Ricky Martin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ricky Martin
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Martin at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards
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Enrique Martin Morales
December 24, 1971 |
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| Years active | 1984–present |
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Works
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| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 4 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
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Enrique Martin Morales (born December 24, 1971) is a famous singer, songwriter, and actor from Puerto Rico. He is known for his amazing musical style, mixing many types of music like Latin pop, dance, reggaeton, and salsa.
Born in San Juan, Ricky Martin started acting in TV ads when he was nine. His music career began at age twelve when he joined the boy band Menudo. He started his solo career in 1991 with Sony Music Mexico. His first two albums, Ricky Martin (1991) and Me Amaras (1993), made him popular in Latin America.
His third album, A Medio Vivir (1995), made him famous in Europe. The song "María" became his first international hit. His fourth album, Vuelve (1998), brought him even more success and his first Grammy Award. He performed "La Copa de la Vida" at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards. His first English album, Ricky Martin (1999), reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. The song "Livin' la Vida Loca" topped charts in the US and UK. Ricky Martin's success in the late 1990s helped start the "Latin explosion" in music. He helped Latin pop music become popular around the world, opening doors for many other Latin artists.
Martin has released many successful albums since then, including Almas del Silencio (2003) and MTV Unplugged (2006). His album A Quien Quiera Escuchar (2015) also won a Grammy Award. Some of his well-known songs from this time include "She Bangs", "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely", and "Vente Pa' Ca". As an actor, he appeared in the TV show General Hospital (1994–1996). He also played Antonio D'Amico in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2018), which earned him an Emmy nomination. In 2012, he starred as Ché in the Broadway musical Evita.
Ricky Martin is one of the best-selling Latin music artists ever, selling over 70 million records. He has had 11 songs reach number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart. He has won many awards, including two Grammy Awards, five Latin Grammy Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
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Enrique Martín Morales was born on December 24, 1971, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His mother, Doña Nereida Morales, was an accountant. His father, Enrique Martín Negroni, was a psychologist. His parents separated when he was two years old. Ricky lived with his mother but could also visit his father's house and his grandmother's house nearby. He said he was "always happy" and never had to choose between his parents. Ricky has several half-siblings from his parents' other relationships. His family has Spanish roots, including Basque and Canarian heritage. He also has some Corsican origin from his grandmother.
Ricky grew up Catholic. His family called him "Kiki." He started singing at age six, using kitchen spoons as microphones. He loved singing songs by the boy band Menudo and rock groups like Led Zeppelin. His mother's family loved music, and his grandfather was a poet. Ricky felt that the energy from family gatherings helped him when he performed for large audiences later on. He went to Colegio Sagrado Corazón, a Catholic school, and was an "average" student. When he was nine, he started appearing in TV commercials for drinks and fast food. He starred in 11 commercials in just a year and a half.
Career Highlights
Joining Menudo (1984–1989)
After becoming known from TV commercials, Ricky auditioned for Menudo. This Puerto Rican boy band often replaced members when they turned 16 to keep the group young. Ricky was first rejected for being too short. But his determination impressed the leaders, and in 1984, 12-year-old Ricky joined the band. He replaced Ricky Melendez.
A month after joining, he performed with Menudo for the first time in San Juan. He accidentally moved during the show when he was supposed to stay still. The band manager corrected him, and Ricky learned to follow the rules strictly. Even though he enjoyed traveling and performing, the band's busy schedule and strict rules were tiring. He later said the experience "cost" him his childhood but also gave him "amazing experiences."
Ricky became a key and popular member of Menudo. The band released 11 albums during his time, including the Grammy-nominated Evolución (1984). Their album Menudo (1985) was their highest-charting. Ricky's first solo song, "Rayo de Luna," was on Evolución. The hit song "Hold Me" was on Menudo. "Hold Me" was Menudo's only song to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was named one of the "Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time" by Billboard. Ricky also acted with Menudo in the TV series The Love Boat (1985) and the soap opera Por Siempre Amigos (1987). He also became interested in helping others when the group became UNICEF ambassadors.
Ricky left Menudo in July 1989, at age 17. He wanted to rest and think about his future. He performed his last show at the same place where he started. He returned to Puerto Rico to relax from the band's pressures. After graduating high school and turning 18, he moved to New York City. He could finally access his own bank accounts, as he was a minor while with Menudo.
Solo Career Begins (1990–1994)
In 1990, Ricky was accepted into New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. But before classes began, a friend invited him to Mexico City. He saw a musical play there and was offered a role. He accepted, left the university, and moved to Mexico City to perform in Mama Ama el Rock.
