Gerardo

Gerardo (born Gerardo Mejía on April 16, 1965 [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?pid=1033 Billboard.com - Biography - Gerardo] . Retrieved September 22, 2008.] ) is a rapper and singer who later became a recording industry executive. Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador,imdb name|id=0577226|name=Gerardo Mejía"' ] he has based his career in Los Angeles, California since his family moved to Glendale, California, when he was 12 years old. He became known for his bandana, skintight jeans and shirtless torso. He sometimes refers to himself as the "Latin Elvis" or the "Latin Frank Sinatra". [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1454067/20020517/gerardo.jhtml?headlines=true Gerardo: Back And 'Still Rico' - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News ] ]

As a performer

Gerardo's first major appearance in show business was as Ricky in the 1987 feature film "Can't Buy Me Love". He was later cast as the character Bird in the 1988 film "Colors", about South Central Los Angeles gang violence. This was also the first time his dance skills were showcased, in one of the party scenes; however, he did not sing at any point in the film.

His hit single "Rico Suave" appeared on his 1991 debut album, "Mo' Ritmo". The album peaked at #36 on the Billboard 200 chart in June 1991; the single had peaked at #7 in April. This song, as well as some others of Gerardo's, include verses with lines in both English and Spanish. Although his following single "We Want the Funk" (a semi-remake of Parliament's "Tear the Roof Off the Sucker") peaked at #16, [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=1033&model.vnuAlbumId=652887 Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - Gerardo] . Retrieved September 22, 2008.] the popularity of "Rico Suave" has incorrectly made Gerardo known as a one-hit wonder via sources including MTV, VH1, [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1454067/20020517/gerardo.jhtml Gerardo: Back And 'Still Rico' - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News] . Retrieved September 28, 2008.] "Synthesis" [http://www.synthesis.net/music/interview/item-134/2001-04-19-king_mac_daddy Synthesis : Music : Gerardo : King Mac Daddy : an Interview with Rico Suave.] . Retrieved September 28, 2008.] and even Gerardo himself.

Recent times

Now an A&R executive at Interscope Records, Gerardo was responsible for bringing Enrique Iglesias to the United States in 1998. He also signed rapper Bubba Sparxxx.

Discography

* "Mo' Ritmo" (1991)
* "Dos" (1992)
* "Me Lo Hicieron Rico y Suave" (1993)
* "Así Es" (1994)
* "Derrumbe" (1995)
* "" (2001)
* "180°" (2004)
* "La iglesia de la calle" (2007)

References

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuQGbrFRTw8 Interview]
* [http://www.eluniverso.com/2007/07/12/0001/1065/00D4151C3EAB496E8D81E77073F4B4D0.aspx Gerardo Mejía respondió preguntas de los lectores] , El Universo, 12 July 2007 (spanish)