Ricky Martin

Solo Artist · The King of Latin Pop

Photo: Steve Granitz · CC BY-SA 2.0
Active 1984-present
Origin San Juan, Puerto Rico
Albums 10
Tracks 124
Most frequent collaborator Draco Rosa · 44 tracks
Genres Latin popDance-PopPopReggaeton
Co-Performer
25%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 31 of 124 tracks

Does Ricky Martin write his own songs?

Mostly not, especially early on. Across his Spanish-language albums and his 1999 English crossover, Ricky Martin held almost no songwriting credits, relying on writers and producers like Draco Rosa, K.C. Porter, and Desmond Child. That changed in the mid-2000s: he co-wrote most of Life (2005), all of Música + Alma + Sexo (2011), and most of A Quien Quiera Escuchar (2015). He is best understood as a performer who became an occasional co-writer, not a songwriter.

By the Numbers

10
Studio Albums
124
Tracks Credited
25%
Self-Written
over 70 million
Records Sold
42
Years Active
177
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 31 / 124 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 124 tracks: how many Ricky Martin wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Ricky Martin has a writing credit25%
25%
75%
Sole author0tracks0%
Co-written31tracks25%
Outside writers93tracks75%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Ricky Martin's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 124 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)25%
Composer (music)24%
Producer6%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Ricky Martin's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 25%
0%
0%
8%
7%
0%
0%
8%
58%
100%
80%
1991Ricky Martin
1993Me Amarás
1995A Medio Vivir
1998Vuelve
1999Ricky Martin
2000Sound Loaded
2003Almas del Silencio
2005Life
2011Música + Alma + Sexo
2015A Quien Quiera Escuchar
Early · 4% written
Mid · 15% written
Late · 91% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

3%
1990s
Ricky Martin, Me Amarás +3 more
20%
2000s
Sound Loaded, Almas del Silencio +1 more
91%
2010s
Música + Alma + Sexo, A Quien Quiera Escuchar

