Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Ricky Martin

Discover the career path of Ricky Martin, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Enrique Martin Morales, known as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, and actor. He gained initial fame as a member of the boy band Menudo before launching a successful solo career in 1991. His music incorporates diverse genres including Latin pop, dance, reggaeton, and salsa. Early in his solo career he released two studio albums, Ricky Martin (1991) and Me Amaras (1993), focused on ballads, gaining recognition in Latin America.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1977: Menudo Formation

In 1977, Menudo was formed in Puerto Rico.

September 16, 1984: Debut Performance with Menudo

On September 16, 1984, Ricky Martin made his debut performance with Menudo at the Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center in San Juan.

1984: Release of 'Evolución'

In 1984, Menudo released the Grammy-nominated album 'Evolución', which featured Ricky Martin's debut single, "Rayo de Luna".

1985: Release of 'Menudo' album and appearance on 'The Love Boat'

In 1985, Menudo released their highest-charting album, 'Menudo', and Ricky Martin appeared with the group in 'The Love Boat'.

1987: Appearance in 'Por Siempre Amigos'

In 1987, Ricky Martin appeared with other members of Menudo in the Argentine soap opera 'Por Siempre Amigos'.

July 1989: Ricky Martin Leaves Menudo

In July 1989, at the age of 17, Ricky Martin left Menudo to evaluate his career path, performing his final show at the same venue where he had his debut.

1990: Role in 'Mama Ama el Rock' and 'Alcanzar una estrella'

In 1990, Ricky Martin accepted a role in the musical comedy 'Mama Ama el Rock' in Mexico City and also starred in the Mexican telenovela 'Alcanzar una estrella'.

November 26, 1991: Release of Debut Solo Album

On November 26, 1991, Ricky Martin released his debut solo album, 'Ricky Martin', which achieved significant success and spawned hit singles.

1991: Beginning of Solo Career

In 1991, Ricky Martin began his solo career under Sony Music Mexico, gaining recognition in Latin America with his first album, focused on ballads.

1991: Role in 'Alcanzar una estrella II'

In 1991, Ricky Martin joined the cast for the second season of the show, titled 'Alcanzar una estrella II'.

1992: Starring in 'Más que alcanzar una estrella'

In 1992, Ricky Martin starred in the film 'Más que alcanzar una estrella', based on the TV series, earning him an El Heraldo Award for his role.

1993: Release of 'Me Amaras'

In 1993, Ricky Martin released his second album, 'Me Amaras', which continued his focus on ballads and furthered his recognition in Latin America.

1994: Role in 'General Hospital'

From 1994, Ricky Martin had a role in the soap opera 'General Hospital', showcasing his acting abilities.

September 1995: Release of 'A Medio Vivir' Album

In September 1995, Ricky Martin released his third studio album, 'A Medio Vivir', which achieved huge success and spawned hits like "María".

1995: Recognition of Improved Vocal Skills

In 1995, Enrique Lopetegui of the Los Angeles Times noted Ricky Martin's "improved vocal skills" on A Medio Vivir.

1995: Rise to Prominence in Europe with "A Medio Vivir"

In 1995, Ricky Martin's album 'A Medio Vivir' marked his rise to prominence in European countries, with the hit single "María".

1996: End of General Hospital Role

In 1996, Ricky Martin ended his role in 'General Hospital'.

1996: Broadway Debut in Les Misérables

In 1996, after expressing interest in Broadway, Ricky Martin was offered and accepted the role of Marius Pontmercy in Les Misérables, following the conclusion of his A Medio Vivir Tour in Latin America.

1997: Recording Vuelve and FIFA Contact

In 1997, Ricky Martin was recording his fourth album Vuelve while touring, which he described as "brutal and incredibly intense". During the album's completion, FIFA contacted Martin to create a song for the 1998 FIFA World Cup anthem.

February 12, 1998: Release of Vuelve

On February 12, 1998, Ricky Martin released his fourth album, Vuelve, which included the hit song "La Copa de la Vida". The album became a huge success, selling over eight million copies worldwide.

February 1998: "Tal Vez" Debut

In February 1998, there was a #1 debut on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart.

July 12, 1998: Performance at the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final

On July 12, 1998, Ricky Martin performed "La Copa de la Vida" as the official anthem at the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final in France, reaching a global audience of over a billion TV viewers.

October 1998: Working on First English Language Album

In October 1998, CNN confirmed that Ricky Martin was working on his first English-language album, following the success of Vuelve.

1998: International Success with 'Vuelve'

In 1998, Ricky Martin solidified his international success with his fourth album, 'Vuelve', which earned him his first Grammy Award and featured songs like "Vuelve" and "La Copa de la Vida".

1998: "María" Tops Charts in Australia

In 1998, Ricky Martin's song "María" spent six weeks at number one in Australia, topping the country's year-end chart and being certified platinum.

1998: Creating "La Copa de la Vida"

In 1998, following FIFA's request, Ricky Martin accepted the challenge to create the 1998 FIFA World Cup anthem. He collaborated with musicians K.C. Porter, Robi Rosa, and Desmond Child to work on "La Copa de la Vida".

