Menudo is a Puerto Rican-based, Latino boy band that was formed in 1977 by producer Edgardo Díaz. Menudo was one of the biggest Latin boy bands in history, releasing their first album in 1977. The band achieved much success, especially during the 1980s, becoming the most popular Latin American teen musical group of the era and selling some 20 million records worldwide. Referred to as the "Most Iconic Latino Pop Music Band", Menudo has been ranked as one of the Biggest Boy Bands of All Time by several publications, including "Us Weekly", "Seventeen", and "Teen Vogue", being the only Latin band on their lists.
They also had several radio hits during its course. Their success led them to also release one television film (1979's Leyenda de Amor) and two feature films: "Una aventura llamada Menudo" and "Menudo: La Película" as well as to act in a telenovela named "Quiero Ser" and a television mini-series named "Panchito y Arturo".
Menudo's original line-up consisted of two sets of brothers: Fernando and Nefty Sallaberry, from Ponce, Puerto Rico (Fernando was born in Spain); and the Melendez brothers, Carlos, Óscar, and Ricky; the latter three are Diaz's cousins. The band's golden-era lineup consisted of members Ricky Meléndez, Johnny Lozada, René Farrait, Miguel Cancel, Xavier Serbiá, Charlie Massó and Ray Reyes. It was also a starting point for popular international stars like Ricky Martin (1984–89) and Draco Rosa (1984–87), who were members around the mid-1980's during their youth.
In 1997, the rights and the name Menudo were sold. The remaining members continued to perform as "MDO" until their official disbandment in 2002. However, this iteration has continued to perform sporadically since. Meanwhile, new management of Menudo formed a new line-up in 2007, with new members releasing an EP. However, this iteration also disbanded in 2009. On the other hand, some of the members of the "golden era" of the band reunited in 1998 under the name "El Reencuentro". This iteration, which included Meléndez, Lozada, Farrait, Cancel, Massó, and Reyes, performed continuously for 15 years, disbanding in 2009. In 2019 Meléndez, Lozada, Farrait, Cancel and Reyes, came back for the "Súbete a Mi Moto Tour".
History with the Macy's Parade[]
Menudo first appeared as one of the Herald Square acts as they sang "Gimmie Rock" at the 1984 Parade.
For their return at the 2007 Parade, they played their recent hit "More Than Words" on the "Big Apple" float.