Ricky Martin, Puerto Rico's all-time top-selling artist, has been named king of the 50th annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York. Parade organizers said Thursday that the honor recognizes Martin's success and his efforts to fight the exploitation of children worldwide.
Martin has won multiple Grammy Awards and was named Person of the Year in 2006 by the Latin Recording Academy.
SINGING idol Ricky Martin headlined at the 48th annual International Song Festival in Vina del Mar, Chile over the weekend. The Santiago Times reported that audiences were entertained with musical performances, a beauty competition, comic acts and other entertainment.
Ricky Martin is selling his Florida waterfront mansion for a crisp $16.9 million. The ginormous Mediterranean style crib features 7 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms. The Miami palace boasts a few famous neighbors too; Matt Damon and Shakira.
Music legend Ricky Martin, UNICEF goodwill ambassador and two-time Grammy Award winner and among the 50 most beautiful people in the world, performed at the wedding reception of Kunika Jolly, daughter of Delhi-based businessman Vivekk Jolly and Dhurv, son of Mumbai-based industrialist Neeraj Raja Kochar. Kunika is niece of politician Kamal Nath, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry. The Latino pop star set the dance floor on fire with his popular numbers like Maria, The Cup of Life and Livin 'La Vida Loca, at the Hotel Le Merdien in Jaipur. The singer shared the floor with DJ Aqueel and a couple of Lebanese belly dancer.
Martin and his 30-member troupe performed in a black-coloured dome, especially erected within the hotel premises for the show that is said to have cost over Rs 3 crores. As soon he started singing, the select gathering of guests, including some Europeans, began dancing. It was a big dance party.
The high-profile wedding, with star personality like Martin, performing in India for the first time and top businessmen and industrialists as guests, is estimated to have cost Rs 100 crores, the costliest in Jaipur's history.
Ricky Martin, who was a headliner at the 2001 inauguration ball for President George W. Bush, has a message for the American commander in chief about war. At a recent concert, the 35-year-old singer stuck up his middle finger when he sang the president's name in his song "Asignatura Pendiente," which includes the words, "a photo with Bush." The gesture last Friday prompted cheers from thousands of fans in the San Juan stadium.
On Thursday, the Puerto Rican heartthrob repeated his criticism of the Iraq war and explained his changed position on Bush.
"My convictions of peace and life go beyond any government and political agenda and as long as I have a voice onstage and offstage, I will always condemn war and those who promulgate it," Martin said about his action in an e-mail statement sent to The Associated Press via a spokesman.
Martin, like other artists, has been highly critical of the war in Iraq.