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Ricky Martin sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Ricky Martin
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Katseye0%
Salt-N-Pepa35%
Kylie Minogue46%
Cyndi Lauper60%
Rick Astley73%
Enrique Iglesias82%
Madonna95%
25%Ricky Martin
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Fuego Contra Fuego
Ricky Martin
Written by Carlos Gómez García, Mariano Pérez
Outside writers
El Amor de Mi Vida
Ricky Martin
Written by Eddie Sierra
Outside writers
Vuelo
Ricky Martin
Written by Fernando Riba, Kiko Campos
Outside writers
Me Amarás
Me Amarás
Written by Juan Carlos Calderón
Outside writers
Entre el Amor y los Halagos
Me Amarás
Written by Juan Carlos Calderón
Outside writers
María
A Medio Vivir
Written by Draco Rosa, K.C. Porter, Luis Gómez-Escolar, Robert Edward Rosa Suárez, Karl Cameron Porter, Luis Gómez-Escolar Roldán
Outside writers
Te Extraño, Te Olvido, Te Amo
A Medio Vivir
Written by Carlos Lara
Outside writers
Volverás
A Medio Vivir
Written by Draco Rosa, K.C. Porter, Luis Gómez-Escolar, Ricky Martin, Robert Edward Rosa Suárez, Karl Cameron Porter, Luis Gómez-Escolar Roldán, Enrique Martín Morales
Co-wrote
Nada es Imposible
A Medio Vivir
Written by Alejandro Sanz, Alejandro Sánchez Pizarro
Outside writers
Vuelve
Vuelve
Written by Franco De Vita
Outside writers
La Copa de la Vida
Vuelve
Written by Desmond Child, Draco Rosa, Luis Gómez-Escolar, John Charles Barrett, Robert Edward Rosa Suárez, Luis Gómez-Escolar Roldán
Outside writers
Perdido Sin Ti
Vuelve
Written by Draco Rosa, K.C. Porter, Luis Gómez-Escolar, Robert Edward Rosa Suárez, Karl Cameron Porter, Luis Gómez-Escolar Roldán
Outside writers
Por Arriba, Por Abajo
Vuelve
Written by Draco Rosa, Luis Gómez-Escolar, César Lemos, Karla Aponte, Robert Edward Rosa Suárez, Luis Gómez-Escolar Roldán
Outside writers
Livin' la Vida Loca
Ricky Martin
Written by Draco Rosa, Desmond Child, Robert Edward Rosa Suárez, John Charles Barrett
Outside writers
She's All I Ever Had
Ricky Martin
Written by Jon Secada, Draco Rosa, George Noriega, Juan Francisco Secada Ramírez, Robert Edward Rosa Suárez
Outside writers
Shake Your Bon-Bon
Ricky Martin
Written by Desmond Child, George Noriega, Draco Rosa, John Charles Barrett, Robert Edward Rosa Suárez
Outside writers
Private Emotion
Ricky Martin
Written by Eric Bazilian, Rob Hyman, Eric Michael Bazilian, Robert Andrew Hyman
Outside writers
She Bangs
Sound Loaded
Written by Desmond Child, Draco Rosa, Walter Afanasieff, John Charles Barrett, Robert Edward Rosa Suárez
Outside writers
Nobody Wants to Be Lonely
Sound Loaded
Written by Victoria Shaw, Gary Burr, Desmond Child, John Charles Barrett
Outside writers
Loaded
Sound Loaded
Written by Jon Secada, George Noriega, Draco Rosa, Juan Francisco Secada Ramírez, Robert Edward Rosa Suárez
Outside writers
Tal Vez
Almas del Silencio
Written by Franco De Vita
Outside writers
Jaleo
Almas del Silencio
Written by Antonio Rayo, José Miguel Velásquez
Outside writers
Y Todo Queda en Nada
Almas del Silencio
Written by Estéfano, Julio Reyes
Outside writers
I Don't Care
Life
Written by Sean Garrett, Scott Storch, Fat Joe, Joseph Cartagena
Outside writers
Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú
Música + Alma + Sexo
Written by Ricky Martin, Andreas Carlsson, Claudia Brant, Eric Bazilian, Desmond Child, Enrique Martín Morales, Eric Michael Bazilian, John Charles Barrett
Co-wrote
Más
Música + Alma + Sexo
Written by Ricky Martin, Claudia Brant, Tainy, Ferras Alqaisi, Desmond Child, Enrique Martín Morales, Marco Masís, John Charles Barrett
Co-wrote
Frío
Música + Alma + Sexo
Written by Ricky Martin, Wisin, Yandel, Tainy, Desmond Child, Enrique Martín Morales, Juan Luis Morera Luna, Llandel Veguilla Malavé, Marco Masís, John Charles Barrett
Co-wrote
Adiós
A Quien Quiera Escuchar
Written by Ricky Martin, Yotuel Romero, Antonio Rayo, Enrique Martín Morales, Yotuel Romero Manzanares
Co-wrote
Disparo al Corazón
A Quien Quiera Escuchar
Written by Ricky Martin, Pedro Capó, Yoel Henríquez, Rafael Esparza Ruiz, Enrique Martín Morales
Co-wrote
La Mordidita
A Quien Quiera Escuchar
Written by Ricky Martin, Pedro Capó, José Gómez, Yotuel Romero, Beatriz Luengo, Enrique Martín Morales, Yotuel Romero Manzanares
Co-wrote

