Menudo

Menudo, a Puerto Rican boy band formed in 1977 by producer Edgardo Díaz, originated from an idea inspired by the success of the Spanish group La Pandilla. The initial lineup included Nefty Sallaberry and Carlos Meléndez among others. Menudo's name came about after a comment made during their second rehearsal when someone remarked on the many "menudos" (small boys) present. Their first album, Los fantasmas, was released in 1977 featuring the hit single "Los fantasmas" which secured them a television show spot on Telemundo Canal 2. The group's early years saw frequent changes in members as they adhered to Díaz’s rule of replacing members who aged out or changed physically. In the early 1980s, Menudo gained significant international fame with albums such as Quiero ser (1981), Por amor (1982), and Una aventura llamada Menudo (1982). Their hit songs from this era included "Mi banda toca rock", "Es por amor", and "A volar". During the 1980s, Menudo embarked on numerous tours and released multiple albums, achieving significant success in Spain, several Latin American countries, the Philippines, and the United States. The band's global reach expanded through adaptations of their songs into English, Portuguese, and Italian, leading to recognition in Italy, Brazil, Portugal, the UK, and Canada. In 1984, Meléndez left the group and was replaced by Ricky Martin, who would eventually become the most successful solo artist to have participated in the band. Menudo officially split up in 1997 but different iterations of the group were active between 2007 and 2009 and later in 2023.