  Ricky Martin's entertainment
career has run the spectrum from stage actor,
teen singer, soap actor, to Latin sex symbol.
Ricky's Latin music tallied up more than 15
million records sold around the world before
he began his journey as a household name in
the U.S. That journey started in February,
1999, with an electrifying performance at the
Grammy Awards. Ricky was born in San Juan,
Puerto Rico. After appearing in commercials
since age 6, Ricky began to audition for Menudo
and was finally asked to join the group when
he was 12. Ricky performed with the group as
lead singer from 1984 to 1989 and finished
high school after leaving the group.
Ricky's first solo LP, Ricky
Martin, found some success around the
world.
 Ricky released Me
Amarás.
Ricky could be seen as a cast
member of the American soap opera, General
Hospital and on the theater stage in Les
Misérables.
 Ricky released A
Medio Vivir and although the Latin focus of
his music continues, a tinge a rock influence
could be heard with the new music.
A
Medio Vivir was certified gold.
 Ricky released Vuelve which contained the
track "La Copa de la Vida" which
was used for World Cup games.
Ricky topped the Billboard Latin
Tracks chart with "Vuelve" for 2
weeks.
Vuelve topped the Billboard
Latin 50 Albums chart for 18 weeks.
Vuelve was certified gold.
Ricky topped
the Billboard Latin Tracks chart with
"Perdido Sin Ti" for a week.
Ricky topped the Billboard
Year-End Charts with the Top Hot Latin
Pop Track ("Vuelve").
 # 1
Singles Artist of the Year (# 1
Male Artist of the Year)
Ricky was
nominated for an American Music
Award for Favorite Latin Artist.
 Ricky won a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop
Performance (Vuelve) and Ricky made his
move towards super-stardom when he sang
"The Cup Of Life" at the ceremony
and made the music world and music fans stand
up and take notice. The performance was
followed an increase in records sales of
400%, a meeting with Madonna to collaborate, and
one of the most anticipated LP releases of
the year. Anticipation was especially high
for Ricky who was making the transition with
an English LP: "It's all about
communicating. I will never stop singing in
Spanish... that's who I am... but this was
always part of the plan. I was not going to
release this album until I was completely
content with what I'd be presenting."
Vuelve was certified
platinum.
Ricky hit the Top 40
with "Livin'
La Vida Loca" which also topped the
Billboard Latin Tracks chart for 9 weeks.
 Ricky released his first English
LP, Ricky
Martin, which includes hit #1 hit "Livin'
La Vida Loca" and a duet with Madonna, "Be Careful
(Cuidado Con Mi Corazón)." When Ricky
talked with CNN about his sudden stardom and
credit for expanding the popularity of Latin
music, he said "Yes, I do want Latin
music to be accepted... but we can't forget
what Gloria
Estefan did. We can't forget what Jose
Feliciano did for awhile... and Santana... they're legends,
and you know they're not going to die."
"Livin'
La Vida Loca" topped most pop charts in
the spring and was quickly followed up with
radio airplay of "The Cup Of Life."
When Ricky
Martin hit the record stores, it sold
over 660,000 copies in its first week and
debuted at #1 on Billboard's LP chart
(topping the chart for 1 week and topping the
Billboard Internet Album Sales chart for 2
weeks).
Ricky took home a
Blockbuster Award for Favorite Artist -
Latino.
The single "Livin'
La Vida Loca" was certified gold and
topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 5 weeks, the
Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales chart for 4
weeks, the Billboard Maxi-Singles Sales chart
for 7 weeks, and the Billboard Top 40 Tracks
chart for 10 weeks.
Ricky
Martin was certified 4x platinum and
the single "Livin'
La Vida Loca" was certified platinum
(and topped the Billboard Hot 100 Singles
Airplay chart for 4 weeks and the Billboard
Adult Top 40 for 6 weeks).
Ricky hit the Top 40 with "The
Cup Of Life."
Ricky
Martin was certified 5x platinum.
Ricky hit the Top
10
with "The
Cup Of Life" as he also hit the Top 40
with "She's
All I Ever Had."