While acting in the play, a producer noticed him and offered him a role in the Mexican TV show Alcanzar una estrella (1990). Ricky also joined the second season, Alcanzar una estrella II (1991). He starred in a movie based on the TV series, Más que alcanzar una estrella (1992), and won an award for his acting.
An executive from Sony Discos saw Ricky's acting and offered him his first solo music contract. Ricky was excited to record his first album. He signed the contract without reading it carefully and agreed to be paid only one cent for each album sold! Even though the contract was unfair, Ricky called it "the start of something phenomenal."
He worked very hard, finishing filming Alcanzar una estrella II and recording music at the same time. His first solo album, Ricky Martin, was released on November 26, 1991. The album reached number five on the US Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart. It sold over 500,000 copies worldwide and was certified gold in many countries. His first solo hit songs were "Fuego Contra Fuego", "El Amor de Mi Vida", and "Dime Que Me Quieres". Both "Fuego Contra Fuego" and "El Amor de Mi Vida" reached the top 10 on the US Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart. To promote the album, Ricky went on a successful tour in Latin America.
After the success of his first album, Ricky worked with Spanish musician Juan Carlos Calderón on his second album, Me Amaras (1993). Ricky was thankful for the chance to work with Calderón, but he felt the album was more Calderón's than his own. This album sold over one million copies worldwide.
In 1994, Ricky's agent encouraged him to move to Los Angeles to act in an American TV show called Getting By. The show was canceled after two seasons. Soon after, Ricky got the role of Miguel Morez on the popular soap opera General Hospital. Ricky played this role for two years and became very popular. However, he felt he didn't connect well with the other actors. People also treated him differently because of his Puerto Rican accent. At that time, it was rare for Latin actors to be on American TV. People suggested he take classes to reduce his accent, but he refused.
International Breakthrough (1995–1997)
In 1995, Ricky focused on his music again and started working on his third album, A Medio Vivir. The album was released in September 1995 and became a huge success. It sold millions of copies worldwide and earned many awards in different countries. It had several hit songs, including "Te Extraño, Te Olvido, Te Amo", "María", and "Volverás".
For "María," Ricky tried a new Latin and African sound. He mixed different Latin music styles instead of just singing romantic ballads, which was common then. Ricky was very proud of "María." But when he first played it for a record label executive, the man said, "Are you crazy? You have ruined your career!" Despite this, "María" became Ricky's breakthrough song and his first international hit. It reached number one in 20 countries and sold over five million copies. The song was even featured in the 1999 The Guinness Book of Records as the biggest Latin hit.
In Australia, "María" was number one for six weeks. In France, it was number one for nine weeks and sold over 1.4 million copies. The song also reached the top 10 in the United Kingdom and was Ricky's first song on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. To promote A Medio Vivir, he went on the A Medio Vivir Tour for over two years, performing 63 shows in Europe, Latin America, and the United States.
During an interview in 1996, Ricky said he wanted to perform on Broadway. A few days later, he got a call from producer Richard Jay-Alexander. He was offered the role of Marius Pontmercy in the play Les Misérables. After his tour ended, Ricky went to New York to act in the play for eleven weeks. He loved the experience, calling it an "honor" and "the role of [his] life." He continued touring after the play, and his audiences grew larger and more excited.
Vuelve and Global Fame (1998–1999)
While still on tour, Ricky went back to the studio to record his fourth album, Vuelve. He said touring and recording at the same time was "brutal and incredibly intense." As he was finishing the album in 1997, his song "María" caught the attention of FIFA. They asked him to create a song for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Ricky felt nervous but saw it as a huge chance for his career. He accepted, and with musicians K.C. Porter, Robi Rosa, and Desmond Child, he created "La Copa de la Vida" (English: "The Cup of Life").
Ricky wrote that they planned the album to promote Latin music worldwide. They chose songs to make everyone dance and sing in Spanish. He felt it was a special chance to share Latin music with the world.
Vuelve was released on February 12, 1998. It became a massive success, selling over eight million copies worldwide. It was the best-selling Spanish-language album ever, according to his record label. It stayed at number one on the US Billboard Top Latin Albums chart for 26 weeks. Vuelve had big hits like the title track, "La Copa de la Vida", "Perdido Sin Ti", and "La Bomba". "La Copa de la Vida" became an international hit, reaching number one in 30 countries. Both "Vuelve" and "Perdido Sin Ti" reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart. On July 12, 1998, Ricky performed "La Copa de la Vida" at the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final in France. Over a billion TV viewers watched him.
