Martika facts for kids

Marta Marrero (born May 18, 1969), known as Martika, is an American pop singer and actress. She became famous in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Her albums sold over four million copies worldwide. Her biggest hit song was "Toy Soldiers". It reached number one in the United States in 1989. Martika is also well-known for playing Gloria on the TV show Kids Incorporated.

Early Life and Family

Martika was born in Whittier, California. Her parents were from Cuba.

Martika's Music Career

Starting in Entertainment

Martika started in show business in 1982. She had a small role in the movie Annie. This led to her being cast as Gloria on the popular children's TV show Kids Incorporated. On the show, she was part of a group of kids who sang and performed.

During her time on Kids Incorporated, she started using the stage name Martika. She also appeared in the Mr. T video Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool! in 1984.

After Kids Incorporated, Martika signed with Columbia Records. Her first solo song, "We are Music," was released only in Japan. It was used to promote Sony cassette tapes.

Becoming a Pop Star

Martika's first album, called Martika, came out in 1988. It became very popular. The album included her hit song "Toy Soldiers". She wrote this song with her producer, Michael Jay.

"Toy Soldiers" became a top-5 hit in many countries. It reached number one in the US in 1989 and also in New Zealand. Other songs from the album, like "More Than You Know" and "I Feel the Earth Move", also became popular hits. "I Feel the Earth Move" was a cover of a Carole King song.

Her first album sold very well. It was certified platinum in the UK and double platinum in Australia.

Music in the 1990s

In 1991, Martika worked with the famous musician Prince. Together, they created her second US Top-10 hit, "Love... Thy Will Be Done". This song also became a Top-10 hit in the UK and reached number one in Australia. "Love... Thy Will Be Done" started as a prayer written by Martika, which Prince then turned into a song.

Her second album, Martika's Kitchen, was released in 1991. It was more successful outside the US. The album's title song, "Martika's Kitchen", and "Coloured Kisses" were popular hits from this album.

Martika also acted in the TV series Wiseguy in 1990. She played a lounge singer named Dahlia Mendez.

By 1992, Martika decided to take a break from the music industry. She felt overwhelmed by fame and needed time away. In 1997, a collection of her greatest hits, The Best of Martika: More Than You Know, was released.

Returning to Music

In the early 2000s, Martika started singing backing vocals for other artists. She also created a website for her fans and released a new song called "The Journey."

In 2003, Martika and her husband, musician Michael Mozart, formed a band called Oppera. They released their first album, Violince, in 2004. The rapper Eminem later used a part of Martika's song "Toy Soldiers" for his song "Like Toy Soldiers" in 2004. Martika's greatest hits album was then re-released with the new title Toy Soldiers: The Best of Martika.

Oppera released a second album in 2005. Martika promoted this album by performing at bookstores.

In 2010, Martika used the stage name Vida Edit and helped produce a web TV show called J8ded. In 2011, she went back to using the name Martika and launched a new personal website. She performed at a festival in Chile in 2014 with other 80s stars like Debbie Gibson and Rick Astley.

In July 2016, Martika joined the Totally 80s Tour in Australia. She performed with seven other international acts from the 1980s. Her performances received good reviews from the Australian press.

Personal Life

As of 2016, Martika was living in Dayton, Ohio, with her musician husband. She was focusing on her married life.

Awards and Nominations

Discography

Studio albums

• Martika (1988)
• Martika's Kitchen (1991)

with Oppera

• Violince (2004)
• Oppera (2005)

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Martika para niños