"Livin'
La Vida Loca" topped the UK Singles
chart for 3 weeks.
 Ricky became the first Latin
artist in history to have an LP sell more
than 5 million copies.
Ricky won a 'Teen Choice Award'
for Choice Male Artist.
Ricky hit the Top
10
with "She's
All I Ever Had."
Ricky took home
2 MTV Video Music
Awards for Best Dance Video and Best Pop Video ("Livin'
La Vida Loca") and was also nominated
for Video of the Year, Best Male Video, Viewer's Choice, and Best Choreography ("Livin'
La Vida Loca").
 Ricky was
nominated for 2 VH1 Fashion Awards for Most
Fashionable Artist (Male) and Most Stylish
Video ("Livin'
La Vida Loca").
"Bella"
topped the Billboard Latin Tracks chart for 3
weeks.
Ricky was nominated for 2 MTV
Europe Music Awards for Best Male Artist and
Best Pop Artist. Ricky signed a lucrative
promotion deal with Pepsi, and won 4 Ritmo
Latino Music Awards.
The single "She's
All I Ever Had" was certified gold.
 Ricky
Martin was certified 6x platinum.
Ricky hit the Top 40 with "Shake
Your Bon-Bon."
Ricky was nominated for a
People's Choice Award for Favorite Male
performer and won 2 Billboard Music Awards
for Male Artist of the Year and Male Hot 100
Singles Artist of the Year.
Ricky ended the year with "Shake
Your Bon-Bon" hitting the Top
10 and
"Livin'
La Vida Loca" topping the year-end ARC
Weekly Top 40 chart.
Ricky topped the Billboard
Year-End Chart-Toppers as the Top Pop Artist
- Male (singles & albums), Top Hot 100
Singles Artist - Male, Top Hot Latin Pop
Tracks Artist , and with the Top Latin Pop
Album and Top Billboard Latin 50 Album (Vuelve).
 # 15
Singles Artist of the Year
 Ricky won an American Music
Award for Favorite
Latin Artist and was nominated for Favorite
Male Artist.
Ricky was named
Favorite Male Musical Performer at the
People's Choice Awards and nominated for a
Brit Award for Best International Male Solo
Artist.
Ricky
Martin was certified 7x platinum.
Ricky was
nominated for 3 Grammy Awards for
Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance ("Livin'
La Vida Loca") and Best Pop Album (Ricky
Martin). Ricky performed
"Maria" at the Grammys, but went
home empty-handed.
Ricky met with
President Clinton and discussed concerns
about Navy bombing exercises near Puerto Rico
with a Clinton aide.
 Ricky was
nominated for a Juno Award for Best-Selling
Album (foreign or domestic) and 5 Billboard
Latin Music Awards and a Kids' Choice Award
for Favorite Male Singer.
Ricky hit the
Top 40 with Meja with "Private
Emotion."
 Ricky was honored with the
Lasting Image Award at the Annual Imagine
Awards for his successful music career and
his positive portrayal of Hispanics in media.
Ricky was also honored at the
American Latino Media Arts Awards as Male
Entertainer of the Year.
Ricky made this year's listing
of People's "50 Most Beautiful
People."
"Livin'
La Vida Loca" won a Song of the Year
Award at the BMI Latin Awards. and Ricky was
awarded Favorite Male Artist, Pop at the
Blockbuster Awards.
At the World Music Awards, Ricky
walked away with Best Selling Male Pop
Artist.
 Ricky was nominated for a few
Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year
("Livin' La Vida Loca (Spanish
Version))" and Best Male Pop Performance
("Bella (She's All I Ever Had)").
Videos by Ricky were
nominated for 2 MTV Video Music
Awards including Best Male Video and Best Dance Video, ("Shake
Your Bon-Bon").
Ricky hit the Top 40 with "She
Bangs."
 Ricky hit the Top
10
with "She
Bangs"
and topped the Billboard Latin Tracks chart
for 1 week.
Ricky released his next LP, Sound
Loaded and performed on Saturday
Night Live.
Ricky won a Radio Music Award
for Most Requested Artist of the Year and a
MTV Europe Music Award for Best Male.
