Ricky Martin, above right and below, performed with Menudo at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago in October 1984. Photos by Myron Havis.
In the late 1990s, my friends and I created a newsletter called Ricky’s Fan Central. The publication was dedicated to fans like us who were no longer teens and interested in the latest news and photos of Ricky Martin. We also added updates on former members of Menudo. One feature I loved was a section where I wrote articles about Ricky’s time in Menudo and the early days of his career. With the 40th anniversary of Ricky stepping on stage to be introduced as the newest member of Menudo coming up in July, I decided to take those flashback articles, edit them and add anything new I’ve learned over the years. In this post, we take a look at the year 1984 when Menudo fans were introduced to Little Ricky.
As a child modeling in commercials in Puerto Rico, Enrique Martin Morales was no stranger to show business. However, he had a dream — to be a member of the Puerto Rican pop group Menudo.
In his 2010 book Me, Ricky wrote that from an early age, he would grab a spoon and sing along to songs by Menudo and groups his older siblings Fernando and Angel enjoyed like REO Speedwagon, Journey and Led Zeppelin. Between the ages of 10 and 12, he called his desire to join Menudo an obsession.
Ricky tried out three times to be in the group. The first two times, the manager rejected him because he was too small. But, at the third audition, his dreams of joining the group became a reality. Standing five feet tall and weighing 80 pounds, Ricky was introduced as Ricky Melendez’s substitute at Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferre in Puerto Rico on July 10, 1984. A few weeks later, Ricky Melendez’s last performance was held. According to the book Me, Ricky had 10 days to learn 18 dances before his July appearance, and between joining the group and his introduction, it was only a month. Just think, right now, 40 years ago, Ricky was about to embark on our journey that would dramatically change his life.
The wide-eyed 12-year-old Ricky, who fans soon affectionately called Kiki or Little Ricky, was terrified by thoughts of learning so many dances and songs and being accepted by Menudo’s fans. But Ricky had nothing to worry about as he quickly won the hearts of fans with the song Rayo de luna.
“No boy—not even when he is a grown man—can discern what will happen when his life path is altered,” Ricky wrote in his book.
Kiki soon began a concert and promotional tour for the album Evolucion with Menudo members Ray Reyes, Charlie Rivera (Charlie Masso), Robby Rosa (Draco Rosa) and Roy Rossello. The fivesome thrilled audiences in the United States and Europe that year. Little Ricky quickly became a popular group member. Evolucion and 1984 were the foundation of a tenure with the group that would span five years and the bulk of Kiki’s teen years.
Above, Ricky poses with fan Delia Marquez in Mexico City. Photo from Delia Marquez
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