Ricky Martin was born December 24, 1971 as Enrique Jose Martin Morales in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was the only son of Enrique Martin, a psychologist and Nereida Morales, an accountant. His mother already had two children from her first marriage. His parents divorced when he was two years old, but each later remarried giving Ricky three more step-siblings from his father’s second marriage. Even though both of his parents had joint custody, they started to fight over his infrequent visits; his father told him he had to choose between his mother and him. In result of this, Ricky resented his father and that was when he changed his name from Enrique to Ricky. He didn’t talk to his father for about a decade but later reconciled with him.
Even though nobody in his family was connected, or interested in show business, he was still drawn to the spotlight, telling his father at age six that he wanted to perform. He began by auditioning for the group called Menudo, at age ten. He auditioned three times and didn’t make it until the third try at age twelve in 1984. For the next five years he was one of the lead singers of the group helping them become international sensations.
Even though nobody in his family was connected, or interested in show business, he was still drawn to the spotlight, telling his father at age six that he wanted to perform. He began by auditioning for the group called Menudo, at age ten. He auditioned three times and didn’t make it until the third try at age twelve in 1984. For the next five years he was one of the lead singers of the group helping them become international sensations.