Ricky Martin - Wikipedia

Early life: 1971–83

Martin wis born on 24 Dizember 1971, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the son o Nereida Morales, an accoontant, an Enrique Martín Negroni, a psychologist.[9][10][11][12] His parents divorcit when he wis twa year auld and Martin spent hintle o his childhood shifting atween his faither's home in the suburb of Varsity Gardens and his paternal grandmither's hoose nearby.[13][14] Martin haes twa maternal hauf-brithers, Fernando and Ángel Fernández, an twa paternal hauf-brithers, Eric an Daniel Martín, an a paternal hauf-sister Vanessa Martín.[11] Martin haes Catalan (Spainyie) ancestry throu his maternal grandmither who wis born in Spain as well as Corsican ancestry throu his paternal grandmither.[15][16]

Martin grew up in a Roman Catholic hame an wis a altar boy throuoot his bairnheid.[17] He began singin at age sax, uisin firthen kitchen spoons as pretend microphones; he aften interpretit sangs bi Menudo as well as Inglis-leid rock groups sic as Led Zeppelin, Journey, an REO Speedwagon.[18] His mither's side o the faimily wis muisically inclined and his maternal grandfaither wis a poet, which inspired young Martin tae write sangs.[18] Martin later reflectit on his time spent wi his faimily as a bairn: "Every time I find myself in front of an audience, be it twenty people or one hundred thousand, once again I feel the energy that consumed me back at the family gatherings of my youth."[19] Efter discoverin a newspaper advertisement anent audeetions for commercials wi his faither, nine-year-auld Martin began appearin in Puerto Rican telly commercials for products siclik saft drinks, toothpaste, an fast-fuid restaurants.[20] In a year an a hauf, he starred in eleiven commercials.[20]