Editing Ricky Martin (section)

=== 1984–1989: Menudo ===
{{see also|Menudo (group)|l1=Menudo}}
{{Listen
| filename    = Menudo - Rayo de Luna.ogg
| title       = "Rayo de Luna"
| description = Martin made his recording debut on the song "Rayo de Luna", from Menudo's 1984 album, ''[[Evolución (Menudo album)|Evolución]]''.
| format      = [[Ogg]]
}}
After achieving moderate fame in Puerto Rico for his appearances in television commercials, Martin auditioned for membership in Menudo. Formed in Puerto Rico in 1977, Menudo members were usually replaced when they hit 16 to keep the band "full of fresh-faced members".<ref name="Mental Floss">{{cite news|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/632700/facts-about-boy-bands|title=25 Swoon-Worthy Facts About Famous Boy Bands|work=[[Mental Floss]]|last=Wolf|first=Erika|date=February 9, 2021|access-date=November 27, 2021|archive-date=November 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127190449/https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/632700/facts-about-boy-bands|url-status=live}}</ref> Although the executives enjoyed his dancing and singing at his first two auditions, Martin was rejected because he was too short. By the third audition, his persistence impressed executives, and in 1984, 12-year-old Martin became a member. He replaced member [[Ricky Melendez]] at Menudo. A month after joining Menudo, he made his debut performance with the group at the [[Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center]] in San Juan (he had previously sung at a Menudo concert, at Ricky Melendez's last concert as a member of the band on September 16, 1984). During this performance, he inadvertently disobeyed the choreography by walking around the stage, when it was planned that he would stay still, and was chastised by the band manager after the show: "The mistake was such a big deal that from that moment on, never again did I move when I wasn't supposed to move. That was the discipline of Menudo: You either did things the way you were told or you were not part of the group." Although Martin enjoyed traveling and performing onstage with Menudo, he found the band's busy schedule and strict management exhausting, and later reflected that the experience "cost" him his childhood. Despite this, Martin acknowledged his "opportunity to have so many amazing experiences with so many amazing people" during his time with the group.<ref name="rickybook"/>
[[File:Robert Avellanet in Menudo in 1989.jpg|thumb|left|Martin (far left) with Menudo in 1989]]
During his time with Menudo, he became a "key-member of the group" and a "fan-favorite",<ref name="Mental Floss"/> while the band released 11 albums,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/6-pop-group-singers-who-found-solo-success-9093751|title=6 Pop Group Singers Who Found Solo Success|work=[[Phoenix New Times]]|last=Ryan|first=Eran|date=February 20, 2017|access-date=November 27, 2021|archive-date=November 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127202955/https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/6-pop-group-singers-who-found-solo-success-9093751|url-status=live}}</ref> including the [[Grammy]]-nominated ''[[Evolución (Menudo album)|Evolución]]'' ({{Translation|''Evolution''}}) (1984) and their highest-charting and longest-running album on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], ''[[Menudo (album)|Menudo]]'' (1985).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/menudo/17682|title=Menudo|publisher=[[Grammy Awards]]|access-date=November 27, 2021|archive-date=November 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127203025/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/menudo/17682|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/menudo/chart-history/tlp/|title=Menudo Chart History (''Billboard'' 200)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 27, 2021|archive-date=November 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127203032/https://www.billboard.com/artist/menudo/chart-history/tlp/|url-status=live}}</ref> The former featured Martin's debut single, "Rayo de Luna" ({{Translation|"Moonlight"}}) and the latter included the hit single "[[Hold Me (Menudo song)|Hold Me]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/music-stars-look-back-at-1984-best-quotes-6297004/|title=Music Stars Look Back at 1984: Ricky Martin on Being 'Spoiled' in Menudo, Melle Mel on the Irony of 'White Lines', Joe Perry on Reuniting With Aerosmith and More|magazine=Billboard|date=October 29, 2014|access-date=November 27, 2021|archive-date=November 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127203143/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/music-stars-look-back-at-1984-best-quotes-6297004/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Complex Menudo">{{cite news|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2013/10/best-boy-band-songs/|title=The 30 Best Boy Band Songs|work=[[Complex Networks|Complex]]|last=Iandoli|first=Kathy|author-link=Kathy Iandoli|date=October 2, 2013|access-date=November 27, 2021|archive-date=November 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127203255/https://www.complex.com/music/2013/10/best-boy-band-songs/|url-status=live}}</ref> "Hold Me" became the group's first and only entry on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart, peaking at number 62.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/menudo/chart-history/hsi/|title=Menudo Chart History (Hot 100)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 27, 2021|archive-date=November 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127203406/https://www.billboard.com/artist/menudo/chart-history/hsi/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was ranked among the "100 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time" by ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'',<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/media/lists/greatest-boy-band-songs-of-all-time-top-100-8362499/|title=The 100 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks|magazine=Billboard|date=April 23, 2018|access-date=November 27, 2021|archive-date=November 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127203214/https://www.billboard.com/media/lists/greatest-boy-band-songs-of-all-time-top-100-8362499/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref> the "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time" by ''[[Rolling Stone]]'',<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/boy-band-songs-greatest-1033317/menudo-hold-me-1985-145206/|title=75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=July 24, 2020|access-date=November 27, 2021|archive-date=November 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127203154/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/boy-band-songs-greatest-1033317/menudo-hold-me-1985-145206/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the "30 Best Boy Band Songs" by ''[[Complex Networks|Complex]]''.<ref name="Complex Menudo"/> Besides the musical career, Martin appeared with other members of Menudo in the American [[romantic comedy]]/drama television series, ''[[The Love Boat]]'' (1985),<ref name="Hollywood Reporter Menudo">{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/hollywood-flashback-menudo-launched-ricky-martin-1977-1244373/|title=Hollywood Flashback: Menudo Launched Ricky Martin in 1977|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|last=Higgins|first=Bill|date=October 5, 2019|access-date=November 27, 2021|archive-date=November 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127212008/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/hollywood-flashback-menudo-launched-ricky-martin-1977-1244373/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Argentine soap opera, ''Por Siempre Amigos'' (1987).<ref name="Billboard Acting">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/ricky-martin-watch-scenes-from-emmy-nominee-acting-career-8465853/|title=Watch Scenes From 'The Assassination of Gianni Versace' Emmy Nominee Ricky Martin's Acting Career|magazine=Billboard|last=Navas|first=Judy Cantor|date=July 17, 2018|access-date=November 27, 2021|archive-date=November 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127212118/https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/ricky-martin-watch-scenes-from-emmy-nominee-acting-career-8465853/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also developed an interest in philanthropy when the group became [[UNICEF]] ambassadors.<ref name="rickybook"/>

Finally, Martin left the band in July 1989, at age 17, hoping to rest and evaluate his career path;<ref name="rickybook"/> he stayed a few extra months after his "age-mandated retirement" came around.<ref name="Hollywood Reporter Menudo"/> He performed his final show with the group at the same venue where he had performed his first performance as a member.<ref name="rickybook"/> Martin returned to Puerto Rico to "get a break from the pressures of the group, the promotional tours, and the constant stress of work." He graduated from high school, and 13 days after turning 18, he moved to New York City to celebrate his financial independence; since he was a minor during his time with Menudo, Martin was not allowed to access his own bank accounts.<ref name="rickybook"/>