STAGE TUBE: On This Day 12/24 - Ricky Martin

Welcome to BWW's New Daily ON THIS DAY Series celebrating theatrical birthdays, openings and special events that took place on this day in theatre history!

Today in 1971, Broadway-bound Ricky Martin was born. During his career he has sold more than 60 million album copies worldwide. He is the founder of Ricky Martin Foundation (in Spanish Fundación Ricky Martin), a non-profit charity organization. Ricky Martin's exuberant 1999 single "Livin' la Vida Loca" made him a prominent figure of Latin dance-pop. Martin got his start with the all-boy pop group Menudo; after five years with the group, he released his Spanish-language solo album, Ricky Martin, in 1991. His other studio albums include: Me Amarás (1993), A Medio Vivir (1995), Vuelve (1998), Sound Loaded (2000), Almas del Silencio (2003), Life (2005), and Música + Alma + Sexo (2011). In 1996, Martin starred in the Broadway's Les Misérables to play the romantic lead, Marius.

The new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's landmark musical EVITA, starring Martin as Che, will open April 5, 2012 at the Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway). Previews begin Monday, March 12, 2012.

Check out a clip from Martin in Les Miserables below!