Puerto Rico Welcomes Ricky Martin
February 12, 2000

Thousands of screaming, flag-waving fans are giving favorite son Ricky Martin a hero's welcome in his native Puerto Rico, packing a stadium for the pop star's first concerts here since he conquered the English-language music charts. Fans crowded into the Hiram Bithorn Stadium Friday night for the first of the three shows in San Juan.

Martin had not performed in Puerto Rico for two years, but many on this Caribbean island of 3.8 million people are proud of his international success. At Friday's concert, Martin returned the sentiment.

"This flag is all over the world. That's Puerto Ricans - proud of who we are," Martin told the crowd, prompting deafening applause.

Martin also won the crowd's approval by voicing his opposition to the U.S. Navy's bombing exercises on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques. The Puerto Rican government has agreed to allow limited exercises on Vieques for at least three more years, but many on the island are opposed to the Navy's presence.

"Not one bullet more, please," Martin yelled to the cheering crowd while waving the Puerto Rican flag. "Peace for Vieques!"

Martin kicked off the concert with his huge hit "Livin' La Vida Loca" and obliged fans' cravings for his latest radio favorite, "Shake Your Bon." He wrapped up with "The Cup of Life," the song he performed at last year's Grammy awards.

Martin just wrapped up a 28-city tour of the United States.

Ricky Arrives in Puerto Rico!
February 07, 2000

Screaming "Ricky, we love you!" dozens of fans welcomed Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin as he arrived home Monday for his first concerts on the island in two years.

Fans waved Puerto Rican flags as Martin stepped out of a private jet then boarded a helicopter that took him to an undisclosed location to rest. "I'm happy because I'm going to see my family (and) be able to breathe that air that you only can breathe in this land," Martin told reporters. Martin will give three concerts in San Juan over the weekend.

Martin said he might also visit Vieques, the Puerto Rican island where protesters have camped out on a Navy bombing range to thwart military exercises. Martin has taken their side, and he discussed the issue with one of President Clinton's advisers during a visit to the White House last week.

Ricky: Stop Bomb Tests off Puerto Rico!
October 29, 1999

Ricky Martin has a meeting scheduled with US president Bill Clinton during his trip to Washington for a benefit concert next week.

The US military has been conducting bombing runs on the island for many years now. Ricky will protest the test bombings on Vieques, a small island off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico.

Although the US Navy owns most of the island, Puerto Ricans have united to protest against the test bombings. Ricky has declared to be part of it. He told a newspaper that he'll do his best to stop the bombing on the island.

Ricky, The Movie Star?

Reports that he is doing a movie in LA. His acting career with ABC's General Hospital has boost his potential as an actor. We have not heard anything about this weather it is true or not. He is supposedly going to do a movie with a secret-famous movies star actor.

Ricky Martin premieres the "Bella" video August 11, 1999

Tomorrow, at 9:00 p.m., Puerto Rico will be frozen as the masses watch the new video of Puerto Rico's newest superstar. The "Bella" video, Spanish version of "She's All That", will be transmitted simultaneously in the three principal channels of the Island, "Televicentro" – Channel 4, "Telemundo" – Channel 2 and "Teleonce" – Channel 11. This is Ricky Martin's second promotional single from his successful musical production.

The video, a Nigel Dick production, was filmed in various sites of Los Angeles. He is part of the successful team of Aband Apart Music Video Company. Also, Dick is well recognized in the musical world as well as Wayne Isham, who produced the "Livin La Vida Loca" video. Charlotte Ayana is the model that will be working next to our Puerto Rican star in the "Bella" video.

With an overwhelming acceptance, the presentation of the english version of "Bella" was shown recently in MTV cable channel. Last Monday was the premiere in the US of Ricky's video, Spanish version, through "Telemundo", the official channel of the Ricky Martin's Tour, which will begin in October.

With the Island's presentation of "Bella", it is expected the same chaos that caused "Livin La Vida Loca", which conquer the firsts spots in the famous world lists of music and videos. The successful musical production named "Ricky Martin" stills with its entire apogee and our Puerto Rican icon continues his promotion throughout the whole world.