February 24, 1999: Grammy Awards Performance and Win

On February 24, 1999, Ricky Martin performed a bilingual version of "La Copa de la Vida" at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards and won his first Grammy award for Best Latin Pop Performance for Vuelve.

May 11, 1999: Release of Ricky Martin

On May 11, 1999, Ricky Martin released his first English-language album, titled Ricky Martin. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 661,000 copies sold in the first week.

June 1999: Release of "She's All I Ever Had"

In June 1999, "She's All I Ever Had" was released as the second single from the album Ricky Martin. It peaked at numbers two and three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Canada Top Singles charts, respectively.

1999: "Livin' la Vida Loca" Nomination

In 1999, Ricky Martin became the first Latin artist nominated for Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards for "Livin' la Vida Loca". The video won five awards at the ceremony.

1999: Ricky Martin's First English Album

In 1999, Ricky Martin released his first English album, which topped the US Billboard 200, with the lead single "Livin' la Vida Loca" achieving number one status on multiple charts, marking the beginning of the "Latin explosion".

1999: Success of 'Ricky Martin' Album

In 1999, Ricky Martin's album, 'Ricky Martin', achieved significant success, paving the way for other Latin artists to gain mainstream recognition.

1999: "María" Featured in Guinness Book of Records

In 1999, Ricky Martin's song "María" was featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest Latin hit.

November 14, 2000: Release of Sound Loaded

On November 14, 2000, Ricky Martin released his sixth studio album, Sound Loaded. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200.

2000: Livin' la Vida Loca Tour

In 2000, Ricky Martin's Livin' la Vida Loca Tour became the highest-grossing tour by a Latin artist in the US.

February 2001: Release of La Historia

In February 2001, Ricky Martin released a Spanish compilation album entitled La Historia, which spent five weeks at number one on the Top Latin Albums chart.

2001: Awards for "She Bangs" Music Video

In 2001, the music video for "She Bangs" was awarded Best Music Video at the 2nd Annual Latin Grammy Awards, Best Clip of the Year – Latin at the 2001 Billboard Music Video Awards, and Video of the Year at the 13th Lo Nuestro Awards.

2002: Tying for Highest Spanish-Language Debut

In 2002, the album Quizás tied for the highest Spanish-language debut on the Billboard 200 chart.

April 12, 2003: "Tal Vez" Debut at Number One

On April 12, 2003, Ricky Martin's "Tal Vez" debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart, marking the first number one debut since February 1998.

May 2003: Release of Almas del Silencio

In May 2003, Ricky Martin released his seventh studio album, Almas del Silencio, which debuted atop the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart with record-breaking first-week sales for a Spanish-language album in the US.

2003: Release of 'Almas del Silencio'

In 2003, Ricky Martin released the album 'Almas del Silencio', adding to his list of successful albums.

2004: Founding of The Ricky Martin Foundation

In 2004, Ricky Martin founded The Ricky Martin Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on fighting against human trafficking and educating about its existence.

January 2005: Visit to Thailand After Tsunami

In January 2005, following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Ricky Martin visited Thailand to assess the needs of minor survivors.

October 2005: Release of Life

In October 2005, Ricky Martin released his third English album, Life, expressing his connection to his emotions during its creation.

March 2006: Collaboration on Llama y Vive Campaign

In March 2006, the Ricky Martin Foundation collaborated with the International Organization for Migration on the Llama y Vive campaign to prevent human trafficking and protect young victims.

August 2006: Taping of MTV Unplugged

In August 2006, Ricky Martin taped his MTV Unplugged set in Miami, performing both romantic ballads and up-tempo tropical dance songs and debuting three new tracks.

December 2006: Completion of Housing Project in Thailand

In December 2006, the Ricky Martin Foundation and Habitat for Humanity completed a project to construct 224 homes for tsunami-affected families in Thailand.

2006: Release of 'MTV Unplugged'

In 2006, Ricky Martin released the album 'MTV Unplugged', contributing to his continued success.

2007: Black and White Tour and Italian Song Release

In 2007, Ricky Martin embarked on the Black and White Tour, including sold-out shows in Puerto Rico, and released his first Italian song, "Non siamo soli", as a duet with Eros Ramazzotti.

August 19, 2010: Announcement of Memoir 'Me'

On August 19, 2010, Ricky Martin announced that he had been working on his memoir, titled 'Me', scheduled for publication on November 2, 2010.

November 2, 2010: Publication of Memoir 'Me'

On November 2, 2010, Ricky Martin's memoir 'Me' was published and became a number one New York Times Best Seller.

2010: Coming Out and LGBT Rights Advocacy

Since coming out in 2010, Ricky Martin actively supports LGBT rights worldwide and is considered a gay icon.

January 2011: Release of Música + Alma + Sexo

In January 2011, Ricky Martin launched his ninth studio album, Música + Alma + Sexo, which debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 chart.

