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Ricky Martin: Billboard Latin
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Ricky Martin (Enrique José Martin Morales) is a popular music singer, who rose to fame, first as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo, then as a solo artist since 1984. He has sold over 40 million records since the start of his career.
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Ricky Martin first achieved worldwide success with his selection to replace Ricky Melendez in the Latin boy band Menudo from 1984 until 1989. His meteoric ascent to fame started in Menudo's homebase, Caguas, site of his first concert. He signed with Sony in 1990.
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International pop star Ricky Martin delivers a live acoustic performance for this installment of MTV Latin America's hit series "Unplugged." Songs include popular covers like "La Bomba" and "Lola, Lola" as well as favorites such as "Perdido Sin Tí," "Asignatura Pendiente," "Volveras" and "Tu Recuerdo." Martin adds a Caribbean and flamenco flavor to the set and is backed by a mix of trumpets, accordions, violins, saxophones and percussion.
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Ricky Martin's self-titled solo debut finds the former Menudo star working the same basic mix of styles that would support his worldwide breakout in 1999. Upbeat radio-ready numbers such as "Dime Que Me Quieres (Bring a Little Lovin)" and "Juego de Ajedrez" reveal a strong Elton John influence, while the ballad "Fuego Contra Fuego" might have come from the soundtrack of a Spanish-language version of Dirty Dancing. Though more "Latin" than the multiplatinum seller that shares its name, this Ricky Martin is the work of a singer who already aimed to unite two audiences. --Rickey Wright
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When Ricky Martin crossed over to English language audiences in 1999, he seemed to come out of nowhere. But this former member of Menudo had been a Latin Pop star for most of the 1990s. The charismatic Martin is a throwback to a time when musicians were ... entertainers. He can sing up a storm, dance, and smile, all at the same time -- a refreshing change of pace in an era when most modern pop and hip-hop stars have little to offer but seriousness. Martin may not have the substance of Marc Anthony, but he is one of the hardest-working people in show business, seemingly able to work in any musical style -- neo Salsa, romantic ballads and Jangle Pop, to name a few.
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In 1999, Ricky Martin married Jennifer Lopez and Marc Antony, led the Latin Invasion, and successfully invaded Poland, Czechoslovakia, and parts of the Ukraine. Over 12,000 people were liberated, over 1,500 orphans were hugged, and a couple CDs went multi-platinum. The damage cost has been estimated to have been well over $39.6 billion, with Latin Loca landmines still killing 3,000 people per year.
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