Ricky took home a 'My VH1' Award
- Best Booty Shake.
Sound
Loaded was certified 2x platinum and
hit #1 in Greece.
Ricky talked with People
magazine about persistent rumors regarding
his sexuality: "I can't get hung up on
people whose lives are that empty. I'm an
artist and you can fantasize about me however
you want."
 # 58
Singles Artist of the Year
Ricky sang at
Inauguration ceremonies for George W. Bush
and hit the Top 40 with his duet with Christina
Aguilera - "Nobody Wants To Be
Lonely"
- a track from Ricky's Sound
Loaded LP that was redone as
a duet and made available on new pressings of
his LP and on his website for
current owners of his CD.
 Ricky was
nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance ("She
Bangs").
Ricky hit the Top 10 with "Nobody Wants To Be
Lonely"
(with Christina
Aguilera).
Ricky released
a Spanish hits LP: La
Historia.
Ricky topped
the MTV Video Countdown with "Nobody Wants To Be
Lonely"
for a week.
 Ricky hit the #1 with "Nobody Wants To Be
Lonely"
(with Christina
Aguilera).
La
Historia topped the Billboard Latin
Albums chart for 5 weeks.
Ricky won a Blockbuster
Entertainment Award for Favorite Male Artist
- Pop and was nominated for Favorite Male
Artist and Favorite Artist - Latino.
Ricky was nominated for a Kids'
Choice Award for Favorite Male Singer.
Ricky topped the Billboard Hot
Latin Tracks chart for 4 weeks with
"Solo Quiero Amarte."
Ricky performed as part of the
the Today Show Summer Concert Series.
VH1: 100
Greatest Videos includes:
# 85
- "Livin' La Vida
Loca."
Ricky won a World Music
Award for World's Best-Selling Latin Artist.
 Ricky hit the Top 40 with "Loaded."
Ricky joined
forces with other Latin artists for a
fund-raising single for the victims and
families of the terrorist attack with the
recording of "El Ultimo Adios (The Last
Goodbye)."
Ricky performed in a Washington,
DC concert benefiting the 9/11 attack
victims.
Ricky was nominated for a MTV
Europe Music Award for Best Male Act.
 Ricky was
nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with
Vocals
("Nobody Wants To Be
Lonely"
with Christina
Aguilera).
Ricky performed as part of Queen
Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee concert at
Buckingham Palace.
Ricky ranked #
42 on VH1: 100
Sexiest Artists.
 # 171
Singles Artist of the Year
Ricky topped the Billboard Hot
Latin Tracks chart for 11 weeks with
"Tal Vez."
 Ricky will release his next
Spanish LP, Las
Almas del Silencio. He said of the new
LP: "I really needed to go back to
focus, to my center, to the beginning. I had
the need to search within, and really dig
deep, and find those emotions that, because
of the adrenaline and the euphoria that I
lived for a couple of years, were probably
sabotaged."
Ricky performed as part of the
the Today Show Summer Concert Series.
Ricky topped the Billboard Top
Latin Albums chart for 6 weeks with Las
Almas del Silencio.
Ricky topped the Billboard Hot
Latin Tracks chart for a week with
"Jaleo."
Ricky won an American Music
Award for Favorite Latin Artist.
Ricky topped the Billboard
Year-End Charts with the Top Hot Latin
Track and Top Hot Latin Pop Airplay Track
("Tal Vez").
Ricky won a few Billboard Latin
Awards including Latin Pop Album of the Year,
Male (Las
Almas del Silencio), Hot Latin Track of
the Year, and Latin Pop Airplay Track of the
Year ("Tal Vez").
Ricky was hit with a $63.5
million lawsuit by his former manager for
breach of contract.
 # 83
Singles Artist of the Year
 Ricky hit the Top 40 with help
from Fat Joe and Amerie
on "I Don't Care."
Ricky released his next LP Life.
Ricky hit the Top 40 with "Drop It On Me."
 Ricky released MTV
Unplugged.
Ricky topped the Billboard Top
Latin Albums chart with MTV
Unplugged.
Ricky topped the Billboard Hot
Latin Songs chart with "Tu
Recuerdo."