Once again Ricky Martin is #1 on the Billboard
September 2, 1999

Once again, Ricky is in the news and his accomplishments are on the cover of every magazine throughout the world. In just months, the interpreter of "Livin La Vida Loca", has put himself again in the #1 spot of the prestigious Billboard Chart. This time with his second single "Bella", the Spanish version of "She's all That", which is in the 1st position of the "Hot Latin Track" and has been a sensation in various important cities of the world.

Ricky and his acclaimed melodies of "She's All That" and "Livin La Vida Loca" are still #1 in England and other cities of Europe and America. In the past few weeks the Puerto Rican mega-star conquered, with his music and talent, the countries of the Orient, where he became an icon.

Now, Ricky is preparing himself for his participation on the great event of the MTV Music Award, with six nominations. He is also ready for his World Tour that begins in October and that will be transmitted by Telemundo, the official Ricky Martin's Tour channel.

Ricky Martin's World Tour begins in Miami
July 6, 1999

First, there was "Livin La Vida Loca", the single, then came, "Livin La Vida Loca", the video. Now, Ricky Martin is preparing to rock the world with "Livin La Vida Loca", THE TOUR.

After selling more than ten millions copies of his new album, conquering the No. 1 spot on the prestigious Billboard chart and receiving five platinum records in less than eight weeks, the Puerto Rican super star will initiate his so expected world tour on October 21 in the Miami Arena. This will be the beginning of a journey around 17 cities that acclaims the interpreter of "Livin La Vida Loca" and "The Cup of Life". The chaos that the music and presentations of Ricky Martin have caused it's an anticipation that all his concerts will be sold out. It is expected that the concert's tickets will be sold in less than 48 hours.

Ricky Appears on British Television
May 19, 1999

As a result of the huge success with his new musical production, and his contagious song "Livin La Vida Loca", the Puerto Rican super star arrived yesterday in England in order to continue his promotional tour throughout the world. England's television. The intervention will be on the famous show "Top of the Pops", where he will be the main figure. In this way, and by deference to the English audiences, Ricky will say present for some hours to this nation in which he has become an idol to many.

After his great acceptance on well known USA television programs, such as "Saturday Night Live", "The Rosie O'Donnell Show", among others, and after being on the cover of famous magazines as "TIME Magazine", "People" and "Entertainment Weekly", the success of "Livin La Vida Loca", that stills #1 on the Billboards Charts, has taken Ricky Martin to sustain the supremacy as the most popular Latin artist of the world.

Ricky Martin paralyzes New York City
May 12, 1999

Within hours of the release of his new musical production, titled "Ricky Martin", the world idol paralyzed New York City yesterday. Ricky visited the program "MTV Live Request" and then he went to TOWER RECORDS, located at 67 Avenue.

Once there, the Puerto Rican artist stood in front of approximately twelve thousand people to sign autographs and to give a warm welcome to his loyal fans. Metaphorically, in view of the reaction of the New York police that were present at all times, the Puerto Rican super star paralyzed the metropolis and started to live "la vida loca".

Rumors are that from the early hours of dawn, young fans staled at the streets in order to be the firsts to enter the music store and to have the chance to see the famous artist.

All the Latin and American media of the "Big Apple" covered the activity describing it as a historical moment. It is expected that in the next days Ricky Martin and his song "Livin La Vida Loca" will break a super sales record marking a new precedent for exceeding the five millions of copies sold in the pre-sale in such a short period of time.

Is Ricky Martin Gay?

This is the rumour thats going around at the moment. Im not sure if he is or not but in any interviews he scarcely reports that he has a girlfriend or even mentions girls. He has had video clips in the Australian "Maria" with Drag Queens. Find out more here .

Ricky's #1 !
April 28, 1999

The latin music superstat is the first male artist to hit the top spot in more than a year. He has the highest #1 sales figures in Columbia Records' history.

