Ricky packed up and moved from Mexico, to LA. He had his sights set high, and he achieved them all.
Ricky starred in a guest appearance on American show �Getting By�. The producers of General Hospital, long running American soap, seen this and immediately knew they need him. They were looking a star that could sing, and act, and he came in the form of Ricky Martin. They contacted Ricky, and Ricky was adorning screens in the US, playing Miguel Morez. Ricky had plenty of opportunities to sing on the song, so many unfamiliar with his music could embrace it.
During this time, Ricky and Enrique, his father, resolved their difference. �I hated the estrangement, I just couldn�t live with it anymore�
While on General Hospital, Ricky found time to make his third solo album �A Medio Vivir� it was released in 1995 and off the album came the explosive track �Maria� written by friend, and ex-Menudo member Rbi Rosa, it stormed the charts in Europe, Latin America and Australia. It broke all record sales in Europe, and made it to #1 in the Billboard�s best selling international single of 1997.
Ricky left General Hospital to embark on a tour with A Medio Vivir. But the best was yet to come, while touring Ricky gave an interview, and was asked, �What would be your dream, career-wise?� and Ricky replied, he would love to star on Broadway. Executive Producer of Les Miserables, Jay Alexander, read this, and connected with Ricky. He offered Ricky a role as Marius, on the famous Broadway stage. Ricky jumped at the chance.
He made his stage debut on June 24th 1996, with his family as support, watching intently in the audience.
�I loved working with incredible performers, I�ve learned a lot from them�
Ricky ended his Broadway experience, and moved onto his touring schedule, he played a magnificent show, in front of 275,000 fans, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Throughout this, Ricky recorded the soundtrack to the Spanish version of Hercules, No Importa la Distancia, and he also did the voice of Hercules in the film. But Ricky had lots more in store for his fans�.
Ricky the studio again to record yet another album. It was released in 1998, and proved to be a big hit. Including the hit, La Copa de la vida, (The cup of Life) The official World Cup song. Which he performed to over 1 billion people at Le Stade de France, in Paris in the closing ceremony.
The album entitled �Vuelve� reached #1 on the Latin charts after a few months of r ico at that time, seen Ricky at the world cup, and chose the song, as an anthem for Puerto Rico to become the 51st State. It also seen Ricky become spokesperson for his hometown. He appeared in many advertisements, encouraging people to come and visit, �His Puerto Rico�. The success of the album spawned Ricky to be an advertiser for Pepsi. He appeared in many adverts, adoring the cola drink.
November 1998, saw the opening of Casa Salsa, Ricky�s new restraunt, in the Ocean Drive, Miami. It specialised in the making of Gourmet Puerto Rican dishes.
But the best was yet to come. Ricky was invited to perform at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards in LA on February 24th, 1999, Ricky was also nominated. He went, and performed La Copa de la Vida, as the last bars of that song rang out, the whole world now knew who Ricky was, and they all wanted a bit of him. His performance was electrifying, and the star-studded audience did as well. A standing ovation, and a beautiful smile from Ricky ended his performance. But that wasn�t it. Ricky scooped the award for Best Latin Pop album, for Vuelve.
That night propelled his career into something he couldn�t have imagined. Ricky wanted to unite generation, unite cultures, and languages. He did it. Ricky wanted to spread his music to all cultures, and after that night, the Anglo-speaking audience around the world, grasped onto Ricky. He was embraced with open arms, everywhere. He had been recording his first English album for the past two years, and it was due for release in May 1999. But he released a single off it first, Livin� la vida loca. It stayed at the top of the charts around the world, and reached the top spot in 26 countries. Ricky was busy, with doing promotional shows everywhere around the world. His life was hectic.
1999 was a year Ricky will never forget, he won countless awards, including 6 MTV Awards, 2 Billboard Awards, World Music Awards, and not to mention the Grammy. It truly was Ricky Martins Year!!
Ricky followed the massive release of �Ricky Martin� with a World Tour; both were so very successful, that everyone was left panting for more. And they got it�
On the 6th of November 2000 in Europe, and the 14th November in the US, Ricky�s latest album �Sound Loaded� was released. It�s a mix of Latin, European, and Asian sounds, which you could listen to for hours. It is a truly exceptional work of art, which Ricky has released on the world, and everyone is enjoying it!
Ricky is Loaded and ready to go!!