Discography 10 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Ricky Martin124 tracks
44Draco Rosa, 44 tracks 30Desmond Child, 30 tracks 28John Charles Barrett, 28 tracks 27K.C. Porter, 27 tracks LG19Luis Gómez-Escolar, 19 tracks GN17George Noriega, 17 tracks KC13Karl Cameron Porter, 13 tracks MP11Mariano Pérez, 11 tracks JC10Juan Carlos Calderón, 10 tracks AR9Antonio Rayo, 9 tracks DL9Danny López, 9 tracks CB8Claudia Brant, 8 tracks YR8Yotuel Romero, 8 tracks JR8Julio Reyes Copello, 8 tracks JS7Jon Secada, 7 tracks EE7Emilio Estefan, 7 tracks DL6Daniel López, 6 tracks TT6Tommy Torres, 6 tracks BL6Beatriz Luengo, 6 tracks WA5Walter Afanasieff, 5 tracks DW4Diane Warren, 4 tracks DE4Diane Eve Warren, 4 tracks T4Tainy, 4 tracks FA4Ferras Alqaisi, 4 tracks MM4Marco Masís, 4 tracks LM4Lester Mendez, 4 tracks MS3Michael Sullivan, 3 tracks PM3Paulo Massadas, 3 tracks KG3Karen Guindi, 3 tracks FD3Franco De Vita, 3 tracks EB3Eric Bazilian, 3 tracks EM3Eric Michael Bazilian, 3 tracks AG3Alberto Gaitán, 3 tracks SG3Sean Garrett, 3 tracks SS3Scott Storch, 3 tracks on The Roots's page GP3George Pajon Jr., 3 tracks W3will.i.am, 3 tracks on Black Eyed Peas's page LC3Lauren Christy, 3 tracks DC3David Cabrera, 3 tracks RT2Rodolfo Tovar, 2 tracks MF2Marco Flores, 2 tracks AS2Alejandro Sanz, 2 tracks AS2Alejandro Sánchez Pizarro, 2 tracks JG2James Goodwin, 2 tracks DR2David Resnik, 2 tracks KD2Kara DioGuardi, 2 tracks PB2Paul Barry, 2 tracks MT2Mark Taylor, 2 tracks JM2José Miguel Velásquez, 2 tracks EE2Emilio Estefan Jr., 2 tracks TM2Tony Mardini, 2 tracks RG2Ricardo Gaitán, 2 tracks NT2Nicolás Tovar, 2 tracks YM2Yasmil Marrufo, 2 tracks JV2Juan Vicente Zambrano, 2 tracks JM2Jodi Marr, 2 tracks RC2Randy Cantor, 2 tracks FJ2Fat Joe, 2 tracks S2Soraya, 2 tracks JG2Javier García, 2 tracks SL2Soraya Lamilla, 2 tracks LT2Luny Tunes, 2 tracks W2Wisin, 2 tracks Y2Yandel, 2 tracks LV2Llandel Veguilla Malavé, 2 tracks AC2Andreas Carlsson, 2 tracks DK2Dan Keyes, 2 tracks PC2Pedro Capó, 2 tracks DJ2David Julca, 2 tracks JJ2Johnny Julca, 2 tracks CG1Carlos Gómez García, 1 track HV1Harry Vanda, 1 track GY1George Young, 1 track FL1Frances Lay, 1 track FR1Fernando Riba, 1 track KC1Kiko Campos, 1 track MP1Manuel Pacho, 1 track CC1Carlos Colla, 1 track MV1Marcos Valle, 1 track ES1Eddie Sierra, 1 track CB1Caroline Bogman, 1 track FL1Ferdy Lancee, 1 track MF1Mark Foggo, 1 track LW1Larry Williams, 1 track GB1Giancarlo Bigazzi, 1 track SP1Steve Piccolo, 1 track RR1Raffaele Riefoli, 1 track MH1Mikel Herzog, 1 track FF1Frank Farian, 1 track FJ1Fred Jay, 1 track LN1Leo Napi, 1 track FR1Franz Reuther, 1 track CL1Carlos Lara, 1 track CS1Cristóbal Sansano, 1 track MN1Mónica Naranjo, 1 track MN1Mónica Naranjo Carrasco, 1 track MT1Manolo Tena, 1 track JM1José Manuel de Tena Tena, 1 track MK1Mark Kilpatrick, 1 track GL1Gustavo Laureano, 1 track CF1Carlos Figueroa, 1 track JL1John Lengel, 1 track CR1Carlos Rolón, 1 track LÁ1Luis Ángel, 1 track CL1César Lemos, 1 track KA1Karla Aponte, 1 track FC1Fred Chichin, 1 track CR1Catherine Ringer, 1 track AM1Alan Menken, 1 track DZ1David Zippel, 1 track RL1Renato López, 1 track JP1Javier Pontón, 1 track RR1Renato Russo, 1 track M1Madonna, 1 track WO1William Orbit, 1 track ML1Madonna Louise Ciccone, 1 track WM1William Mark Wainwright, 1 track RB1Randall Barlow, 1 track RH1Rob Hyman, 1 track RA1Robert Andrew Hyman, 1 track M1Meja, 1 track VS1Victoria Shaw, 1 track GB1Gary Burr, 1 track LQ1Liza Quintana, 1 track RB1Randy Barlow, 1 track PA1Peter Amato, 1 track SM1Steve Morales, 1 track DS1David Siegel, 1 track ML1Manny López, 1 track GM1Glenn Monroig, 1 track JS1Julia Sierra, 1 track RG1Roberto Gaitán, 1 track RB1Roberto Blades, 1 track PD1Pau Donés, 1 track PD1Pau Donés Cirera, 1 track J1Juanes, 1 track LF1Luis Fernando Ochoa, 1 track RD1Raúl del Sol, 1 track RA1Ricardo Arjona, 1 track E1Estéfano, 1 track JR1Julio Reyes, 1 track IS1Itaal Shur, 1 track A1Amerie, 1 track JV1Julio Voltio, 1 track FS1Francisco Saldaña, 1 track VC1Víctor Cabrera, 1 track TG1Toby Gad, 1 track RA1Ramón Ayala, 1 track MS1Melanie Smith, 1 track KM1Kool Moe Dee, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 171. LG Luis Gómez-Escolar · GN George Noriega

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Martin is credited on 31 of 124 tracks and has never written one alone. Four albums carry no credit for him anywhere, among them the 1999 English-language self-titled record and Sound Loaded (2000); those songs came from writers like Draco Rosa, on 32 tracks across the catalogue, and Desmond Child, on 28. The pattern reverses later. Life (2005) puts him on 7 of 12 songs, Música + Alma + Sexo (2011) on all 13, and A Quien Quiera Escuchar (2015) on 8 of 10.

