‘Loca’ Motion: Ricky Martin mania

Joey Guerra

Tuesday, Nov. 9, 1999 | 9:25 a.m.

Who: Ricky Martin.

When: 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

Where: Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Cost: Tickets priced at $75, $115 and $150 still available for Thursday show; tickets priced at $115 and $150 still available for Friday show.

Information: Call 632-7580.

So you think you know every last "loca" detail about Ricky Martin?

Don't be so sure.

If you really want to impress friends and family, keep reading. Some of these tidbits may surprise you.

And if you fancy yourself the ultimate Ricky maniac, this will serve as a prelude to his "Livin' la Vida Loca" tour, which stops at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Thursday and Friday as part of its 25-city run.

The show, which is a well-oiled blend of Las Vegas glitz, accessible Latin rhythms and at least two pairs of leather pants, clocks in at about 105 minutes.

It's a carefully orchestrated, relentlessly upbeat celebration of his persona and his music, right down to his barefoot encore of "La Copa de la Vida" (The Cup of Life). But you've got to hand it to Martin: Nobody else looks better amid a sea of streamers and confetti.

Admittedly, the Ricky factor has run pretty high in the last few months. Along with that ubiquitous "Loca" hit, Martin has made fans -- both female and male -- swoon with the moody ballad "She's All I Ever Had," and he's shaking those million-dollar hips again in the clip for his latest single, "Shake Your Bon-Bon."

He's an award- and talk-show regular, and he's recently popped up in TV spots for Pepsi's Goza el Sabor (Joy of Cola) campaign, with commercials airing on Univision, Telemundo and Galavision.

Overexposure? Maybe. But until the next music wave hits, the view is pretty good from where we're standing.

Musical background

Martin's Menudo days began when he was 12. He left the bilingual boy band in 1989 when he reached 17, the group's age limit. Between roles on soap operas (as "General Hospital's" brooding bartender Miguel Morez) and on Broadway (as Marius in "Les Miserables"), Martin built a rabid Latin fan base.

His self-titled, Spanish-language debut album was released in 1992 and it was followed by "Me Amaras" (1993), "'A Medio Vivir" (1995) and "Vuelve" (1998). Sales of those releases soared past the 15-million mark before Martin even thought about recording an English-language album.

The 1995 hit "Maria" introduced Martin to a wider audience and became a club hit in the United States. Since then, the hip-swiveling hero has scored No. 1 hits in 30 countries. The United States, then, was just catching up when Martin's performance of "La Copa de la Vida" (The Cup of Life) at the Grammy Awards set hearts racing. His English-language album has sold more than 5 million copies in the States alone.

His favorite music

When Martin was growing up, his radio blasted '80s pop-rock.

Music by Boston, Cheap Trick, Journey, David Bowie and Annie Lennox topped his list of favorites. (Just listen to the swooping instrumentation on "I Am Made of You" and "Private Emotion," two songs on his English-language debut album, and you'll hear the influences.) Martin also admires Latin stars Julio Iglesias and Celia Cruz.

As for his own music, Martin holds an affinity for "Vuelve," the heartbreaking title track of his 1997 album, penned by singer/songwriter Franco de Vita.

"It's like a lucky charm for me," Martin said, just before launching into the hit onstage in Miami. "It's a song that talks about the ups and downs of life, especially love. Most of us have been through that ... when somebody just leaves. It makes us stronger."

Shaking his bon-bon

How did Ricky Martin learn to shake his bon-bon?

Admittedly, much of Martin's dance skill is in the jeans, uh, genes.

To help him polish his steps for the "Livin' la Vida Loca" tour, Martin enlisted the help of dancer and choreographer extraordinaire Tina Landon.

You may have caught a glimpse of Landon in the "MTV Video Music Awards," when she shared the stage with Martin to accept the awards for Best Dance Video and Best Choreography in a Video.

Landon also created the zippy moves for the "Livin' la Vida Loca" and "Shake Your Bon-Bon" videos, as well as an upcoming Martin TV special.

Landon's other clients include best pal Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Christina Aguilera.

What is casa salsa?

No, it's not a spicy dance studio where Martin learns his moves.

Rather, it's a trendy Puerto Rican restaurant that opened last December on Miami's South Beach.

Martin is one of the owners, and he's said to stop by the eatery every couple of months.

It offers ethnic selections, along with more standard items spiced with some Puerto Rican flavor.

Just don't plan a trip any time soon, expecting to run into Martin while you're being seated. He will be on tour until early December.

Who doesn't love him?

Without a doubt, the title of Most Unlikely Fans goes to octogenarian sisters June Taylor and Marilyn Taylor Gleason, who attended Martin's opening-night show in Miami. Salsa singer Luis Enrique was also spotted trying to slip away from clamoring fans.

June was the choreographer for the June Taylor Dancers, regulars on "The Jackie Gleason Show," and Marilyn is the widow of the legendary actor and comedian.

"He is absolutely marvelous," said Gleason, chatting outside the Miami Arena as a car waited to whisk her away. "I wish my husband could be alive to see him, because he would certainly appreciate him, too. (My sister and I) adored him -- his personality, his show-biz sense. He has a marvelous voice."

Taylor agreed wholeheartedly, praising Martin's "movement -- his natural movement is fantastic. He was born with it."

Nobody who has seen Martin move onstage will argue with that.

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