MTV
Unplugged was certified platinum.
Ricky won 2 Latin Grammy Awards
for Male Pop Vocal Album (MTV
Unplugged) and Long Form Music Video (MTV
Unplugged).
VH1: 100
Greatest Songs of the 90's included "Livin'
La Vida Loca" at # 28.
 Ricky became the father of twin
boys via a surrogate mother.
Ricky released the compilation
LP 17.
 Ricky announced he was gay.
Ricky released Musica
+ Alma + Sexo.
Musica
+ Alma + Sexo was certified gold.
 |
Ricky Martin
Released: 1991
Tracks: "Fuego
Contra Fuego" - "Dime Que Me
Quieres (Bring A Little Lovin')" -
"Vuelo" - "Conmigop Nadie
Puede" - "Te Voy a
Conquistar" - "Juego de
Ajedrez" - "Corazon Entre
Nubes" - "Ser Feliz" -
"Amor de Mi Vida" -
"Susana" -
"Popotitos" |
|
Me Amarás
Released: 1993
Tracks: "No Me Pidas
Mas" - "Es Mejor Decirse
Adios" - "Entre el Amor y los
Halagos" - "Lo Que Nos Pase,
Pasara" - "Ella Es" -
"Me Amaras" -
"Ayudame" - "Eres Como el
Aire" - "Que Dia Es Hoy (Self
Control)" - "Hooray! Hooray!
It's A Holi-Holiday" |
|
A Medio Vivir
Released: September, 1995
US: Gold
Tracks: "Fuego de
Noche, Nieve de Dia" - "Medio
Vivir" - "Maria" -
"Te Extrano, Te Olvido, Te Amo"
- "Donde Estaras" -
"Volveras" -
"Revolucion" - "Somos la
Semilla" - "Como Decirte
Adios" - "Bombon de
Azucar" - "Corazon" -
"Nada Es Imposible" |
|
Vuelve
Released: February, 1998
US: Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 40
Rolling Stone
review: 
Tracks: "Por Arriba
Por Abajo" - "Vuelve" -
"Lola, Lola" - "Casi un
Bolero" - "Corazonado" -
"Bomba" - "Hagamos el
Amor" - "Copa de la Vida"
- "Perdido Sin Ti" - "Asi
Es la Vida" - "Marcia
Baila" - "No Importa la
Distancia (Go The Distance)" -
"Gracias Por Pensar en Mi" -
"Casi un Bolero" |
|
Ricky Martin
Released: May, 1999
US: 7x Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 1 (for 1 week)
Rolling Stone
review:
Tracks: "Livin' La Vida Loca" -
"Spanish Eyes" - "She's All I Ever Had" - "Shake Your Bon-Bon" -
"Cuidado Con Mi Corazon" (with
Madonna) - "Private Emotion" (with Meja)
- "Love You For A Day" -
"I Am Made Of You" - "The Cup Of Life" (Spanglish)
- "Livin' La Vida Loca" (Spanish
Version) - "I Count The
Minutes" - "She's All I Ever Had" (Spanish) -
"Maria" (Spanglish Remix Radio
Edit) |
|
Sound Loaded
Released: November, 2000
US: 2x Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 4
Rolling Stone
review: 
Tracks: "She Bangs" -
"Saint Tropez" - "Come To
Me" - "Loaded" - "Nobody Wants To Be
Lonely" - "Amor" -
"Jezabel" - "The
Touch" - "One Night Man" -
"She Bangs" (Spanish
Version) - "Are You In It For
Love" - "Ven A Mi (Come To
Me)" - "If You Ever Saw
Her" - "Dame Mas (Loaded)"
- "Cambia La Piel" |
|
La Historia
Released: February, 2001
Billboard
peak:
# 83
Tracks: "Maria"
(Spanish Radio Edit) - "Vuelve"
- "Bella (She's All I Ever Had)" -
"Bomba" - "Medio
Vivir" - "Perdido Sin Ti"
- "Livin' La Vida Loca" (Spanish
Version) - "Volveras" -