Quick Facts

  • Career startBegan as a member of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo before going solo in 1991
  • LabelHas recorded for Sony and Columbia throughout his solo career
  • Livin' la Vida LocaThe 1999 single topped charts in more than 20 countries
  • GrammysWon two Grammy Awards and five Latin Grammy Awards
  • Latin explosionHis 1999 Grammy performance of 'La Copa de la Vida' helped ignite the late-1990s Latin pop crossover

Creative Fingerprint

A pure interpreter turned occasional co-writer: nothing of his own on the Spanish and crossover blockbusters, then real co-writing credits from Life onward.

The Story

Ricky Martin is a Puerto Rican singer who became the face of the late-1990s 'Latin explosion' with the global smash 'Livin' la Vida Loca.' He first found fame as a member of the boy band Menudo, then built a following as a Spanish-language solo star across Latin America before crossing over to English-language pop in 1999. Across his catalogue he works almost entirely with outside songwriters and producers, from Robi Rosa and K.C. Porter on his Spanish albums to Desmond Child on his crossover hits. He is credited as a performer far more than as a writer, and rarely holds a songwriting credit of his own. His ten studio albums span Latin pop, dance-pop, and later reggaeton, and have sold tens of millions of copies worldwide.

Awards & Recognition

Two Grammy Awards, including Best Latin Pop Performance for Vuelve (1999) and Best Latin Pop Album for A Quien Quiera Escuchar (2016)
Five Latin Grammy Awards
Six MTV Video Music Awards
Has sold over 70 million records worldwide

Frequently Asked Questions Ricky Martin

Does Ricky Martin write his own songs?
Mostly not, especially early on. Across his Spanish-language albums and his 1999 English crossover, Ricky Martin held almost no songwriting credits, relying on writers and producers like Draco Rosa, K.C. Porter, and Desmond Child. That changed in the mid-2000s: he co-wrote most of Life (2005), all of Música + Alma + Sexo (2011), and most of A Quien Quiera Escuchar (2015). He is best understood as a performer who became an occasional co-writer, not a songwriter.
Who wrote "Livin' la Vida Loca"?
"Livin' la Vida Loca" was written by Draco Rosa and Desmond Child, not by Ricky Martin. It was the lead single from his 1999 self-titled English album and one of the biggest hits of the year.
How many albums has Ricky Martin released?
This catalogue covers ten solo studio albums, from his 1991 self-titled Spanish debut through A Quien Quiera Escuchar (2015), spanning Spanish-language Latin pop, his English crossover era, and later Latin records.
Did Ricky Martin write "María"?
No. "María," his first global hit, was written by Draco Rosa (under the pseudonym Ian Blake), K.C. Porter, and Luis Gómez-Escolar. Martin was the performer, not a writer, on the song.
Was Ricky Martin in a band before going solo?
Yes. Ricky Martin joined the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo as a child in the 1980s and spent five years with the group before launching his solo career with his 1991 debut album.
How many records has Ricky Martin sold?
Ricky Martin has sold over 70 million records worldwide, driven by his 1999 self-titled album, which alone sold more than 15 million copies.
On which album did Ricky Martin write the most?
His most self-authored records are Life (2005), where he co-wrote eight of twelve tracks, Música + Alma + Sexo (2011), where he co-wrote every song with Desmond Child, and A Quien Quiera Escuchar (2015), where he co-wrote eight of ten.
Has Ricky Martin won a Grammy?
Yes. He has won two Grammy Awards, for Best Latin Pop Performance (Vuelve, 1999) and Best Latin Pop Album (A Quien Quiera Escuchar, 2016), along with five Latin Grammy Awards.
What is Ricky Martin's biggest song?
"Livin' la Vida Loca" is his signature hit, a No. 1 single in more than 20 countries in 1999. "María" and "La Copa de la Vida" were his biggest earlier hits, both written by his collaborators.

Sources

Wikipedia: Ricky Martin Wikipedia: Ricky Martin discography Wikipedia: Ricky Martin singles discography