To promote Vuelve, Ricky went on the Vuelve Tour around the world. He performed in Asia, Australia, Europe, Mexico, and the United States. At that time, Latin music was not very important to the the Recording Academy (who give out the Grammys). But Tommy Mottola, head of Columbia Records, believed in Ricky. He pushed hard to have Ricky perform at the Grammy Awards ceremony. Mottola said there was "tremendous resistance" because they thought Ricky was "unknown," even though he had sold 10 million copies of Vuelve.
Finally, on February 24, 1999, Ricky performed a bilingual version of "La Copa de La Vida" at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards. He had a 15-piece band and many dancers. The performance received a huge standing ovation and was praised by music critics. That same night, Vuelve won Ricky his first Grammy award for Best Latin Pop Performance.
Crossing Over to English (1999–2000)
In October 1998, CNN confirmed that Ricky was working on his first English album after the huge success of Vuelve. The album was called Ricky Martin and was released on May 11, 1999. It came out two weeks early because of the high interest after his Grammy performance. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 661,000 copies in its first week. This was the biggest sales week for any album in 1999. Ricky became the first male Latin artist to debut at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album sold over seven million copies in the US, becoming the best-selling album by a Latin artist in the country. Within three months, it was the best-selling album ever by a Latin artist. Worldwide, it sold over 15 million copies. It was nominated for Best Pop Album at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.
The album's main song, "Livin' la Vida Loca" (meaning "Livin' the Crazy Life"), topped charts in over 20 countries. It is considered Ricky's biggest hit and one of the best-selling songs ever. In the United States, it was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for five weeks. It also broke several records on Billboard charts. In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number one, making Ricky the first Puerto Rican artist to reach number one there. The song was named the best '90s pop song by Elle. It was nominated for four Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year. Its Spanish version also reached number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart.
"She's All I Ever Had" was the second song released from the album in June 1999. It reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100. The Spanish version, "Bella," topped charts in five countries. To promote the album, Ricky went on the worldwide Livin' la Vida Loca Tour. This tour was the highest-earning tour by a Latin artist in the US in 2000.
Continued Success (2000–2005)
While still on the Livin' la Vida Loca Tour, Ricky recorded his sixth album, Sound Loaded. It was released on November 14, 2000. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200. The album sold over seven million copies worldwide. It had two hit songs, "She Bangs" and "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely". "She Bangs" reached number one in seven countries and was nominated for a Grammy. The Spanish version of "She Bangs" won a Latin Grammy Award. "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" was re-recorded with American singer Christina Aguilera. It reached number one in five countries and was nominated for a Grammy.
In February 2001, Ricky released a Spanish collection album called La Historia (meaning "The History"). It was number one on the Top Latin Albums chart for five weeks.
After the success of his English albums, Ricky planned to release another English album. But he decided to release a Spanish album instead. His seventh album, Almas del Silencio (meaning "Souls from the Silence"), was released in May 2003. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. It sold over two million copies worldwide.
Almas del Silencio had three songs that reached number one on the Hot Latin Tracks chart: "Tal Vez", "Jaleo", and "Y Todo Queda en Nada". "Tal Vez" debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart and stayed there for 11 weeks. This was Ricky's longest-running number one song on that chart.
In October 2005, Ricky released his third English album, Life. He said the album showed his emotions, like anger, joy, and uncertainty. To promote Life, he went on the worldwide One Night Only with Ricky Martin tour.
New Music and Broadway (2006–2012)
Ricky Martin recorded his MTV Unplugged show in Miami in August 2006. He performed both slow romantic songs and fast dance songs. He also introduced three new songs, including "Tu Recuerdo" (meaning "Your Memory"). This song was the main single from his live album MTV Unplugged (2006). The album reached number one on the Top Latin Albums chart and sold over two million copies worldwide. It won two Latin Grammy awards. "Tu Recuerdo" reached number one in five countries.
Ricky then went on the Black and White Tour in 2007. He performed four sold-out shows in Puerto Rico, which were made into his second live album Ricky Martin... Live Black & White Tour (2007). Later that year, he released his first Italian song, "Non siamo soli", with Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti. The song was number one in Italy for eleven weeks.
In January 2011, Ricky released his ninth album, Música + Alma (meaning "Music + Soul"). It debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 chart. This was the highest-charting Spanish-language album since 1995. It also reached number one in Argentina and Venezuela. The main song, "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" (English: "The Best Thing About Me Is You"), reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart. To promote the album, Ricky went on the Música + Alma World Tour in 2011.
In February 2012, he appeared as Spanish teacher David Martinez on the TV show Glee. From March 2012 to January 2013, Ricky starred as Ché in the Broadway musical Evita. The show was a big hit, breaking box-office sales records. It was nominated for Best Revival of a Musical at the 66th Tony Awards.