February 2012: Appearance on Glee

In February 2012, Ricky Martin appeared as a Spanish teacher on the American musical television series Glee.

March 2012: Starring in Evita on Broadway

In March 2012, Ricky Martin starred as Ché in the Broadway revival of the musical Evita.

2012: Starring in 'Evita' on Broadway

In 2012, Ricky Martin starred as Ché in the Broadway revival of the musical 'Evita'.

2012: Participation in Child Protection Model Law

In 2012, the Ricky Martin Foundation participated in the making of the Child Protection Model Law on the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children.

January 2013: End of Evita Run

In January 2013, Ricky Martin's run as Ché in the Broadway revival of the musical Evita came to an end.

October 2013: Ricky Martin Live Tour in Australia

In October 2013, Ricky Martin embarked on the Ricky Martin Live tour in Australia.

November 2013: Publication of Children's Book 'Santiago the Dreamer in Land Among the Stars'

In November 2013, Ricky Martin's first children's book, 'Santiago the Dreamer in Land Among the Stars', was published.

February 25, 2014: Wisin Releases "Adrenalina" Featuring Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez

On February 25, 2014, Wisin released the song "Adrenalina" featuring Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez. This song was from Wisin's album El Regreso del Sobreviviente and became Univision's 2014 World Cup song.

February 2015: Release of 'A Quien Quiera Escuchar'

In February 2015, Ricky Martin released his tenth studio album, A Quien Quiera Escuchar, which achieved number one on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart and in Argentina. The album contained hits like "Adiós", "Disparo al Corazón", and "La Mordidita".

2015: Coaching on The Voice Australia

In 2015, Ricky Martin continued serving as a coach on the fourth season of The Voice Australia, further increasing his profile in Australia.

2015: Grammy Win for 'A Quien Quiera Escuchar'

In 2015, Ricky Martin won a Grammy Award for his album 'A Quien Quiera Escuchar', adding to his accolades.

September 23, 2016: Release of "Vente Pa' Ca"

On September 23, 2016, Ricky Martin released "Vente Pa' Ca" featuring Maluma, which became a major Spanish-language hit and topped several charts.

2016: Management of CNCO

In 2016, Ricky Martin managed CNCO, the winners of the first season of La Banda. He also produced the band's debut album, Primera Cita.

2017: End of One World Tour

In 2017, Ricky Martin concluded his One World Tour, which he had embarked on to promote his album A Quien Quiera Escuchar.

2017: All In Residency in Las Vegas

In 2017, Ricky Martin started his concert residency, named All In, at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

February 2018: Release of "Fiebre"

In February 2018, Ricky Martin released the song "Fiebre", featuring Wisin & Yandel, which achieved commercial success in Latin America and topped several Billboard charts.

2018: Emmy Nomination for 'The Assassination of Gianni Versace'

In 2018, Ricky Martin garnered an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Antonio D'Amico in 'The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story'.

June 2019: Slamming Religious Liberty Bill

In June 2019, Ricky Martin published an open letter slamming a religious liberty bill in Puerto Rico, leading to its withdrawal.

July 2019: Announcement of Menudo Biographical Series

In July 2019, SOMOS Productions, Endemol Shine Boomdog, and Piñolywood Studios announced the production of 'Subete a Mi Moto', a biographical web television series about Menudo.

November 2019: Hosting the 20th Annual Latin Grammy Awards

In November 2019, Ricky Martin hosted the 20th Annual Latin Grammy Awards along with Roselyn Sánchez and Paz Vega.

May 2020: Release of 'Pausa' EP

In May 2020, Ricky Martin released Pausa, the first of two extended plays inspired by the 2019 political protests in Puerto Rico and impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

October 9, 2020: Premiere of 'Subete a Mi Moto' on Amazon Prime Video

On October 9, 2020, the biographical series 'Subete a Mi Moto' about Menudo premiered on Amazon Prime Video in Mexico, Latin America, and Spain.

November 13, 2020: Release of 'Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey'

On November 13, 2020, Ricky Martin voiced the villain Don Juan Diego in the film Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, released on Netflix.

February 14, 2021: US Premiere of 'Subete a Mi Moto' on Estrella TV

On February 14, 2021, the biographical series 'Subete a Mi Moto' premiered in the United States on Estrella TV.

April 2021: Release of 'Canción Bonita'

In April 2021, Ricky Martin released "Canción Bonita" with Carlos Vives, achieving commercial success in Latin America.

May 2021: Support for Ni una menos Movement

In May 2021, Ricky Martin demonstrated his support for the Ni una menos movement, condemning femicides and violence against women in Puerto Rico.

May 2022: Release of 'Play' EP

In May 2022, Ricky Martin released Play, the second extended play, completing the project that started with Pausa.

July 13, 2022: Release of 'Play'

On July 13, 2022, Ricky Martin released 'Play'. The EP featured the singles "Otra Noche en L.A." and "A Veces Bien y a Veces Mal", with the former reaching number one in four countries.