Ricky Martin’s Menudo Years — 1985

Above, Ricky at Narita Airport, Japan, Oct 1985. Bottom of page, Roy Rossello, Robby (Draco) Rosa, Ricky Martin and Charlie Rivera (Masso) at the 14th Tokyo Music Festival. press conference in 1985. Photos from Toshiko Tsuchiya/Menudo Fan Club Japan. Center photo, Ricky and fan Lisa Karen in New York in 1985. Photo from Lisa Karen.

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 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 1985. Click here to read about 1984 when Menudo fans were introduced to Little Ricky.

As 1985 began, the world was about to discover what Menuditis was all about — something devoted fans in Latin America and the United States already comprehended. As the group members of Menudo prepared themselves to spread Menudomania all over the world, Ricky, who had only been in the group for a few months, quickly became a popular member along with Ray Reyes, Roy Rossello, Robby Rosa (Draco Rosa) and Charlie Rivera (Masso).

At the end of 1984, the group’s first Portuguese language album was released in Brazil. The album was titled Mania and included the Portuguese versions of various Menudo fan favorites. The album included Ricky Melendez instead of Little Ricky on vocals, but Kiki had the pleasure of traveling to Brazil. The beginning of 1985 was hectic for the group with visits to Brazil, Asia and Japan, where Menudo appeared at the popular Tokyo Music Festival.

At the beginning of 1985, it was announced that Ray Reyes would be replaced by Raymond Acevedo in April. Raymond made his official debut with the group’s second English album, Menudo. The album featured the hit Hold Me and other favorites, such as Come Home and Explosion. On the album, Ricky sang Oh My Love, the English translation of his first song Rayo de Luna, which appeared on the 1984 album Evolucion.

In 1985, the group was also honored to participate in two special projects — the songs King Holiday and Cantare, Cantaras. King Holiday was a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. and included several American pop artists, such as New Edition, Whitney Houston and Lionel Richie. Cantare, Cantaras was a collaboration of Latin artists, in which the profits from the album went to causes that fought against world hunger.

To the delight of fans, two more dolls, Robby Rosa and Ricky Martin, were added to the Menudo doll collection. The original collection included Johnny Lozada, Ricky Melendez, Charlie Rivera, Ray Reyes and Roy Rossello.

In May 1985,  the fivesome appeared on a two-part special of the populer TV show The Love Boat. Filmed while Ray Reyes was still in the group, the boys did a bit of matchmaking on the show as well as performing.

The summer of 1985 was besieged with problems as Menudo embarked on a tour of the states promoted by Pepsi, the soda company for which they had previously appeared in commercials. Charlie had mononucleosis for the New York shows, and Ray Reyes temporarily returned to join the other four members on stage. The rest of the U.S. summer tour had to be postponed when Ricky, Charlie, Ray, Roy, and then choreographer Joselo Vega caught chickenpox. 

Fortunately, the group was able to make up the concert dates that fall. Even their summer concert series in their homeland, Puerto Rico, was overshadowed by bad luck when at a waterpark meet and greet with fans, Roy twisted his neck, and Ricky sprained his toe when a board hit his foot. 

The summer of 1985 wasn’t all terrible. That year Menudo released their album Ayer y Hoy. On this album, Ricky sang a duet with Raymond called Me siento bien con mis amigos. Later in the year, the group released another Portuguese album and finished recording their first Italian album. Ricky sang the Italian version of the popular Menudo song Dulce Besos on this LP.

At the end of 1985, the group toured the Philippines, Asia and Europe. Ricky was now a seasoned Menudo. Ahead of him were many fellow members and countless exciting experiences that would build a solid foundation for the future.

Ricky Martin’s Menudo Years — 1984

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

Fan Gathering Inspires

This year was one of the best Super Bowl Sundays I’ve had, and I didn’t even watch the game.

A few friends and I had the chance to spend time with former Menudo and MDO member Didier Hernandez and to experience a shortened version of his songwriting camp that he’s shared with other fans in North and South America. Out of all the fan gatherings I’ve been to through the years, it was one of the best ones.

For those who don’t know anything about Menudo, it was a group from Puerto Rico consisting of five cute boys who sang and danced. Once they reached 16, grew too tall or their voices changed, they had to leave the group. I was a huge fan back in the mid- to late-1980s.

In addition to attending countless concerts in New York and Puerto Rico, I was also fortunate to meet many members at formal and informal gatherings.

I was lucky to meet Didier back in the late 1990s. While I followed the careers of Ricky Martin and other former Menudo members, it had been a while since I kept up to date on the group Menudo. When I heard they changed their name to MDO in 1997, my friends and I were curious. We had to see what MDO was all about when we heard they would be performing at a festival in Queens. One friend made a couple of calls, and before you knew it, we were meeting them the night before. Didier and his groupmates Daniel Rene Weider, Abel Talamantez, Alexis Grullon and Edgar (Anthony) Galindo were absolute sweethearts. The next day, when we attended the festival, we were blown away by their singing and dancing abilities. My Menudo days may have been behind me, but I gladly made time to show my support for MDO whenever they were in New York.