"Copa de la Vida" - "Fuego
de Noche, Nieve de Dia" - "She Bangs" (Spanish
Version) - "Bombon de Azucar"
(Spanish Radio Edit) - "Fuego Contra
Fuego" - "Te Extrano, Te
Olvido, Te Amo" - "Por Arriba,
Por Abajo" - "El Amor de Mi
Vida" - "Solo Quiero Amarte (Nobody Wants To Be
Lonely)" (Radio Edit) |
|
Las Almas del Silencio
Released: May, 2003
Billboard
peak:
# 12
Tracks: "Jaleo"
- "Tal Vez" - "Jamas"
- "Si Tu Te Vas" - "Nadie
Mas Que Tu" - "Besos De
Fuego" - "Asignatura
Pendiente" - "Juramento" -
"Y Todo Queda En Nada" -
"Si Ya No Estas Aqui" -
"Razas De Mil Colores" -
"Las Almas Del Silencio" -
"Jaleo" (Spanglish) |
|
Life
Released: October, 2005
Billboard
peak:
# 6
Rolling Stone:  - Entertainment
Weekly: C-
Tracks: "Til I Get
To You" - "I Won't Desert
You" - "I Don't Care" - "Stop
Time Tonight" - "Life" -
"I Am" - "It's
Alright" - "Drop It On Me" - "This
Is Good" - "Save The
Dance" - "Que Mas Da (I Don't
Care)" (Luny Tunes Reggaeton Mix) -
"Dejate Lleuar (It's Alright)"
(Spanish) |
|
MTV Unplugged
Released: November, 2006
US: Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 38
Unplugged Tracks: "Gracias Por
Pensar En Mi (A Via Lactea)" -
"Con Tu Nombre" -
"María" - "Tu
Recuerdo" - "Perdido Sin
Tí" - "Asignatura
Pendiente" - "Vuelve" -
"Lola, Lola" -
"Volveras" - "La
Bomba" - Fuego De Noche, Nieve De
Día" - "Pegate" |
|
17
Released: November, 2008
Tracks: "Fuego
Contra Fuego" - "El Amor De Mi
Vida" - "Que Dia Es Hoy"
(Remix Version) - "Te Extrano, Te
Olvido, Te Amo" - "Maria"
(Pablo Flores Spanglish Radio Edit) -
"Vuelve" - "La Copa De La
Vida" (Spanglish Radio Edit) -
"La Bomba" (Remix) - "Livin' La Vida Loca" (Spanish
Version) - "Bella (She's All I Ever
Had)" - "Nobody Wants To Be
Lonely" (with Christina
Aguilera) - "Tal Vez" -
"Asignature Pendiente" -
"Y Todo Queda En Nada" - "I Don't Care" (Ralphi
& Craig's Club Radio Edit) -
"Dejate Llevar" - "Tu
Recuerdo" (MTV Unplugged Version) |
|
Musica + Alma + Sexo
Released: February, 2011
US: Gold
Tracks: "Mas" -
"Frio" - "Lo Mejor De Mi
Vida Eres Tu" - "Te Vas" -
"Tu Y Yo" - "Cantame Ti
Vida" - "Te Busco Y Te
Alcazo" - "Sera Sera" -
"No Te Miento" - "Basta
Ya" - "The Best Thing About Me
Is You" (with Joss Stone) -
"Shine" - "Frio" |
 |
A Quien Quiera Escuchar
Released: February 10, 2015
US: Platinum
Billboard
Top 200 LPs
peak: # 20
Tracks: "Adios"
- "Disparo al Carazon" -
"Isla Bella" -
"Perdoname" -
"Naufrago" - "La
Mordidita" - "Cuanto Me Acuerdo
de Ti" - "Nada" - "A
Quien Quiera Escuchar" |
iTunes
Amazon.mp3 |
Pausa (EP)
Released: March 29, 2020
Tracks:
"Simple" - "Recuerdo"
- "Cae de Una" -
"Quiereme" -
"Tiburones" -
"Cantalo" |
| Note: Song title and
position links lead you to the song's Top
40 chart run (from the ARC Weekly Top
40)
and LP links take you to Amazon.com for that LP (often
including track listings and sound
samples). |
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