Ricky Meléndez (born Ricardo Omar Meléndez Saurí, November 22, 1967 in

Hato Rey, Puerto Rico Hato Rey ( Spanish for ''king’s cattle farm''), often considered the central business district of Puerto Rico, is a highly urbanized financial, commercial, and residential district in San Juan, the capital municipality of the archipelago a ...

) is a Puerto Rican singer, lawyer and actor, best known for his tenures as a member of boy band Menudo and of El Reencuentro.

Career

He was raised in Guaynabo. He became a member of Menudo at the age of nine. He was one of the original five in the group joined by his brothers Carlos and

Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People and fictional and mythical characters * Oscar (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters named Oscar, Óscar or Oskar * Oscar (footballer, born 1954), Brazilian footballer ...

, and brothers Fernando and Nefty Salaberry. He is also the cousin of group founder

Edgardo Díaz Edgardo Díaz Meléndez (born 1947) is a Puerto Rican music producer and songwriter. He is the creator of the "boy band" Menudo. Early life Díaz was born in Panama City, Panama to Puerto Rican parents "Nacho" Diaz and his wife "Panchi" ...

. As a member of Menudo, he acted in two films: '' Menudo: La Pelicula'' and ''

Una Aventura Llamada Menudo ''Una aventura llamada Menudo'' (English: ''An Adventure Called Menudo'') is a 1982 film featuring teen boy band Menudo (band), Menudo and Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican actress Gladys Rodríguez. The film's soundtrack received a nomination for a Gram ...

''. He was a member of the band through most of the band's golden era and he's remembered for singing lead in the tracks "Y Yo No Bailo", " Amor en Bicicleta" and "Cámbiale Las Pilas". Meléndez retired from Menudo in 1984 at the mandatory age of 16, but since he had started at age nine, he became the band member with the longest tenure at seven years. He gave up his place to

Ricky Martin Enrique Martin Morales (born December 24, 1971), known professionally as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican singer, songwriter and actor. He is known for his musical versatility, with his Ricky Martin albums discography, discography incorporati ...

. His final concert with Menudo was in

Caguas Caguas (, ) is a city and municipality in central eastern Puerto Rico. Located in the eponymous Caguas Valley between the Sierra de Cayey and Sierra de Luquillo of the Central Mountain Range, it is bordered by San Juan and Trujillo Alto to ...

, where he was joined by most of the former Menudo members on that concert's date, September 16, 1984. Once Meléndez left Menudo, he tried various business ventures, including a shop at Plaza Las Americas in

San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John (disambiguation), Saint John, most commonly refers to: * San Juan, Puerto Rico * San Juan, Argentina * San Juan, Metro Manila, a highly urbanized city in the Philippines San Juan may also refer to: Places Arge ...

, and became a lawyer. In 1998, he got together with former bandmates Rene Farrait, Johnny Lozada, Ray Reyes,

Charlie Masso Carlos Javier Rivera Massó (born June 13, 1969 in San Juan, Puerto Rico), better known as Charlie Massó, is a Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican singer and actor. Massó is a former member of Menudo (band), Menudo, joining the band at the height of M ...

and

Miguel Cancel Miguel Ángel Cancel Vázquez (born June 28, 1968) is a Puerto Rican singer, actor and retired police officer who began his career with the Puerto Rico-based boy band Menudo. Career Menudo Miguel was born in Chicago, Illinois as the only ch ...

to make a comeback tour under the name of El Reencuentro. They toured the world.

Personal life

Melendez attended the University High School in San Juanl. Meléndez graduated in 1995 with a juris doctor from the University of Puerto Rico Law School and practices corporate and real estate law at Pietrantoni Mendez & Alvarez LLC. Meléndez also has a B.A. from

University of Central Florida The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public university, public research university with its main campus in unincorporated area, unincorporated Orange County, Florida, United States. It is part of the State University System of Florida. ...

in broadcasting. Melendez is married to Miriam "Muñeca" Calderín. He has one son and one daughter.

In pop culture

Melendez is played by

Marcelo Otano Marcelo is a given name, the Spanish and Portuguese form of Marcellus. Marcelo may refer to: Given name * Marcelo Costa de Andrade (born 1967), Brazilian serial killer, rapist, and necrophile * Marcelo Arriagada (born 1973), Chilean road cyclist ...

and by Eugenio Rivera in the 2020 Amazon Prime Video series based on Menudo, " Subete A Mi Moto".

Discography

With Menudo

* ''Los Fantasmas'' (1977) * ''Laura'' (1978) * ''

Chiquitita "Chiquitita" ("Little Girl" in Spanish) is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released in January 1979 as the first single from '' Voulez-Vous'' (1979), the group's sixth album. Agnetha Fältskog performs the lead vocals. Origin ...

'' (1979) * ''Felicidades'' (1979) * ''Mas Mucho Mas'' (1980) * ''Es Navidad'' (1980) * '' Fuego'' (1981) * '' Xanadu'' (1981) * ''

Quiero Ser ''Quiero Ser'' (also titled ''Rock Chiquillo'' in Puerto Rico) is the ninth studio album by the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, released in 1981 by Padosa Records. The lineup at the time included members Ricky Meléndez, René Farrait, Johnny L ...

'' (1981) * '' Por Amor'' (1982) * ''

Una aventura llamada Menudo ''Una aventura llamada Menudo'' (English: ''An Adventure Called Menudo'') is a 1982 film featuring teen boy band Menudo (band), Menudo and Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican actress Gladys Rodríguez. The film's soundtrack received a nomination for a Gram ...

'' (1982) * '' Feliz Navidad'' (1982) * '' A Todo Rock'' (1983) * '' Reaching Out'' (1984) * ''

Mania Mania, also known as manic syndrome, is a Psychiatry, psychiatric Abnormality (behavior), behavioral syndrome defined as a state of Abnormality (behavior), abnormally elevated arousal, affect (psychology), affect, and energy level. During a mani ...

'' (1984)

References