CNN - Ricky Martin still making music

Martin

From Correspondent Lauren Hunter

Web posted on: Thursday, October 22, 1998 4:28:43 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- His album has sold five million copies, and he is touring the world to support it, but Ricky Martin may be best known in the United States for something he did as a 12-year-old.

That was when the Puerto Rican-born singer was a member of the youthful pop group, Menudo.

Martin left Menudo after five years and followed his muse into acting, with appearances on the soap opera "General Hospital" and on Broadway in "Les Miserables"

But he couldn't stay away from music.

See a clip of "La Copa de la Vida"

'You don't want to let it go'

"If I had to choose between music or acting, I would say, 'OK, I'm going to stay with music.'" he said. "When you're on stage, all your senses are very vulnerable. The band is playing behind you. You see people singing to your music, dancing to your rhythms. You try it once, you don't want to let go."

His album, "Vuelve," which means "return," has sold millions and cemented his huge popularity in the Spanish-speaking world. Martin also sang the official anthem of the World Cup this year and provided the voice of the lead character in the Spanish-language version of "Hercules."

Is Ricky single?

What's ahead for the singing star? He is currently working on his first English-language album, due out next year. It's sure to increase his fan base and make his name more familiar to Americans who remember Menudo, but not the boys who sang in the group.

But the most pressing question among many of his fans might be this one: Is handsome Ricky single?

"I'm alone at the moment," says the singer. "But, if there's something that I dream for it is to have a big family."