Photo above, Ricky, right, with Raymond Acevedo, Sergio Gonzalez, Angelo Garcia and Ruben Gomez on the set of the “You Got Potential” video in 1988. Photos by Bolivar Arellano for Menuditis
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. 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 1987. Click on the year to read past articles about 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987.
At the beginning of 1988, Menudo traveled and performed as a foursome. The group was still searching for someone with potential to replace Ralphy Rodriguez, who left Menudo at the end of 1987.
The group toured Central America and then began recording an English album. They had released an album in English called “Menudo in Action” in the Philippines, but they wanted something new, and the album also contained Ralphy’s vocals.
In the spring of 1988, the new Menudo was introduced — Angelo Garcia. Soon, the group embarked on a concert tour that included Mexico, Puerto Rico and many of the states. Angelo wasn’t quite ready yet to perform fully, so he sang and danced toward the back of the stage during the tour.
Raymond Acevedo decided to leave the group in 1988, and as a result, Menudo was a foursome again. During many of their shows, only Ricky, Sergio and Ruben would perform, as Angelo was still learning some of the routines. However, at the end of each show, Angelo let everyone know he had what it took to be a Menudo as he sang the group’s new signature song, “You Got Potential.”
The song was from the group’s 1988 album, “Sons of Rock,” which was Menudo’s third English-language album to be released in the states. On the album, Ricky sang the upbeat songs “TLC” and “Say Why.”
The summer of 1988 brought the group’s La Chica Joven de Menudo Pageant to New York for the first time. The contest had previously only taken place in Puerto Rico, allowing fans to compete for the coveted crown and prizes. Of course, the biggest prize was the winner meeting their favorite group. New York’s La Chica Joven de Menudo was Xaviera Rodriguez, who most recently appeared in the HBO Max series, “Menudo — Forever Young.”
Soon after the United States tour, the group was back with Robert Avellanet, their newest member. Menudo performed a few shows in Chicago, San Antonio, Dallas and San Francisco, where they performed with dance music artists, the Cover Girls, TKA, Naiyobe and Safire. At an autograph session in a mall in San Antonio, Menudo’s presence caused such hysteria that the group had to be removed from the activity.
As 1988 came to a close, Menudo was once again a group of five, following the original formula. However, the year ahead would mark the beginning of a new era in Ricky’s life.
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