All the news can be found on rickymartin.com
July 6, 1999
First, there was "Livin la Vida Loca", the single, then came, "Livin' la Vida Loca", the video. Now, Ricky Martin is preparing to rock the world with "Livin' la Vida Loca", THE TOUR.
After selling more than ten millions copies of his new album, conquering the No. 1 spot on the prestigious Billboard chart and receiving five platinum records in less than eight weeks, the Puerto Rican super star will initiate his so expected world tour on October 21 in the Miami Arena. This will be the beginning of a journey around 17 cities that acclaims the interpreter of "Livin' la Vida Loca" and "The Cup of Life". The chaos that the music and presentations of Ricky Martin have caused it's an anticipation that all his concerts will be sold out. It is expected that the concert's tickets will be sold in less than 48 hours.
May 19, 1999
As a result of the huge success with his new musical production, and his contagious song "Livin La Vida Loca", the Puerto Rican super star arrived yesterday in England in order to continue his promotional tour throughout the world.
This time, the interpreter of "Vuelve" makes his first appearance on England's television. The intervention will be on the famous show "Top of the Pops", where he will be the main figure. In this way, and by deference to the English audiences, Ricky will say present for some hours to this nation in which he has become an idol to many.
After his great acceptance on well known USA television programs, such as "Saturday Night Life", "The Rosie O'Donnell Show", among others, and after being on the cover of famous magazines as "TIME Magazine", "People" and "Entertainment Weekly", the success of "Livin La Vida Loca", that stills #1 on the Billboards Charts, has taken Ricky Martin to sustain the supremacy as the most popular Latin artist of the world.
May 12, 1999
Within hours of the release of his new musical production, titled "Ricky Martin", the world idol paralyzed New York City yesterday. Ricky visited the program "MTV Live Request" and then he went to TOWER RECORDS, located at 67 Avenue.
Once there, the Puerto Rican artist stood in front of approximately twelve thousand people to sign autographs and to give a warm welcome to his loyal fans. Metaphorically, in view of the reaction of the New York police that were present at all times, the Puerto Rican super star paralyzed the metropolis and started to live "la vida loca".
Rumors are that from the early hours of dawn, young fans staled at the streets in order to be the firsts to enter the music store and to have the chance to see the famous artist.
All the Latin and American media of the "Big Apple" covered the activity describing it as a historical moment. It is expected that in the next days Ricky Martin and his song "Livin La Vida Loca" will break a super sales record marking a new precedent for exceeding the five millions of copies sold in the pre-sale in such a short period of time.
April 28, 1999
As Ricky Martin fever grips America, the C2/Columbia Recording artists "Livin La Vida Loca" has shot to #1 with a bullet on the billboard Hot 100 singles chart this week with both Power Pick Sales (greatest pin in sales) and Power Pick Airplay (greatest gain in airplay). In fact, with true first week's sales of "Livin' La Vida Loca" totaling more than 280,000 pieces, Ricky Martin has achieved the highest #1 sales figures in Columbia Records history and has the fourth highest #1 sales in the history of the Hot 100 following Elton John's "Candle In The Wind 1997", Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On", and Brandy & Monica's "The Boy Is Mine". Ricky Martin is the first solo Latin male artist of the SoundScan era to hit #1 on the Hot 100 and is the first male artist to have the #1single on the Hot 100 in over a year (the last was Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy Wit lt" in March 1998).
The rise of "Livin' La Vida Loca" has been nothing short of phenomenal. Based solely on airplay, "Livin' La Vida Loca" entered the Hot 100 at #54 with a bullet the week of April 4, 1999. A week later, it had bulleted to 032 and was that week's Power Pick Airplay record. In its third week, the irresistible single shot to #8, again with a bullet and Power Pick Airplay. When the true first week's sales were factored in during the singles fourth week on the chart, the rise to numero uno was inevitable.
