, gay artists, who had long kept their sexual
identities a secret, finally had a beacon of hope. If Martin could come out
with his career unscathed, there was hope for other artists in Latin music to
start doing the same." He added that since then, "a growing number of
Latin artists have either come out after years in the spotlight, or many have
simply started their careers by embracing their gay identities". The
following year, Suzy Exposito from Rolling Stone argued that with risking his
career and coming out, Martin "set the scene for Bad Bunny to be free in
many ways that, during his own breakthrough moment, he could not".
Martin expressed support for same-sex marriage during an
interview on Larry King Live in 2010. He has then delivered speeches about LGBT
rights at the United Nations Homophobia Conference, the GLAAD Media Awards, and
the Human Rights Campaign. He also raised his voice to support gay marriage in
Puerto Rico before its legalization in 2015. In March 2016, Martin met with
Chilean LGBT rights group Fundación Iguales to learn about the challenges LGBT
citizens face there. AT the meeting, he said that he wants "equal marriage
rights for Chile" and he wants his sons to grow up in a world where
"there are no second-class citizens". Following the Colombia's
highest court voting against an anti same-sex marriage proposal in April 2016,
Martin tweeted: "Love and equality win, Colombia says YES to same-sex
marriage." During an interview with Vulture, Martin talked about his role
in The Assassination of Gianni Versace and how he wanted his portrayal to help
"normalize open relationships". In June 2019, he published an open
letter slamming the religious liberty bill, saying: "As a defender of
human rights and a member of the LGBTT community, I am vehemently opposed to
the proposed measure imposed upon us under the guise of religious freedom, that
projects us to the world as a backwards country." Puerto Rico's
then-governor backed down and withdrew his support of the bill following
Martin's statement. In June 2020, Martin performed his song
"Recuerdo" with Carla Morrison for a virtual event, Can't Cancel
Pride: Helping LGBTQ+ People in Need, to raise visibility and funds for LGBTQ+
communities. He appeared at the virtual event in the following year as well. In
February 2021, Martin was named national spokesperson for the onePULSE
Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on managing "the design
and construction of the permanent national memorial and museum dedicated to the
Pulse nightclub tragedy". Later that year, he expressed that he wants to
"normalize families like" his, in an interview with People.
Several of Martin's music videos feature diversity in sexual
orientations and same-sex couples, including "The Best Thing About Me Is
You", "Disparo al Corazón", and "Tiburones". For his
activism and advocacy for LGBTQ community, Martin has been honored with numerous
accolades, including the GLAAD Vito Russo Award, the International Icon Award
by the British LGBT Awards, the National Visibility Award by the Human Rights
Campaign, the Trailblazer Award by the LGBT Center Dinner, the Celebrity
Activist of the Year by LGBTQ Nation, and the Legacy Award by Attitude Awards.
Achievements
Throughout his career, Martin has won over 200 awards,
including two Grammy Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, two American Music
Awards, three Latin American Music Awards, a Billboard Music Video Award, eight
World Music Awards, fourteen Lo Nuestro Awards, and a Guinness World Record.
Martin is ranked among the Greatest Latin Artists of All
Time and the Greatest Hot Latin Songs Artists of All Time by Billboard, while
his album Vuelve was placed at number five on Billboards Top 20 Latin Albums Of
All Time in 2018. In 1998, his song, "Perdido Sin Ti" reached the top
of the Latin Pop Airplay chart, displacing Martin's own "Vuelve",
making him the first artist on the chart's history to replace himself. His song
"Livin' la Vida Loca" became the first number-one song on Billboard
Hot 100, which was made entirely in Pro Tools, and achieved the first number
one hit for his label, Columbia. It also became the first song in history to
top Billboards Adult Pop Airplay, Pop Airplay, and Rhythmic Airplay charts,
holding its record as the only song to do so for 14 years. Martin is the first
and only artist with Spanish-language entries on Billboard Hot 100 in three
decades. The following year, he became the first male Latin artist in history
to have 4 songs from different decades to have over 100 million streams on
Spotify. He owns the record as the artist with most top 20s on the US Latin Pop
Airplay chart, with 51 songs, and is the runner-up of most top 10s. He is the
fourth artist with the most number one songs in the history of the Hot Latin
Songs chart. Additionally, he holds the record as the most Spanish-language
entries on ARIA top 50 singles chart, with three. Puerto Rico named August 31
the "International Ricky Martin Day" in 2008. In 2018, in recognition
of "his dedication to the island and people of Puerto Rico, his
philanthropic work to eliminate human trafficking across the Caribbean, and his
commitment to the arts", the singer received a proclamation naming June 7
the "Ricky Martin Day" in New York City. Throughout his career,
Martin has sold over 70 million records making him one of the best-selling
Latin music artists of all time. In 2020, La Opinión estimated his net worth at
US$120 million.
Discography
Ricky Martin
Me Amaras
A Medio Vivir
Vuelve
Ricky Martin
Sound Loaded
Almas del Silencio
Life
Música + Alma + Sexo
A Quien Quiera Escuchar
Pausa + Play
Filmography
Mas Que Alcanzar una estrella
Hercules – Latin American dub
Idle Hands
Ricky Martin: One Night Only
Minions – Latin American dub
The Latin Explosion: A New America
Ricky Martin: Behind the Vegas Residency
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
El cuartito
Theatre
Les Misérables, Broadway – Marius Pontmercy
Evita, Broadway – Ché
Tours and residencies
Headlining tours
Ricky Martin Tour
Me Amaras Tour
A Medio Vivir Tour
Vuelve World Tour
Livin' la Vida Loca Tour
One Night Only with Ricky Martin
Black and White Tour
Música + Alma + Sexo World Tour
Ricky Martin Live
Live in Mexico
One World Tour
Ricky Martin en Concierto
Movimiento Tour
Co-headlining tour
Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin Live in Concert
Residency
All In
See also
Honorific nicknames in popular music
List of artists who reached number one in the United States
List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles
Chart
List of Latin pop artists
List of multilingual bands and artists
List of Puerto Rican Grammy Award winners and nominees
List of Puerto Ricans
List of Urbano artists
Notes
References
Book sources
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