As Ricky Martin fever grips America, the C2/Columbia Recording artists "Livin La Vida Loca" has shot to #1 with a bullet on the billboard Hot 100 singles chart this week with both Power Pick Sales (greatest pin in sales) and Power Pick Airplay (greatest gain in airplay). In fact, with true first week's sales of "Livin La Vida Loca" totaling more than 280,000 pieces, Ricky Martin has achieved the highest #1 sales figures in Columbia Records history and has the fourth highest #1 sales in the history of the Hot 100 following Elton John's "Candle In The Wind 1997", Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On", and Brandy & Monica's "The Boy Is Mine". Ricky Martin is the first solo Latin male artist of the SoundScan era to hit #1 on the Hot 100 and is the first male artist to have the #1single on the Hot 100 in over a year (the last was Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy Wit lt" in March 1998).

The rise of "Livin La Vida Loca" has been nothing short of phenomenal. Based solely on airplay, "Livin La Vida Loca" entered the Hot 100 at #54 with a bullet the week of April 4, 1999. A week later, it had bulleted to 032 and was that week's Power Pick Airplay record. In its third week, the irresistible single shot to #8, again with a bullet and Power Pick Airplay. When the true first week's sales were factored in during the singles fourth week on the chart, the rise to numero uno was inevitable.

Earlier this month, Picky Martin created pure pandemonium when between 5,000-7,000 of his fins showed up for his in-store appearances in Miami and Los Angeles.

Ricky Martin galvanized more than a billion television viewers across the globe with his electrifying performance of "The Cup of Life (La Copa de Ia Vida)" at this year's Grammy Awards ceremony. Ricky's last album, Vuelve, won the Best Latin Pop Performance Grammy and has sold some 6 million copies worldwide.

Most recently, Ricky walked off with two Billboard Latin Music Awards including Album of the Year, Male (Vuelve) and Hot Latin Track of the Year (Vuelve).

Ricky Number One in Billboard Charts
April 30, 1999

After his sensational presentation in Milan, Italy, for the world launching of his new production, the Puerto Rican star Ricky Martin, in less than a week, has put himself in the No. 1 spot of the American Hot Chart Billboard 100 with his successful single "Livin La Vida Loca".

This is another triumph for the mega star since no other Puerto Rican has ever conquered such worldwide-recognized position. Also, "Livin La Vida Loca" has already sold 300,000 units and it hasn't been out on the market yet.

Definitely, "Livin La Vida Loca" is causing sensation throughout the whole world.

Ricky's First Appearance on Worldwide Television
April 30, 1999

The Puerto Rican star Ricky Martin will appear today in the Latin Billboard Music Award in Miami. During the ceremony the super star will perform his successful single "Livin La Vida Loca" and will receive the awards for Male Artist Album of the Year and Pop Hot Latin Track Album, both for his successful production of Vuelve which has exceeded six millions copies sold.

After his triumphal career around the world, it is most important for the Puerto Rican star that his Latin fans will be the first to watch his appearance in worldwide television.

This event will take place at Club Tropigala in Fountainbleau Hilton Tower Hotel and it will be transmitted worldwide via "Telemundo" Television Network in May 16, 1999 at 7:00 p.m.

Ricky martin on Top of the World with: Sting, Elton John, and Billy Joel
March 11, 1999

Invited by British Super -Star Sting, our Ricky Martin will arrive to New York's Carnegie Hall on April the 17th at 7:00 p.m. to participate along with other big music starts in one of the most spectacular annual events, the "Tenth Annual Rainforest Benefit", founded ten years ago by Trudie Styler, and Sting.

According to Ms. Styler: "This year, the artists have been asked to perform their favorite Frank Sinatra songs and we're doing it his way". Through these annual benefit concerts almost ten million dollars has been raised to support the Rainforest Foundation's mission of protecting the rights and environment of the people who live in the world's rainforests. The benefit Concert will be a part of Rainforest Awareness Week that features various fund and awareness raising activities including the Empire State Building glowing green in tribute and the street outside Carnegie Hall being temporarily renamed" Rainforest Way".

In 1989 the Rainforest Foundation was originally created to help protect the Kayapo Indian's homeland in the Amazon.

