100 Fast Facts

Have you always wanted to know exactly what makes this man tick. Well, browse through these 100 facts and you could easily say, "Hola amigo!," after this!

Ricky was born Enrique Martin Morales on Christmas Eve, 1971, in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico

He is actually a Jr. since his dad is also named Enrique.

Ricky is a Capricorn.

Ricky's dad's nickname for him as child was Kiki.

Ricky's favorite pet is a dog.

Ricky says his favorite food is "anything" Puerto Rican.

His mom's name is Nereida Morales.

Ricky's parents were seperated when Ricky was just 2 years old.

Ricky's dad is a psychologist.

His mom is an accountant.

His parents' divorce was anything but amicable: his dad once asked Ricky to choose between he and his mother.

Hurt and angered by his dad's ultimatum, Ricky stopped talking to his father for more than a decade.

Father and son reconciled a few years ago.

Growing up, Ricky loved all kinds of music. "I listened to Boston, Cheap Trick, Journey, David Bowie. When I was a kid, my brothers and I were all into rock, rock, rock."

Ricky was introduced to Latin music by his mom. "One day she got tired of rock," he recalls with a smile. "She said, 'I can't stand it anymore!' and grabbed us by the ears and took us to a Celia Cruz concert. It really affected me."

From the beginning, Ricky loved to perform, becoming active in local plays and in choir as a boy

At the age of 6, he scored parts in commercials and became very comfortable in front of the camera

Wanting to excel in his craft, Ricky started taking singing and acting lessons before he was 10

The first time Ricky auditioned for Menudo, he was rejected for being "too small" and "too young".

Ricky tried out again, and was rejected again

Third time's a charm! Ricky was selected to join Menudo in 1984 at the height of the band's fame. Overnight, he went from an anonymous 12-year-old to a heartthrob performing for tens of thousands of people in stadiums around the world

His nickname in the group was "New Ricky"

Ricky wanted to be in Menudo to learn the lifestyle of an entertainer.

With Menudo, Ricky traveled all over South America and to the U.S., Italy, Japan, Guam, the Philippines and Spain

Ricky was with Menudo for five years and non-stop recording, rehearsing and performing

In English, Menudo mean "something small" or "change."

After five years, he was rotated out of the youth-driven band

Ricky says he learned an important lesson from being in Menudo: How to be disciplined

Post-Menudo, Ricky graduated from high school and traveled to New York to study and reflect on his early fame. In all, he took a one-year break

In 1990, Ricky reentered the record biz as a solo artist, signing with Sony Records

"Ricky Martin," the 1992 Latin album, earned him solid reviews and eight gold records in México, Chile, Argentina, Puerto Rico and the United States.

Ricky released his second album, "Me Amaras," in 1993

Wanting to try his luck in the acting biz, Ricky picked up and moved to Los Angeles the same year he released "Me Amaras."

After a few additions, Ricky snagged the role of Miguel on "General Hospital" and instantly became a daytime television heartthrob

After "General Hospital," Ricky earned the coveted lead role Marius in the Broadway production of "Les Misérables."

Ricky dubbed the Spanish version of Disney's "Hercules."

His third album, "A Medio Vivir," in 1995, was produced by Robi Rosa and KC Porter, and sold more than 600,000 copies in six months

Ricky repeated that success with "Vuelve," which was certified gold on July 7, 1998

"Vuelve" has sold more than six million copies worldwide

Ricky has sold over 18 million albums as a solo artist.

Ricky entertained more than 275,000 fans in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1996. It was his largest audience ever

More than a billion viewers in 187 counties witnessed Ricky's electrifying performance of "La Copa de la Vida" at the 1999 Grammy Awards

Ricky's full-length Latin recording, "Vuelve," won the Grammy for Best Latin Pop Performance

"La Copa de la Vida" was the official song of the World Cup France '98. It has reached No. 1 in more than 30 countries

Ricky says he'll never stop singing in Spanish, but recording an album in English was always part of his plan

"Ricky Martin," his first full-length English-language recording, took over two years to produce. "I was not going to release this album until I was completely content with what I'd be presenting," he admits

Ricky's confident that America will devour his English-language debut as much as the rest of the world ate up his Spanish-language offerings. "With all humbleness,"Ricky says, "I think we'll sell 10 million copies."

Honesty is what Ricky wants to get across to the world with his lastest album. "I cannot wear a mask. This is Ricky Martin. That's why the album is called 'Ricky Martin.' As simple as that. We want to keep it simple. Like Albert Einstein said, 'Let's make it simple, but not simpler than what it is.' And this is me."

Ricky wanted to release the single "Livin' La Vida Loca" as a way of saying "Hey! Boom! I'm here! Check this out!"

Ricky loves the multinational, multidemensional attitude of the song:"[It] has a little bit of Latin, a little bit of ska, a little bit of rock, and there's even a little bit of the '60s, sort of a James Bond sound."

"Livin' La Vida Loca" was co-written by fellow Menudo alumnus Robi Rosa

Many people advised Ricky against recording with international icon Madonna because of their contrasting music styles

When the two pop powerhouses did meet in the studio, Ricky wasn't concerned with getting a song that would go on his album. He just wanted to have fun!

