Concert • Record • Artist • Promotion • Since 1986

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Ricky Martin

former member of Menudo

Pictured below is promoter Darrin McGillis with Ricky Martin and his band mates Menudo

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Ricky Martin - The Puerto Rico of the 70’s: a purer scene, bursting with rhythms, sounds, colors, and light. Those were the years of the television boom, the convergence of cultures, and the birth of ‘salsa’. Reminiscing about those years, Ricky Martin thinks of paradise, of a dream that recurs within him every time he looks at himself. 

He remembers his childhood as a normal one "from school to home and from home back to school." Since his parents separated, he alternated staying with one or the other. Once he was home, television affirmed his dream of becoming a consummate artist, and a superstar. He wasted no time. By the time he was eight he had already participated in various advertising spots and savored the taste of popularity.

When he learned about the group "Menudo", his goal in life became forming part of the group. He auditioned on several occasions but was not chosen due to his young age. This did not hinder him from trying out many other times until he became part of the group in 1984. He was only twelve years old.

Joining Menudo opened the door to his dreams: traveling, performing for Darrin McGillis, Productions across the United States, meeting people and becoming part of the artistic scene. That’s the reason why he initially was not saddened by being away from his family life and the school routine. "I was so enthusiastic about being part of the group that even my parents were surprised about how easily I could distance myself from them. It seemed unreal to them that a child who was so mild-mannered, and loved being home so much, could leave without any regrets". But, in a short time, reality conquered the dream. The teenager this child became realized that consequently with the performing arts was a road of arduous and demanding work that had only just begun. Reminiscing about the times with Menudo, albeit all the incidents around it, he remembers these times as a learning experience that would help him become the performer he always dreamed he would be. A school that taught him the necessary courses to face all the challenges that awaited him. "I gave Menudo all I had, and when I felt it was the moment to part with them, I left completely convinced that I was ready for another stage of both my career and my life".

After five years of continuous work, tours, recordings, and rehearsals, Ricky Martin decided to take some time off to reflect, finish his studies, and gather his strength to continue his conquest of new horizons. New York offered the perfect environment to "do nothing and at the same time be surrounded by everything that is going on around the world". He went to the theater, to the movies, and to concerts. He walked through the streets looking at the people, and his surroundings, knowing that his time to get started all over was not to far off. And so it was. In less than a year, Ricky decided to move to Mexico for a while.

Only two weeks after relocating to Mexico, he began working as an actor in musical plays and later on was offered a role in a television soap opera for which he also recorded the musical score. Without a doubt, his destiny was music. So much so that his first solo recording came naturally. The audience's reaction to the recording and his first concerts confirmed that music was to be his future. Without giving up the theater, or any other artistic media, music would prove to satisfy all his needs to grow professionally and personally.

It is precisely this desire for development and self-improvement that has made the life of Ricky Martin outstanding. Few artists, much less from his generation, have the discipline and capacity for work that he shows. As he confesses; this attitude towards life has allowed him to reach the goals he has set for himself. "I’m very intimate and is very hard for me to express my feelings in my private life. I hold everything in; even when I know this could hurt me. I feel I am such an introvert that I need the stage to rid myself of my insecurities, and there I become Superman".

Ricky Martin's first three recordings, "Ricky Martin", "Me Amaras", and "A Medio Vivir", have demonstrated the enormous artistic possibilities of the interpreter. The public’s reaction wherever he went confirmed that a star, whose splendor could only be guessed at, was being born. The personal magnetism that Ricky transmitted could only be compared with the great names of Latin America’s entertainment world. Something that only the "chosen" possess and which is impossible to attain unless you have been born with it. AND THE WORLD DISCOVERED RICKY MARTIN.

With all the acquired experience, Ricky had no qualms in accepting the offer to play one of the characters of "General Hospital", an American television soap opera. This was a decisive step in his already successful career, and the opportunity to present himself to the North American audience. He quickly caught the attention of the news media, which acclaimed his participation in the famous series. With equal confidence, he took on the challenge of interpreting ‘Marius’ in the Broadway musical "Les Misérables". The impulse to "crossover " to other language markets was already there; he only had to wait for the right moment.