Coaching and New Projects (2013–2018)
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Ricky Martin was a coach on the TV singing competition The Voice Australia in 2013, 2014, and 2015. In 2013, he released a collection album, Greatest Hits: Souvenir Edition, which reached number two in Australia. He also released a new song, "Come with Me". He then toured Australia.
In 2014, Ricky was featured on the song "Adrenalina" by Wisin, also featuring Jennifer Lopez. This song became the Univision's 2014 World Cup song. It was very successful, reaching the top five in several countries. Its music video has over 850 million views on YouTube. Later that year, Ricky released his song "Vida" for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He also coached on The Voice Mexico and toured Mexico.
In February 2015, Ricky released his tenth album, A Quien Quiera Escuchar (meaning "To Those Who Want to Listen"). It debuted at number one on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart. It won the award for Best Latin Pop Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. The album had three songs that reached the top 10 on the Hot Latin Songs chart: "Adiós", "Disparo al Corazón", and "La Mordidita". "La Mordidita" was very successful, and its music video has over 1.2 billion views on YouTube. To promote the album, Ricky went on the One World Tour from 2015 to 2017.
He was also a judge and executive producer on the American singing competition series La Banda in 2015 and 2016. The show looked for new Latin boy bands and girl bands. CNCO, a reggaeton boy band, won the first season. Ricky became their manager and helped produce their first album. CNCO also opened many shows on Ricky's One World Tour.
On September 23, 2016, Ricky released "Vente Pa' Ca" (meaning "Come Here"), featuring Colombian singer Maluma. This song became one of the biggest Spanish-language songs of 2016. It reached number one in seven countries and has over 1.75 billion views on YouTube.
Ricky played fashion designer Gianni Versace's partner Antonio D'Amico in the TV series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. This role earned him an Emmy nomination. In February 2018, Ricky released "Fiebre" (meaning "Fever"), featuring Wisin & Yandel. This song was successful in Latin America.
Recent Work (2019–Present)
At the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, Ricky performed with Camila Cabello, J Balvin, and others. He was a coach on the Italian talent show Amici di Maria De Filippi in 2019. In the same year, he was featured on Maluma's song "No Se Me Quita". Ricky hosted the 20th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in November 2019.
He started recording his eleventh album, Movimiento, in 2019, inspired by protests in Puerto Rico. He began the Movimiento Tour in 2020. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to split the album into two shorter albums called Pausa (meaning "Pause") and Play. Pausa was released in May 2020 and won a Latin Grammy Award. The song "Tiburones" from Pausa reached number one in Argentina and Puerto Rico.
Ricky also voiced the villain Don Juan Diego in the Christmas musical film Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. The film was released on Netflix in November 2020. In April 2021, Ricky released "Canción Bonita" (meaning "Pretty Song") with Colombian singer Carlos Vives. This song was very successful in Latin America, reaching number one in 12 countries. Later that year, he toured with Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias. Ricky released Play in July 2022.
Musical Style and Voice
Musical Influences
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As a child, Ricky sang songs by Menudo and American rock bands like Led Zeppelin. His older siblings listened to these. His mother also made him listen to Latin music, like Fania All-Stars and Celia Cruz. He is very grateful to his mother for these influences, which greatly affected his music career.
Ricky has also said that Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, and Madonna taught him about "the beauty of pop." He said he was very influenced by Madonna's music and knew all her dance moves. He also looks up to Carlos Santana, José Feliciano, Celia Cruz, and Gloria Estefan for paving the way for him. He admires David Bowie and Barbra Streisand, saying he wants to be an "entertainer, not just a singer."
Music Styles and Themes
Ricky Martin is known as a versatile artist. He describes his music as Latin pop, saying it's a very wide style. He also calls his music "fusion" and says he doesn't just follow trends. Music critics have described his songs as Latin pop, pop, dance, ballad, reggaeton, and many other styles.
Ricky sings in Spanish, English, Portuguese, Italian, and French. He says that even though his music makes people dance, his lyrics are meaningful. He sings about love and heartbreak, but also about important topics like freedom and social justice.
Vocal Abilities
Ricky Martin has a powerful voice. Critics have said his voice is "soulful" and "capable of belt or lilt." His vocal skills improved over time, and he can handle both slow ballads and fast, upbeat songs. His voice has been described as "tender and heartfelt" and showing "vocal maturity."
Music Videos
Billboard called Ricky Martin a "video icon." They ranked him among the greatest music video artists of all time. His video for "Livin' la Vida Loca" was nominated for Video of the Year in 1999, making him the first Latin artist to get this nomination. It won five awards at the ceremony, making it one of the most awarded videos in MTV Video Music Awards history.
