Ricky Martin! - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Ricky Martin is a Puerto Rican singer, actor, and author who rose to fame in the late 1990s with hits like "Livin' la Vida Loca" and "She Bangs."
- 2. He was born Enrique MartÃn Morales on December 24, 1971 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- 3. Martin began his career as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo in the 1980s before launching a successful solo career.
- 4. In 1998, Martin released his first English-language album, "Ricky Martin," which included the hit single "Livin' la Vida Loca." The album went on to sell over 22 million copies worldwide.
- 5. Martin came out as gay in 2010, and has since been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights.
- 6. In addition to his music career, Martin has also dabbled in acting, appearing in TV shows like "General Hospital" and "Glee," as well as in Broadway productions like "Evita."
- 7. Martin has won multiple Grammy Awards, Latin Grammy Awards, and Billboard Music Awards throughout his career.
- 8. He is also a philanthropist, founding the Ricky Martin Foundation in 2000 to advocate for children's rights, especially in the areas of education, health, and social justice.
- 9. Martin has two children, twin boys Matteo and Valentino, who were born via surrogate in 2008.
- 10. In 2018, Martin married his longtime partner Jwan Yosef, a Syrian-Swedish artist. The couple welcomed a daughter, Lucia, in 2018 as well.