origins

[tinatspoon]

okay ladies and gents- where was Ricky Martin born and brought up? this has been nipping my head

[andy hughes]

Ricky Martin was born on Christmas Eve 1971 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Although now an international singing star, and prime mover in the recent 'Latin pop' craze Ricky's major career has always been as an actor - he began performing in t.v. commercials when he was only six. From the age of twelve, Ricky joined Menudo, probably the arcetypal boy band who's Spanish language songs have made the band international superstars. Band members come and go, as by tradition, no-one stays in the band past the age of eighteen. After graduating from high school, Ricky released his debut Spanish language album in 1991. In 1994, already a respected stage actor, he joined the American day-time soap 'General Hospital', leaving only when tempted by a Brodway role in 'Les Miserables'. Only in 1998, with the release of his debut English language album did Ricky Martin's star status in the English pop community match his super-stardom in the Spanish speaking world. If you thought Ricky Martin was just a new kid on the block as a superstar heart throb, you now know differently, thanks to The Answerbank.