The performers to this event include regulars Elton John, Sting and James Taylor who will be joined by: Charles Aznavour, Tony Bennett, Sandra Bernhard, Don Henley, Bill Joel, Ricky Martin, and as always, concert producer Trudie Styler promises special surprise guests.

After the honor of participating in this great event, Ricky Martin will leave to Los Angeles to continue with his career responsibilities.

Ricky Makes a Show-Stopping Debut at the GRAMMYS
February 25, 1999

Latin performer Ricky Martin brought the Grammy audience to its feet last night with his energetic performance of the song "La Copa De La Vida". The audience awarded the Latin pop artist with a standing ovation after his debut performance on the show. Ricky later went on to win a Grammy in the "Best Latin Pop Performance" category for his Spanish album "Vuelve". This was Martin's first nomination and first win as a solo artist.

A native of Puerto Rico, Ricky has been performing and amazing audiences worldwide with his Latin pop sound from an early age. "Vuelve", which was released last summer, has sold over 6 million records and has hit number one in Australia, Japan and France.

Martin looks forward to his first crossover album in English, due out on June 1st. "It's all about communication," Martin said. I've done recordings in French, in Portuguese, why not English? I'll never stop singing in Spanish. I'm very proud of where I came from. But let's communicate right? Why not?"

Ricky to Perform "La Copa de la Vida" on the 41st Grammy Awards on Feb 24 on CBS
January 27, 1999

Ricky Martin will be performing "La Copa De La Vida" on the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, it was officially announced today by Michael Greene, President/CEO of The Recording Academy and Pierre Cossette of Cossette Productions. The February 24 CBS telecast will be hosted by Rosie O'Donnell. Madonna will also perform on the show, as previously announced. Martin's LP Vuelve is nominated for "Best Latin Performance". This is Martin's first nomination as a solo artist; he was formerly nominated twice as a member of Menudo.

"We are delighted to have such a talented performer on the 41st Annual GRAMMY Awards", commented Michael Greene. "As both an actor and performer, he brings a special energy to the show. We are also committed to represent more Latin Music in our future endeavors. This year we added categories in this field, in addition to the R&B and Classical fields. The Recording Academy has also moved to develop an awards framework for the first Latin Grammy Awards and Sergio Rosenblatt has become the new Executive Director of LARAS.

Winners in all 95 categories of the Music industry's most prestigious awards will be revealed during the 41 Annual Grammy Awards at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium on Wednesday, February 24. The live telecast will be seen on the CBS Television Network from 8-11 p.m. (ET/PT) and overseas via satellite to over 1.5 billion viewers in 195 countries.

The 41st Annual Grammy Awards is a Recording Academy event in cooperation with Cossette Productions. Pierre Cossette is the executive producer; Walter C. Miller is producer/director; Ken Ehrlich, producer; John Cossette is the supervising producer and Tisha Fein is the coordinating producer of the show.

IBM is the recording Academy's official partner to sponsor and produce the official Webcast of the 41st Annual Grammy Awards. The Grammy webcast, on www.grammy.com, will launch in early February with extraordinary, exclusive, behind the scene coverage reaching its crescendo on February 24.

Westwood One, America's # 1 Radio Network, is the Official Grammy Radio Network, Westwood One produces and distributes special programming and exclusive coverage live from backstage at the Grammy in nine different formats to radio stations around the World.

Ricky Invited to Sing at the Grammys
January 13, 1999

The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (N.A.R.A.S.), entity that organizes the prestigious Grammy Awards, has confirmed that Ricky Martin will join the artistic cast that will perform the night of the awards, during the live transmission, which will reach more than two thousand millions of persons around the World.

As a result, Hispanics will have a representation that establishes a precedent. The event occurs on Wednesday February the 4th, in the Shrine Auditorium of Los Angeles, California. It will be transmitted live –Via Satellite- to the World by CBS (9:00 PM to 12:00 Puerto Rico time).

The following stars will also participate in this event: Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Mariah Carey, and Will Smith among others.

For Ricky Martin this is not only a commitment, but also, another opportunity to continue promoting the Hispanic culture.