Earlier this month, Picky Martin created pure pandemonium when between 5,000-7,000 of his fans showed up for his in-store appearances in Miami and Los Angeles.
Ricky Martin galvanized more than a billion television viewers across the globe with his electrifying performance of "The Cup of Life (La Copa de Ia Vida)" at this year's Grammy Awards ceremony. Ricky's last album, Vuelve, won the Best Latin Pop Performance Grammy and has sold some 6 million copies worldwide.
Most recently, Ricky walked off with two Billboard Latin Music Awards including Album of the Year, Male (Vuelve) and Hot Latin Track of the Year ("Vuelve").
04-30-99
After his sensational presentation in Milan, Italy, for the world launching of his new production, the Puerto Rican star Ricky Martin, in less than a week, has put himself in the No. 1 spot of the American Hot Chart Billboard 100 with his successful single "Livin La Vida Loca".
This is another triumph for the mega star since no other Puerto Rican has ever conquered such worldwide-recognized position. Also, "Livin La Vida Loca" has already sold 300,000 units and it hasn't been out on the market yet.
Definitely, "Livin La Vida Loca" is causing sensation throughout the whole world.
04-30-99
The Puerto Rican star Ricky Martin will appear today in the Latin Billboard Music Award in Miami. During the ceremony the super star will perform his successful single "Livin La Vida Loca" and will receive the awards for Male Artist Album of the Year and Pop Hot Latin Track Album, both for his successful production of "Vuelve" which has exceeded six millions copies sold.
After his triumphal career around the world, it is most important for the Puerto Rican star that his Latin fans will be the first to watch his appearance in worldwide television.
This event will take place at Club Tropigala in Fountainbleau Hilton Tower Hotel and it will be transmitted worldwide via "Telemundo" Television Network in May 16, 1999 at 7:00 p.m.
MARCH 11, 1999
Invited by British Super -Star Sting, our Ricky Martin will arrive to New York's Carnegie Hall on April the 17th at 7:00 p.m. to participate along with other big music starts in one of the most spectacular annual events, the "Tenth Annual Rainforest Benefit", founded ten years ago by Trudie Styler, and Sting.
According to Ms. Styler: "This year, the artists have been asked to perform their favorite Frank Sinatra songs and we're doing it his way". Through these annual benefit concerts almost ten million dollars has been raised to support the Rainforest Foundation's mission of protecting the rights and environment of the people who live in the world's rainforests. The benefit Concert will be a part of Rainforest Awareness Week that features various fund and awareness raising activities including the Empire State Building glowing green in tribute and the street outside Carnegie Hall being temporarily renamed" Rainforest Way".
In 1989 the Rainforest Foundation was originally created to help protect the Kayapo Indian's homeland in the Amazon.
The performers to this event include regulars Elton John, Sting and James Taylor who will be joined by: Charles Aznavour, Tony Bennett, Sandra Bernhard, Don Henley, Bill Joel, Ricky Martin, and as always, concert producer Trudie Styler promises special surprise guests.
After the honor of participating in this great event, Ricky Martin will leave to Los Angeles to continue with his career responsibilities.
February 25, 1999
Latin performer Ricky Martin brought the Grammy audience to its feet last night with his energetic performance of the song "La Copa De La Vida". The audience awarded the Latin pop artist with a standing ovation after his debut performance on the show. Ricky later went on to win a Grammy in the "Best Latin Pop Performance" category for his Spanish album "Vuelve". This was Martin's first nomination and first win as a solo artist.
A native of Puerto Rico, Ricky has been performing and amazing audiences worldwide with his Latin pop sound from an early age. "Vuelve", which was released last summer, has sold over 6 million records and has hit number one in Australia, Japan and France.
Martin looks forward to his first crossover album in English, due out on June 1st. "It's all about communication," Martin said. I've done recordings in French, in Portuguese, why not English? I'll never stop singing in Spanish. I'm very proud of where I came from. But let's communicate right? Why not?"