Personal Life
Family Life
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In January 2018, Ricky Martin confirmed he had secretly married artist Jwan Yosef. On December 31, 2018, they announced the birth of their daughter, Lucia Martin-Yosef. In September 2019, Ricky announced they were expecting their fourth child. On October 29, 2019, he shared a photo of himself, Yosef, and their newborn son, Renn Martin-Yosef. In July 2023, Ricky and Jwan announced they had separated.
Beliefs
Ricky Martin believes in "love," "the power of healing," and "God." He was raised Catholic but respects all religions. He also admires Buddhist philosophy.
Homes
Ricky Martin has owned several homes. In 2001, he bought a house in Miami Beach and later sold it. He also owned a villa in Los Angeles and another house in Miami Beach. In 2007, he bought a mansion in Golden Beach. He also owned a condominium in New York City. In 2014, he rented a large mansion in Sydney, Australia. In December 2016, he bought an 11,300-square-foot mansion in Beverly Hills, which is his current home. He also owns property in Puerto Rico and a private island in Brazil.
Impact and Recognition
Influence in Music
Ricky Martin is often called the "King of Latin Pop."
His song "María (Pablo Flores Remix)" helped start the mix of Latin and dance music in the 1990s. People even learned to count to three in Spanish because of the song's popularity. "La Copa de la Vida" is considered the Best World Cup Anthem of All-Time. It became a model for other World Cup songs, influencing their style and even including the "Ole! Ole! Ole!" chant.
Ricky Martin is known for helping Latin pop music become popular around the world. After his Grammy performance of "The Cup of Life" and the success of "Livin' la Vida Loca," he opened doors for many other Latin artists. Artists like Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, and Enrique Iglesias released their own successful albums after him. His Grammy performance changed how people saw Latin music in America. It is seen as the start of the "Latin explosion," which greatly affected mainstream music in the US. "Livin' la Vida Loca" is credited with helping many Latin artists break into English-speaking markets.
Supporting Fairness for Everyone
Ricky Martin actively supports fairness and equality for all people. He has spoken out against war and those who promote it. In 2010, he disagreed with a proposed law in Arizona that would have required police to ask for documents from people they suspected were immigrants. He has also supported efforts to protect women and condemn violence against them in Puerto Rico.
Ricky Martin is a strong supporter of LGBT rights worldwide. Even before he publicly shared his identity in 2010, he was popular among gay fans. He has been called a gay icon and a strong advocate for equal rights. He has spoken out against laws that would harm the LGBTQ community.
Many of Ricky's music videos show diversity and same-sex couples, including "The Best Thing About Me Is You" and "Tiburones". For his work supporting the LGBTQ community, Ricky Martin has received many awards, including the GLAAD Vito Russo Award and the International Icon Award.
Awards and Honors
Throughout his career, Ricky Martin has won over 200 awards, making him one of the most awarded male Latin artists. These include two Grammy Awards, five Latin Grammy Awards, and five MTV Video Music Awards. He also has a Guinness World Record. As an actor, he was nominated for an Emmy Award. In 2007, Ricky Martin received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 2007, the mayor of Miami Beach, Florida gave him the key to the city. In 2008, Puerto Rico named August 31 "International Ricky Martin Day." In 2011, the Government of Spain gave him Spanish nationality. In 2018, New York City named June 7 "Ricky Martin Day" to recognize his dedication to Puerto Rico. Ricky Martin has sold over 70 million records, making him one of the best-selling Latin music artists ever.
Music Albums
- Ricky Martin (1991)
- Me Amaras (1993)
- A Medio Vivir (1995)
- Vuelve (1998)
- Ricky Martin (1999)
- Sound Loaded (2000)
- Almas del Silencio (2003)
- Life (2005)
- Música + Alma + Sexo (2011)
- A Quien Quiera Escuchar (2015)
Films and TV Shows
- Mas Que Alcanzar una estrella (1992)
- Hercules – Latin American dub (1997)
- Idle Hands (1999)
- Ricky Martin: One Night Only (1999)
- Minions – Latin American dub (2015)
- The Latin Explosion: A New America (2015)
- Ricky Martin: Behind the Vegas Residency (2017)
- Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)
- El cuartito (2021)
- Palm Royale (2024)
Theatre Performances
- Les Misérables (1996), Broadway – Marius Pontmercy
- Evita (2012), Broadway – Ché
Tours and Concerts
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Main Tours
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Joint Tours
Concert Residency
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Images for kids
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Ricky Martin's signature
In Spanish: Ricky Martin para niños