When a friend recently decided to organize a get together with Didier, I was all for it. It turned out he was doing what he calls a songwriting camp in other countries with fans. The two-day events include photos and autographs, and cooking and getting a peek into his songwriting techniques.

While our get-together was only six hours and minus cooking — even though we did have food — we had the opportunity to sit down and participate in a songwriting exercise. First of all, Didier should be an interviewer. The questions he asked, as well as the follow-up ones, created some interesting conversations, especially about relationships. We all also enjoyed lots of laughs. It’s always good when you can laugh about your mistakes, especially romantic ones.

Many times, I have said to friends that I wish back in the day, I had focused more on friendships with my fellow fans instead of things such as snagging concert seats in the first few rows or meeting the guys. Fortunately for all of us, social media has allowed us to reconnect and rekindle old friendships or build on acquaintanceships over the years.

This past Sunday was one of those memorable days, and an example of how fortunate my friends and I are to have each other and the guys in our lives.

For me, it’s more than the bonding and the memories I was left with this Sunday. It was inspiring to see how Didi goes about songwriting and his commitment to it. As a writer, it helps me to see other writers or creatives working toward their craft, reminding me to take it step by step and enjoy the journey.

As much as I enjoy the appetizers, commercials and half-time show on Super Bowl Sunday, this year the day was more memorable.

To all the Menudo and MDO fans out there, grab the opportunity if you get a chance to attend a get-together with Didier. There is a fee, but the experience is worth every penny!

Trilogy Tour Thoughts

Driving from work to the grocery store the other day, I was listening to Ricky Martin’s “Asignatura Pendiente.” The song, written by Ricardo Arjona, who also sang his own version of it, is among my favorites.

As I drove into the parking lot of the grocery store, I was only halfway through the song, so I sat in the car until it was over. The wind started blowing, and tiny, orange leaves fell off a nearby tree. They looked like orange flurries, and with the song playing in the background, it felt magical.

As a longtime Ricky Martin fan, I thought, “Well, the journey of being Ricky’s fan has been sort of magical.”

Granted, it was a few days after seeing him, Pitbull and Enrique Iglesias at Madison Square Garden during their Trilogy Tour stop in New York City. I was feeling good and still on the high of seeing three Latin heartthrobs who know how to create good vibes.

Several people have asked me what I thought about the three-hour-long concert, and I considered writing a review for this blog. I’ve reviewed productions at regional theaters for a newspaper, so I’m sure I could handle a concert review. But, let’s face it, I am biased.

Yes, my favorite performer on the night of Oct. 26 was Ricky.

Pitbull brought the party; Enrique brought the flirting and sexual tension, but Ricky was the overall entertainer and professional he has been since the day he stepped on stage with Menudo in 1984.

As a longtime fan of Ricky’s, his songs are part of the soundtrack of my life, and reading about his philanthropy and his perspectives on things has inspired me through the years. And, as one of the fans who has been fortunate to have met him several times — even though it’s been a while since I saw him face-to-face — I can’t forget how gracious he has been with me and my friends.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t always agree with everything Ricky does. There have been a few songs, dance moves, outfits and interviews that have made me cringe. However, when all is said and done, my memories are good ones, and the sound of his voice is comforting to me.

The one issue my friends and I have about his past performances is that we wish he would interact with the audience more, like shaking their hands, using Stage B and even getting down on the floor with the fans like Enrique does. Sometimes, his set seems too choreographed.

Speaking of dancing … That’s a soon-to-be 52-year-old man keeping up with young dancers. His energy is unbelievable and inspiring.

So, you can’t really go by me regarding the Trilogy Tour, even though if you love these three performers’ songs, it’s a fabulous night that shouldn’t be missed. I’m glad I went, even though I almost didn’t, because of ticket prices.

So, let’s talk about those ticket prices …

Since Ricky’s first solo concert in New York City at Radio City Music Hall in 1996, I haven’t missed one of his tours. The last time I saw him was in 2021, when he shared the stage with Enrique Iglesias.

I get it. Prices, in general, are through the roof, and it takes a lot to put on a concert, but I wanted to faint when I saw tickets on the floor priced at $800. And as people resold those tickets, they went well over $1,000.

I wanted to bring my husband to the concert because it would be nice to share with him what I have experienced through the decades. Just give him a taste. However, as I kept checking higher sections at MSG, the prices weren’t in sync with the section as far as I was concerned. There was no way I would pay $250 for seats in the nosebleed sections when, just a couple of years ago, I was on the floor for about that price or a little more.

When I texted my husband to tell him how much the tickets were, he said, since the show was around our third anniversary, go for it. But it was the principle of it all. Seats in the upper section of a concert venue should not be $250. My husband even suggested I go alone and get better seats, but I felt all the prices were inflated. (P.S. I had a bunch of friends going, and we usually get a solo ticket or two together to increase our chances of getting better seats.)

