Ricky Martin turns 50 and feels better than ever
The singer embarked on a professional career in the theater and telenovelas of Latin America, but his goal was to continue singing
The singer embarked on a professional career in the theater and telenovelas of Latin America, but his goal was to continue singing and at age 18 he released his first self-titled album.
Ricky Martin celebrates his 50 years of life this Friday with "the same energy" to continue delighting his fans on stage and feeling "better than ever and more committed" to his musical career and his philanthropic mission.
"I am living a very interesting time in my life, many expected things and others that I did not see coming, but that have been wonderful," Martin told in statements sent by email.
The Puerto Rican singer said he has "a deep sense of gratitude for 30 years of uninterrupted career and 50 years of life," and that he feels "better than ever" on this anniversary.
A SHARED ENERGY WITH HIS AUDIENCE
"To continue here and want to continue on stage after 30 years with the same energy and enthusiasm, which not only coming from me and my team but from my audience, moves me a lot," he said.
"That audience that is in all parts of the world has from me the same dedication and commitment that they have with me: each of my achievements are their achievements," said Enrique Martín Morales, which is the first name of the Puerto Rican star.
"Kiki", a nickname which his family and close friends call him, always had the dream of becoming an artist since childhood, a goal he then achieved as a member of the youth group Menudo.
Martin also embarked on a professional career in the theater and telenovelas of Latin America, but his goal was to continue singing and at age 18 he released his first self-titled album.
A "TRANSCENDENTAL" FIGURE
Javier Santiago, director of the National Foundation for Popular Culture highlighted this trajectory, recognizing that Martin "is a transcendental figure for many reasons."
According to Santiago, Martin stood out worldwide by conquering the European market and the Anglo-Saxon one with "La Copa de la Vida", the official theme of the 1998 World Cup in France.
That song, according to Santiago, "got the United States to look at that phenomenon," which was reaffirmed when the artist had the other magnificent opportunity to perform "La Copa de la Vida" at the 1999 Grammys.
"He becomes that bilingual figure of pop, but with an international projection that could conquer any place," by achieving the famous "crossover" (passage from Spanish to English), which for so long took the legendary Puerto Rican artist José Feliciano to achieve, he explained.
For Santiago, "that was the first part of the achievements", which was followed by more personal themes such as the announcement in 2010 of his homosexuality, which he captured in his biography "I" and opened the door to many who were hidden in the closet for fear of what people will say.
By this time, he was already carrying several albums on his back, "Ricky Martin" (1991), "Me amarás" (2003), "A medio vivir" (2005), "Vuelve" (1998), "Ricky Martin" (1999) and "Sound legend", released in 2000, the year in which he presented the foundation that bears his name and that is dedicated to the fight against human trafficking.
A PHILANTHROPIST AGAINST INJUSTICES
That battle has been captured by the Ricky Martin Foundation through three studies launched in 2010, 2014 and 2017, in which this global evil in Puerto Rico is given visibility for the first time.
"When we talk about a person like Ricky, it is difficult to fragment it, because in addition to being an artist and philanthropist, he is someone who cannot remain calm and moves to what his heart dictates, and it abhors injustices," Orlando Morales, current coordinator of educational initiatives of the Foundation, said.
Martin, also a UNICEF ambassador since 2003, has also helped with his foundation the families affected on the island by the devastating Hurricane Maria of 2017 and the earthquakes of 2020.
Besides being focused on his social struggles, the singer of hits such as "Livin la Vida Loca" or "La mordidita" continued his artistic career, releasing the albums "Almas del silencio" (2003) and "Life" (2005).
And vida, translation of "life" in Spanish, was what Martin got years later when he announced he had become the father of twins, Valentino and Matteo, born in 2008 and fertilized through a surrogate womb.
DISCIPLINE IS VITAL IN YOUR LIFE
Now, Martin, married to the Syrian-born artist Jwan Yosef and father of four, has even produced the children's book "Santiago, the dreamer among the stars", while not neglecting his musical career.
This is showed by other albums such as "MTV Unplugged" (2006), "Music + soul + sex" (2011) and "A quien quiere escucha" (2018).
Tuti Bou, director of the Sony Music US Latin label in Puerto Rico, said that "discipline" is Martin's primary characteristic that has led him to stardom.
According to Bou, he is a person who sticks to his schedules, plans his career and takes care of his body and mind, which has allowed him to achieve the goal of selling over 55 million records worldwide.