Records in Spain
December 10, 1998

After his spectacular success in India, Ricky Martin traveled to Spain to record a Christmas special for TVE (Television Española). During this special Ricky Martin will perform his greatest hits of the year, with which he has traveled and succeeded all around the planet.

Also, to the enjoyment of our brothers and sisters in the Iberian Peninsula, the famous 'boricua' will participate in the New Year's Eve Gala of the important television chain, Antenna 3. During this gala, Ricky Martin will share the stage with renowned artists such as Julio Iglesias, Alejandro Sanz, Shakira, Juan Gabriel, and Joan Manuel Serrat among others.

While in Spain, Ricky Martin will also record the video for his next single "Por arriba, Por abajo". Afterwards Ricky will travel to Sidney, Australia, host of the Year 2000 Olympic Games where he will record a commercial for Pepsi with the famous American singer: Janet Jackson.

All of Asia Goes Latin!
December 2, 1998.

Ricky Martin, the mega star from Puerto Rico, continues his un-stoppable and ascending career, and proves it with his absolute triumph in the City of Singapore.

Before thousands of fans, the 'boricua' idol had everyone dancing to the rhythms of "Maria" and "La Copa de la Vida" in the Harbour Pavillion of this great city.

There are thousands and thousands of persons in the Orient that closely follow Ricky Martin's tour, which has already surpassed by far the five million mark of Vuelve records sold.

Very soon, Ricky Martin will present his concert in Oriental cities such as: China, and India among others.

Ricky Conquering China
December 2, 1998

Ricky Martin arrived today in China to offer his world famous concert Vuelve, and inspire his thousands of fans to dance to his catching songs "Maria" and "La Copa de la Vida".

As the Hispanic Ambassador to the World, Ricky Martin continues his un-stoppable and ascending career. This time he will conquer the Chinese with his concert in the Gongren Stadium in Beijing.

It will be the first performance of a Hispanic artist in this country, one of the most populated in the world, and to the honor of Latin America he will sing his whole repertoire in Spanish.

During his visit to China, Ricky Martin will visit the Great Chinese Wall.

Ricky Launches first Peurto Rican Theme Restaurant
October 9, 1998

Miami, Florida / World famous Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin announced today, during his USA Tour Press Conference, that an important part of his 1998 plans include the opening, in South Beach Florida, of Casa Salsa, the first Puerto Rican Theme restaurant of its kind.

A Worldwide venture, the first Casa Salsa will open in mid December, at 524 Ocean Drive, South Beach, Florida.

"When I travel around the World, I miss my island a whole lot, so when the opportunity came to join forces with some other Puerto Rican entrepreneurs to open a restaurant that would, in essence, be a reflection, a recreation – through its food, its atmosphere, its flavor – of what Puerto Rico is and has to offer, I jumped in," expressed Ricky." And added, "when you walk into Casa Salsa, you walk into an environment where you feel like you have walked into a modern Puerto Rican house, offering you one of the best cuisines in all of Latin America, the world's best rums and coffee, top quality tobacco, live music, our traditions and of course, salsa, that famous collage of tropical rhythms, sweeping the World."

Casa Salsa is a Florida based Corporation formed by a group of eight Puerto Rican entrepreneurs: Luis Sierra, one of the principal partners of the sierra, Cardona y Ferrer, architectural firm; the Muñiz brothers, Rafo and Pedro, both well known Puerto Rican radio, film, and television producers and marketing promoters; Angelo Medina, one of the island's top music and entertainer's promoters, besides being Ricky Martin's Manager; the Benitez-Gorbea brothers, Manuel and José, owners of world famous Ajili Mojili, Puerto Rico's top gourmet criollo cuisine restaurant.

"Ajili Mojili is my first stop in Puerto Rico every time I go back home; it reminds me so much of the food my grandmother used to cook for me, that I just can't fly out of the island, without making a stopover there," stated Ricky.

The Casa Salsa project represents a first for islanders, since it is the first time a group of Puerto Rican entrepreneurs join forces to promote the customs, traditions, food and music of the Caribbean island, which is home to some of the world's best entertainers and athletes.