Ricky Martin is an award-winning Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, actor, author, and humanitarian. He is known for hits like “Living La Vida Loca” and “Nobody Wants To Be Lonely”, appearances on television series, and his philanthropic work.

He first began his career at the age of 12 when he joined the Puerto Rican music group Menudo. He stayed with the group for five years before making the decision to pursue a solo career. He then signed with Sony Music and released his first solo album titled Ricky Martin in 1991, which sold more than 500,000 copies worldwide. He released his second album Me Amaras in 1993. The album skyrocketed to the top of the Latin charts and earned him the Billboard award for “Best New Latin Artist.”

Looking to expand his portfolio, Martin moved to Los Angeles in 1993 with the hopes of exploring acting opportunities. He had previously starred on Mexican telenovelas like Alcanzar Una Estrella and quickly landed a two-episode appearance on the U.S. sitcom Getting By. He then moved on to star as Miguel Morez on the daytime soap opera General Hospital. However, he couldn’t shake the itch to create music and jumped back into his craft after committing two years to acting.

The singer would go on to release 10 studio albums, two live albums, and a number of other projects which have reached gold and platinum levels. He has won numerous Grammys, Billboard, and industry awards and starred in Broadway productions such as Evita as well as TV series like Glee. He has written and published two books: Yo (a memoir about his life and career) and Santiago el Sonadorentre las (a children’s book that follows the story of a young boy chasing his dreams of being a performer).

Outside of his professional accomplishments, Martin is known for his humanitarian work. In 2004, he founded his non-profit, The Ricky Martin Foundation, which aims to provide education and solutions for international efforts to abolish child trafficking. He has also become a force for the LGBTQIA+ and Latinx communities in the entertainment industry. He announced to the public in 2010 that he is gay. His statement noted, “These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn’t even know existed…I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.” (People Magazine) Jarrett Barrios, President of the GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), released a supporting statement following the announcement saying, “His decision to model this kind of openness and honesty can lead to greater acceptance for countless gay people in the U.S., in Latin America and worldwide.” (People Magazine) Martin’s coming out helped to pioneer a space for Latin-queer representation in entertainment.

Martin married the Syrian-born Swedish painter and artist Jwan Yosef in 2017. The two are parents to four children. The pop-star continues to release music and perform at sold-out stadiums and arenas around the world.

Stay up-to-date with Ricky Martin and The Ricky Martin Foundation at https://www.rickymartinmusic.com/ & https://linktr.ee/rm_foundation.