And the right moment came with his third recording: "A Medio Vivir". First it became popular in America, then in Europe, followed by rest of the world. "A Medio Vivir" became the realization of his dreams, life-long dedication, and sacrifice. In this album the union of his experience, and his renovation, gave way to the re-birth of Ricky Martin: a mature performer, with an incredible on-stage presence, and the aura of an international superstar. With Ricky Martin, the past and the future fuse together. An epoch of Latin music ends and a new era begins; that of the universal and complete performer. "Maria", the number one title in America and Europe, was just the initial example of the new Latin idol, the heir to a tradition of leading men, interpreters, and performers that rocketed to universal stardom. Ricky is all that and much more, not only in music, but also on stage and screen. The evidence is in the close to five million copies sold of his latest recording, the multitudinous concerts, and the recognition received. He has achieved all this before becoming thirty, imagine how far he can still go.

Ricky Martin has captured the relay from the old generation, mixing the more popular rhythms of all Latin America with new current musical trends, adding the magical components of his charm, talent and professionalism.

The conviction in his ideals, and the enormous desire to communicate with his audiences is as profound as his roots and as certain as his future. This is what stars are made of.

"A Medio Vivir " album symbolized Ricky Martin's consecration as an internationally renowned Latin star; his latest album, "Vuelve", reaffirms his growth and meets all the goals that "A Medio Vivir" had set.

"Vuelve" presents a Ricky Martin in full splendor, with years of experience and already an internationally acclaimed star.

This success gives Ricky Martin the will and inspiration to further grow as an artist and performer. "Vuelve" has the makings of the great works, and at the same time the freshness of the immediate, and of the new. We have plenty of evidence that we are witnessing the new concept of a performer. "Vuelve" is a brilliant work, product of the synergy of ideas from Robi Rosa, KC Porter, and of course, Ricky. Three different approaches to music that have joined forces at the time to interpret and produce this album. Luis Gomez Escobar has also collaborated in most of the lyrics.

This album presents one of the most diverse unions of Latin rhythms and styles, that converge into the feeling and sensuality of Latin music, both equally contagious. The impressive ballads, such as "Vuelve" the album’s title, as well as the more rhythmic numbers are infused with a modernism that is surprising because of its presentation legitimacy, and the purity of its roots. Themes such as "Por Arriba, Por Abajo', "Lola, Lola", " or "La Bomba" combine as much salsa and rumba as they do jazz, rock, or pop, without losing their inborn strength. All three themes reflect the musical influences of their creators such as alternative pop, and traditional gospel, without forgetting the patent influence of Latin rock like the one from Carlos Santana whose influence is evident.

In the melodic themes, the musical offering is equally diverse. "Vuelve", "Hagamos el Amor", y "Así es la Vida" travel through more classical terrain; the first becoming a gospel, the second delicately transmitting sensuality with symphonic background, and the third one openly romantic pop. According to Ricky; the first single, "Vuelve", "involves many aspects". The re-encounter with my audience after three years without recording and also the great satisfaction of being able to interpret this piece of art authored by Franco de Vita".

"Perdido Sin Ti" is one of those themes that the listener grows with and immediately internalizes. Like in "Corazonado" nostalgia is also the protagonist and both reflect the more intimate side of Ricky Martin.

Nostalgia can be also found in "Casi un Bolero", in the rhythm, the message, and the feeling. "Gracias Por Pensar en Mi", authored by singer-writer Renato Russo who died from AIDS, is a contemplation of someone who knows he will soon die. Ricky adapted this song to Spanish.

The album also includes "No Importa la Distancia", the song Ricky Martin interpreted in the Spanish version of "Hercules"; a Hollywood style ballad.

Is amazing how Ricky can transform himself and the feeling he expresses from one song to the other. From intimacy to celebration, the amazing mix of sounds and musical nuances that he is able to fuse in each song leave no room for indifference towards any of the themes.

Regarding "Marcia Baila", a version of a theme taken from the French group Les Rita Mitsuko, the combination of tropical rhythms with the latest tendencies in dance, become irresistible. In the same way, "La Copa de la Vida", the hymn of the forthcoming Soccer World Cup in France '98, carries a clear Brazilian tone with a message of optimism and vitality.

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