USA: Ricky Martin gets star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Ricky Martin, who shot to fame first as a member of Menudo, and then as a solo artist, receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ricky Martin, who went from being a member of the boy band Menudo to being one of the world's best-selling solo artists, received the 2,351st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Tuesday (October 16). Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and actress Rita Moreno joined Martin at the ceremony. ""All I have to say is that everything I do, I do with love, passion. My mission for the last fifteen, twenty years, it's been about uniting cultures and focusing on the similarities of culture and today Elton John is here, he's from Europe, I'm from Latin America, you know what, music unites the world and that's all I have to say about this. It's very beautiful," Martin said. Martin is considered one of the leading Latin music figures of his generation. He is best known for his 1999 single "Livin' La Vida Loca," which reached the top of the charts in the United States, England, Argentina, Australia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico and several other nations. In addition to his singing Martin has also dabbled in acting, appearing on Broadway and in television and film. Born Enrique Jose Martin Morales on Dec. 24, 1971 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Martin told his father when he was 6 years old he wanted to perform. Martin joined the Latino pop group Menudo when he was 12, remaining with it until he was 17. Sony Discos, the company's Spanish-language label, signed Martin in 1990. He released his first album, "Ricky Martin," a year later. It earned gold records in the U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina and Chile. After several additional Spanish-language albums, Martin recorded his first English-language record in 1999, also titled "Ricky Martin." It sold more than 17 million copies worldwide and was certified seven times platinum. Martin has also been involved in a variety of humanitarian efforts, including working with Habitat for Humanity to complete work on new and rehabilitated home for families victimized by the Indian Ocean tsunami and being named by the State Department as one of its "Heroes in Ending Modern-Day Slavery" for efforts to end human trafficking.

ITN Source | October 17, 2007

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