The Beginning!!
Ricky Martin was born Enrique Martin Morales, on 24th December 1971, in the small suburb of Puerto Rico, called San Juan. He had a healthy childhood upbringing, with his parents Nereida and Enrique. But they divorced when little “Kiki”, as he was known as to close family, and friends, was three years old. “My childhood was very healthy, I was very close to my parents, who were divorced. I lived with my mother when I wanted to be with her, and with my Father in the same way.”
Ricky was very close to his grandmother, Iraida, she taught Ricky that “Anything was possible through hard work & to achieve your goals; if you want something. Go get it!”
She was “the” perfect Grandmother.
Ricky has four brothers, Fernando, Angel (From Nereida’s first marriage) and Eric, Daniel and a sister Vanessa, from Enrique’s second marriage.
Ricky loved being in front of the camera. This was obvious by 1979, when little Kiki was eight years old, his face was all over television. Appearing in many commercials. But Ricky had his sights on something much higher than that….
Ricky was determined to make it big, and at this time in Puerto Rico, Menudo was exactly that. Ricky announced to his parents that he wanted to be an entertainer. They were very supportive of Ricky from the beginning. “I was the biggest fan of Menudo. Menudo was a legend, Menudo united generations. Ricky auditioned for the band but was turned down, because he was so small. But Ricky wasn’t going to be fazed by this, he tried out two more times, and eventually was picked. At the age of twelve he was living his dream. His first performance with the band came on July 10th, 1984 at the Centro de Bellas Artes, in Puerto Rico. “I was very nervous, I only had two songs to sing, but I was a nervous wreck”
For the next five years of Ricky’s life, was consumed by travelling, and visiting different countries with Menudo. They sold out many shows all across Latin America and the US. Even playing to a record breaking 250,000 people!!
During this time, Ricky’s mother and father were disagreeing on where Ricky should stay when he got home. “The pull and push…Come with me..Come with”. It all seemed too much for Ricky, when his father gave him an ultimatum, “It’s either me or your mother?” It would be nearly a decade, before the resolved their differences.
After five years in the band, Ricky was beginning to become agitated, he just didn’t care. “I was seventeen years old, I did not want to know about the show-business, I was tired of it. I was saturated.
In July 1989, five years from his first performance with the bands, he made his final appearance. “I cried like a little baby, it was a big turning point in my life.”
Ricky returned back to Puerto Rico, to finish school, then he headed off for a much-needed vacation to New York, which resulted in Ricky staying there for longer than he expected….
Ricky spent a year in New York, doing nothing. Just thinking about what he’s done with his life, and what he wants to do. But with the encouragement of his mother, he decided he wanted to be back in the spotlight again. So in 1990, he made his way to Mexico, and a starring role in a musical called “Mama Ama el Rock”. While starring in musical he got a call to star in a Mexican soap. It would be Ricky’s opportunity to combine, music and acting. Ricky obliged. The soap was called, Alcanzar una Estrella || (Reach for a Star) Ricky played Pablo, a singer and musician. The soap was such a hit they actually toured as a band, called, Munecos de Papel. Ricky knew from the rush he got on stage, this was defiantly for him. His role in the soap also led, to it being made into a movie, and Ricky winning a Heraldo award, the equivalent of an Academy Award.
During all this Ricky recorded his first solo album, entitled “Ricky Martin” in 1991. The album was certified gold, and put Ricky’s name on the map as a solo artist.
Ricky toured and amidst all that, released his second album, Me Amaras. Ricky had made his mark on the Spanish speaking community, as a solo artist, television star, and film star. He was sought after for his live performances, and television appearances. But Ricky saw the bright lights of the US calling him.