The meeting did produce a song for the album:"Be Careful" (Cuidado Con Mi Corozón"). And it perfectly blends Ricky's Latin life and Madonna's techno experiences.

Madonna wrote the song and Ricky translated a couple of the lyrics into Spanish

The song probably won't be the second single released to radio because Madonna's schedule is so packed that the two singers can't pin down a date to film a video

The second radio-released single will most likely be "She's All I Ever Had."

Don't expect Ricky to record an all electronica album anytime soon. "I don't want my voice to sound too technical; I want it to sound like me. The way I feel is, I don't have to sound perfect, but my emotion has to nail it."

Another standout duet on "Ricky Martin" is "Private Emotion," featuring the sensational Swedish songstress Meja.

Ricky loves to boast about the "dream team" that helped put the album together, including Jon Secada, Emilio Estafan, and Desmond Child

Sony, Ricky's record label, was so hyped to release "Ricky Martin" after his electrifying performance at the Grammy's that CEO Tommy Mattola purportedly quarreled with Madonna over delays in the recording of "Be Careful." Madonna wasn't pleased and allegdly walked out. Ricky managed to calm the ruffled feathers, and Madonna came back to finish the song.

Ricky was more excited about performing at the Grammy's than actually bringing home an award because the audience was one of the most demanding of his career.

Ricky Martin has many famous fans now, including Sting, Madonna, Beck and Pavarotti. Says Ricky: "To get the acceptance of your peers really means a lot."

Ricky felt his successful Grammy performance was a key to getting support from his record label's top brass. "I knew they'd come to me someday," says Ricky. "After the Grammy's, it was 'Yo, this is mine!'"

To calm his nerves before the monumental performance, Ricy said to himself, "Dude, you've been doing this for 15 years. Just be yourself."

Ricky also had an extended yoga session to ease his pre-Grammy jitters

Ricky has one goal when he steps in front of an audience: "Make them go crazy!"

Ricky is the spokesman for Puerto Rican tourism, and appears in television commercials touting the tropical island getaway.

Ricky Martin Mania is spawning an industry of wannabe Rickys

Ricky recently turned down a role in the film version of "West Side Story," opposite Jennifer Lopez, because he felt it promoted negative stereotypes of Puerto Ricans. "It's kicking my culture. And I'm not gonna feed that."

Ricky joined Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson and Gloria Estefan in Modena, Italy fo Luciano Pavorotti's annual benefit, Pavorotti & Friends, for the non-profit organization Warchild.

Ricky recently opened a Puerto Rican restuaranct, Casa Salsa, in Southbeach, Fla

Yes, he is a perfectionist. "I want to listen to my music in 30 years and say, 'Great album!'"

Ricky's musical tastes today are as diverse as when he was a child. "I listen to everything. I'm like a sponge!"

"The Godfarther" is Ricky's favorite flick

Intelligence is the No.1 quality Ricky looks for in a girl

Ricky thinks that Victor Hugo, author of "Les Meserables," is "a genius".

Ricky counts on his family, especially his mom, to keep down to earth in the face of worldwide popularity. "My mother pulls my ear every time she sees I need it."

Ricky will continue touring this summer

When he has time, Ricky loves to indulge himself with a day of skydiving

Ricky is used to being very affectionate withy his family. "If I walk into my father's house and I don't give him a hug, he'll say something."

Ricky does play favorites when it comes to his own music. His favorite song on "Ricky Martin" is the sensual and yearning, "I Am Made of You."

One of the reasons he likes "I Am Made of You" is that it "describes perfectly where I'm at today in my spiritual search."

Ricky received the honor of meeting and being blessed by Pope John Paul II

Ricky makes music and performs live with the hope of having a lasting effect of his listeners. "I want them to feel free, liberated."

Ricky likes to support AIDS causes since he's seen many friends succomb to the disease.

Ricky is so phenonmenally popular in Puerto Rico that his presence on a city street can draw upwards 20,000 people. Recently, he had to take a helicopter to a press conference in downtown San Juan from an airport that's a five-minute car ride away.

Ricky wants his success to help bust stereotpes about Latinos and Puerto Rico. "It's all about breaking stereotypes. For me, that fact that people think that Puerto Rico is "Scarface," that we ride donkeys to school - that has to change."

Ricky calls himself a romantic

Ricky thinks a rose can say more than 1,000 words

On his success, Ricky says simply: I'm flying! I'm flying!"

There a hundreds of fan Web sites devoted to Ricky

When Ricky feels stressed he practices yoga

Though raised Catholic, Ricky is studing other religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism

Ricky served as an altar boy for years before joining Menudo

Ricky says honest is his best quality

His worst quality: stubborness

Ricky doesn't like to talk about his private relationships, though he admits he has an on-again, off-again girlfriend - rumored to be Rebecca de Alba, a Spanish TV personality. "And that's all I'm sayin'," he insists.

Ricky's favorite designer is Georgio Armani

Ricky's favorite actor is Robert De Niro

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