He began his solo career in 1991 while in Sony Music Mexico, gaining recognition in Latin America with the release of his first two studio albums, Ricky Martin (1991) and Me Amaras (1993), both of which were focused on ballads.

Martin has since released several successful albums, including Almas del Silencio (2003) and MTV Unplugged (2006), as well as Grammy Award winner A Quien Quiera Escuchar (2015).

Notable singles in this period include "She Bangs", "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely", "Tal Vez", "Tu Recuerdo", "La Mordidita", "Vente Pa' Ca", and "Canción Bonita".

As an actor, Martin took a role in the hit soap opera General Hospital (1994–1996), while his portrayal of Antonio D'Amico in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2018) garnered him an Emmy nomination.

[1][2][3] His mother, Doña Nereida Morales, is a former accountant; his father, Enrique Martín Negroni, is a former psychologist who previously worked as a regional supervisor for a Puerto Rican mental-health agency.

He began singing at age six, using wooden kitchen spoons as make-believe microphones; he often sang songs by Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, as well as English-language rock groups such as Led Zeppelin, Journey, and REO Speedwagon.

When he was nine years old, he began appearing in television commercials for products such as soft drinks, toothpaste, and fast food restaurants, including Orange Crush and Burger King.

Although Martin enjoyed traveling and performing onstage with Menudo, he found the band's busy schedule and strict management exhausting, and later reflected that the experience "cost" him his childhood.

[16] Besides the musical career, Martin appeared with other members of Menudo in the American romantic comedy/drama television series, The Love Boat (1985),[20] and the Argentine soap opera, Por Siempre Amigos (1987).

[9] Finally, Martin left the band in July 1989, at age 17, hoping to rest and evaluate his career path;[9] he stayed a few extra months after his "age-mandated retirement" came around.

He graduated from high school, and 13 days after turning 18, he moved to New York City to celebrate his financial independence; since he was a minor during his time with Menudo, Martin was not allowed to access his own bank accounts.

While he was performing onstage in Mama Ama el Rock, a producer in the audience took notice of Martin's acting and offered him a role in the Mexican telenovela Alcanzar una estrella (transl.

After working "around the clock" to finish filming Alcanzar una estrella II and recording music,[9] he released his debut solo album, Ricky Martin, on November 26, 1991.

[26] To promote the album, Martin embarked on a successful Latin American tour, breaking box office records,[25] which the singer referred to as "an indescribable feeling, almost like coming home".

Martin wrote about the recording: From that moment on, we began to look at the album as part of a global strategy to promote Latin music worldwide, so we chose and arranged the songs with the sole mission of getting the entire globe to dance and sing in Spanish.

[52] It spent 26 weeks atop the US Billboard Top Latin Albums chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

[90][91] "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" was re-recorded along with American singer Christina Aguilera,[92] peaking at number one in five countries, as well as the top five in Italy, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom, among others.

[102][103] It spent a total of 11 weeks at this position, surpassing "Livin' la Vida Loca" as Martin's longest number-one single on the chart, and was the longest-running number one of 2003.

[193] As a child, Martin used to sing songs by Menudo and rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, Journey, and REO Speedwagon, which were what his "older siblings were listening to at the time".

[210] Similarly, Billboard's Chuck Taylor expressed "She's All I Ever Had" boasts "a versatility that contrasts nicely" with Martin's previous single, "Livin' la Vida Loca", labeling his vocal on the former "tender and heartfelt".

"[213] He has collaborated with various directors to produce his music videos, including Carlos Perez,[214] Wayne Isham,[215] Jessy Terrero,[216] Simón Brand,[217] Gustavo Garzón,[218] Nigel Dick,[219] Kacho Lopez,[220] and Memo del Bosque.

"[256][non-primary source needed] In January 2018, Martin confirmed that he had secretly married Yosef: "I'm a husband..."[257][258] On December 31, 2018, they announced that they had welcomed their first daughter together, named Lucia Martin-Yosef.

[284] Following his performance of "The Cup of Life" at the Grammys, and the success of "Livin' la Vida Loca" and Ricky Martin (1999), he opened the gates for many Latin artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony, Santana, and Enrique Iglesias who released their crossover albums and followed him onto the top of the charts.

Then-United Talent Agency head Rob Prinz described the rendition as "the single biggest game changing moment for any artist in the history of the Grammys".

The website's critical consensus summary states, "A good trip to the past that recalls a band that defined the youth of a certain public, but that doesn't ignore the darkest moments in the lives of its members.

[307] At the 2010 Billboard Latin Music Awards, Martin expressed his disagreement with the Arizona SB 1070 bill, a proposed law that would have required police officers to request documents from individuals whom they suspected to be illegal immigrants.

[311][315] He is currently considered to be a gay icon,[316] with PinkNews labeling him "a strong advocate of LGBT rights" who "expressed support for equal marriage" since coming out.

[318] Suzy Exposito from Rolling Stone argued that with risking his career and coming out, Martin "set the scene for Bad Bunny to be free in many ways that, during his own breakthrough moment, he could not".

[320] Several of Martin's music videos feature diversity in sexual orientations and same-sex couples, including "The Best Thing About Me Is You",[321] "Disparo al Corazón",[318] "Fiebre",[322] and "Tiburones".

[343] In 2018, in recognition of "his dedication to the island and people of Puerto Rico, his philanthropic work to eliminate human trafficking across the Caribbean, and his commitment to the arts", the singer received a proclamation naming June 7 the "Ricky Martin Day" in New York City.