Latin Pop Star Ricky Martin Releases New Album Oct. 31

Latin pop idol Ricky Martin is expected to hit the Korean stage again with his charismatic dances, but also with the newest cuts from his upcoming album "She Bangs," according to Kim Hong-gee, director of the Allaccess agency company.

Mr. Kim expects that many major record stores will see long lines of people waiting outside on October 31 to purchase the new album.

Mr. Martin, who is partly responsible for the international Salsa dance craze, came to Seoul for a long-awaited concert at Chamshil Olympic Stadium on Oct. 7, as part of an Asian tour which began in Japan on Sep. 28.

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican native has been in the vanguard of Latin pop music along with Jennifer Lopes, Luis Miguel, Enrique Iglesias and Chris Perez. Martin achieved worldwide renown after the release of his smash hit "La Copa de la Vida," the 1998 World Cup theme song.
Blessed with great looks and an outstanding voice, Mr. Martin became a lead singer for the Latin group Menudo at the age of 12, in 1984. He stayed with the group for five years and helped it gain international fame.

Acclaimed as the "King of Latin pop," Mr. Martin has released many hit albums, including his self-titled debut album (1991), "A Medio Vivir" (1995), which has a hard-rock edge,"Vuelve" (1998), his first English pop album, and a second "Ricky Martin" (1999), a worldwide blockbuster containing the singles "Livin' la Vica Loca" and "She's All I Ever Had."

In addition to his musical achievements, Mr. Martin also has a talent for acting. Mr. Martin began acting in television commercials at the age of six, and has appeared in the American soap opera "General Hospital," in 1994, playing the role of a bartender-singer. Later he turned down the chance to partake in the remake of West Side Story, co-starring Jennifer Lopez, because he just "wanted to be thought of as singer forever," Mr. Martin is quoted as saying.
Ricky Martin was chosen as one of the 10 most facinating people of 1999 by Babara Walters.

by Kim Jae-seon