A few weeks later, my friend Sandra called me to tell me that through her job, she would be getting box seats for the first night at MSG for free. She invited me to come with her, and of course, I said, “Yes.”

While I’m happy I went, I hope to see more reasonable ticket prices in the future. It would be a shame if true fans who have supported artists through the years attending concerts in the past and buying music were no longer able to see their favorite performers live. Granted, there will always be people with money who will go, but when a person buys tickets to say they experienced something, there’s usually not much longevity in them supporting an artist long term. As for the ones who go into debt to buy tickets, well, that usually catches up with them eventually.

As I mentioned earlier, prices have generally increased and going on tour costs more money than I can imagine. But as far as my friends and I go, plus a lot of people we know, regarding our favorite singers, they can just come out on stage, wear one outfit through the whole set and with a band behind them, sing our favorite songs, and we’ll be happy.

And that definitely goes for Ricky, even though we appreciate and admire his creativity from the videos that play on the screen before he comes out to his fabulous outfits and his dynamic dancers. However, if cutting all that out means we can afford to see him when he comes to our town, we’ll opt for that.

Donnie Wahlberg from New Kids on the Block said in a recent interview promoting their upcoming 2024 Magic Summer Tour on WKTU, the group has learned what is best for the group and the fans. One of the things they have learned is to eliminate some of the extras — even though they can be fun — and connect and interact more with their fans.

“We’ve learned over the years that magic is in the moments and the memories that we make with our fans every single night, and the time we share with them. And for us, it’s all about creating more special times for them.”

Once a fangirl, always a fangirl

It’s been more than a month since all five members of *NSYNC took to the stage at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards to present Taylor Swift with the award for Best Pop Video, and their fans are still thrilled.

To top it off, a couple of days later, they announced they collaborated on the song “Better Place” for the upcoming “Trolls Band Together” movie soundtrack.

I’m not a fan of theirs — even though their songs and dance moves are excellent — but I even let out a squeal when I saw all five of them come out on stage during the VMAS.

Fans have been posting their excitement about the new song on social media, and they’re all hoping the members will reunite for a tour.

I have been enjoying seeing their optimism, and I get it, completely.

I loved the boy bands Menudo and New Kids on the Block when I was younger. Through the years, I’ve been fortunate to see Menudo members reunite a few times as well as NKOTB. The best part about New Kids reuniting and touring again is that they recorded new music and are still selling tickets to their concerts a decade and a half later.

I admit it. Sometimes, I’ve been embarrassed to talk about being a fan in social settings. 

While fangirls ran after their favorite boy bands back in the day, people their age were partying at clubs or fraternity and sorority houses. Even though most people understand sports lovers obsessing over their favorite teams, most don’t get someone being a huge fan of a group or artist.

Now I realize that there are people out there that get me. There are more fangirls and fanboys than I ever imagined.

And, I’m not surprised.

We all need an escape to some extent. Sometimes, we need to cry and be by ourselves. Other times, we want to hide from the headlines bombarding us with tragic news. 

Many of us want to turn the music up and dance or listen to a ballad and believe true love will find us one day or at least feel as if someone gets the pain we’re going through.

Boy bands even go further than that for many. For many young people, their favorite musical groups came around during a time when they were trying to figure out who they were attracted to and how to act in romantic relationships. Admiring someone from afar can help a young person explore those feelings when they’re not quite ready to venture into a dating world that sometimes makes no sense to them.

As for the bands reuniting, they bring back a time when things seem easier. Life can be challenging, but when you summon your inner teenager, you tend to remember your dreams and your goals. You start remembering where you came from and what you’re made of, and you think, maybe I shouldn’t let this thing called life run me down as much as I do.

Sure, bands that reunite are fortunate because it means income for them if the venture is successful. For most fans, a reunion tour is just what they need to lift their spirits.

I know I usually leave a concert feeling inspired.

For *NSYNC fans, I wish for Justin, Lance, Joey, Chris and JC to comprehend what a difference they made in your lives and allow you to experience that love again.

This I Promise You — I’ll like every post I see calling for them to tour again, so keep them coming.

Writing for me again

For more than six years, I was the editor of three local newspapers in Suffolk County on Long Island. Before that, I was a copywriter for Bed Bath & Beyond. I have also freelanced for other companies and media outlets, but I need to write more about what I want to write about.

That’s why I started this blog, so I can write about whatever is on my mind.

There’s nothing wrong with writing about news, especially when it’s geared toward hamlets, villages and small towns. More prominent media outlets don’t have the time to cover every nook and cranny. People need to know what’s going on in their town halls, school districts as well as the fun events taking place in their areas.

There’s also nothing wrong with writing product copy for a major retailer’s website. It makes shopping easier for people to pick out products online, where someone has ensured all the relevant information is there.

However, writers sometimes have to write about whatever they feel like. Writing for me again feels like I’m returning to me.

Welcome to my journey home.