Ricky Martin Tickets

Short Biography
Both a GRAMMY and Multiple LATIN GRAMMY winner, Ricky Martin is the leading Latin Music figure of his generation - beloved by fans worldwide for his instinctive understanding of rhythm, passion for performing, and equal compassion for giving.

Already accustomed to the spotlight from the five years he spent in Menudo, Ricky Martin set-off on his own musical path with the 1991 release of his self-titled debut solo album. With his first two albums quickly establishing Martin as a superstar throughout the Spanish-speaking world, it did not take long before his magnetic performance ability began to entice audiences well-beyond the era's perceived limitations for a Latin music artist.  With the continuously escalating success of landmark singles such as 1995's "Maria" and his globally embraced 1998 World Cup Anthem La Copa de la Vida ("The Cup of Life"), Martin vaulted to the level of bona fide global superstar and the natural performer to lead an oncoming cultural revolution.

In a definitive example of stealing the show, Ricky Martin burst in the consciousness of American music fans with a historic performance of "The Cup of Life" at the 41st Annual GRAMMY  Awards on the evening of February 24, 1999. The New York Times said the famed GRAMMY moment "put a match to the tinder of the pop-music world" and instantly established Martin as "the symbol of Latin culture's new mainstream status in the United States."

Declared "an international pop icon and Latin Music's Global Ambassador" by Billboard and recognized by the Latin Recording Academy as it's youngest-ever "Person of the Year" honoree, Ricky Martin has now sold over 60 million albums and continues to perform to sold-out stadium and arena audiences throughout the world. Martin has been the recipient of dozens of prestigious international awards saluting both his career achievements and far-reaching philanthropic efforts.

As essential a part of his persona as his love of music, Martin is equally dedicated to extensive charitable work through the programs of the Ricky Martin Foundation - which advocates for the well being of children around the globe in critical areas such as social justice, education and health. Martin's many efforts in this area have included speaking engagements before Congress and other world policy gatherings on the horrors of child trafficking, acting as a global ambassador for UNICEF, work with Bill Gates and Microsoft on the development of an online safety program for children in Latin America and personal visits to several international shelters for trafficked children. Recently, The RMF has also deepened Martin's long-standing support of Habitat for Humanity by becoming a principal partner in their rebuilding efforts following the devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile.  

Having taken the last two  and a half years off from the music industry in order to devote time to raising his twin sons Matteo and Valentino, Ricky Martin is once again returning to his natural place in the artistic spotlight, now with an even deeper understanding of his personal and musical journey. After recently making his debut on the New York Times Bestseller list with the release of his highly-praised autobiography "ME," Ricky Martin's eagerly-awaited twelfth album is set for release in February of 2011.  Soon after, Martin will once again take to the stage of arenas and stadiums with an extensive world tour set to run through the year.

In-depth Biography
Ricky Martin was one of the biggest teen idols in Latin America during the '90s and a major figure in American pop music by the end of the decade. A lead singer of Menudo, Martin was blessed with good looks and a nice voice, which helped him become a Latin music star. He also became an actor, earning praise from the Mexican motion picture industry and starring on the American soap opera General Hospital, where he played Miguel Morez, a bartender who sings on the weekends.

Martin (born December 24, 1971) was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. As a child, he sang in the choir and performed in school plays. When he was six, he began acting in television commercials. Shortly afterward, he took professional singing and acting lessons, which paved the way for his auditions for Menudo. In 1984, when he was 12 years old, he became a member of Menudo. For the next five years, he was the lead singer of the group, helping it to become an international sensation. Once he outgrew Menudo in 1989, he went back home to Puerto Rico, where he completed high school. After graduation, he moved to New York, where he simply relaxed for several months.

Following a few months of inactivity, he began to work his way back into the entertainment industry. He returned to Mexico, where he acted on-stage for a year before returning to the music industry. In 1991, he released his self-titled debut album, which he co-wrote with his fellow Menudo alumnus Robi Rosa, who would become a regular collaborator over the course of Martin's career (often credited as Ian Blake). The album became a sizable hit on the Latin charts. Two years later, he followed it with the Juan Carlos Calderon-produced Me Amarás, which was an even bigger hit, launching him to superstar status in Latin America. In January 1994, he joined the cast of the soap opera General Hospital, playing Miguel Morez. His recurring role was so successful that it landed him a role on Broadway, where he played Marius in Les Miserables. He left General Hospital to perform in the production and stayed with the play for about a year.

In 1995, he released his third album, A Medio Vivir, a record that had a harder rock edge yet also featured such Latin styles as flamenco and cumbia. In early 1998, he released his fourth album, Vuelve. His first English-language pop album -- which like his first long-player also happened to be titled Ricky Martin -- was released in the spring of 1999; it made him an international superstar thanks to blockbuster singles including "Livin' la Vida Loca" and "She's All I Ever Had." A year later, Martin sizzled again with the release of Sound Loaded. His biggest Spanish-language hits were collected on 2001's La Historia, while 2003's Almas del Silencio was an album of new Spanish material. Life, from 2005, was a return to English-language pop. Martin then released MTV Unplugged in 2006 in both CD and DVD formats. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi