What Is Menudo?
Menudo was one of the original boy bands, and arguably the most popular boy band in history. With it's youthful, bubble gum pop music style, formula for eternal youth, and brilliant management and marketing strategies, the group skyrocketed to international fame, causing mass hysteria in female adolescent fans not seen since the Beatles broke up. With a new record contract, television show, and five new young talents to feature, Menudo is experiencing a resurgence in popularity.
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History
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Menudo founder Edgardo Diaz started the group in 1977 in Puerto Rico with three of his young cousins, and two sons of a friend. The name "Menudo," meaning "small change," slang for "young folk," is said to come from Diaz's sister when she dropped by during a rehearsal one day. Diaz managed Menudo until 1997, when he sold the rights to the group.
Features
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Diaz started a similar teenybopper group in the early 70's, which gained minor popularity before the members grew up and moved on to other things. When forming Menudo, Diaz came up with an ingenious gimmick to keep the group young forever: members were retired at age 16, and replaced by new, younger boys.
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Time Frame
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It wasn't long before the original Menudo had gained popularity throughout Latin America, and by the early 1980's, the group reached international fame. In the 1990s, some fall-outs with Diaz and band members who left early, low record sales and a minor drug scandal caused the group to flounder, only to return in 2007 under new management, with a multi-album contract with Epic Records and the reality series "Making Menudo" on MTV.
Considerations
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Since it's inception, Menudo has had more than 50 members, made 42 albums, 2 movies, and 3 television shows, including newest MTV reality series, "Making Menudo." At the height of its popularity in the 80's, Menudo endorsed such major products as Pepsi, MacDonalds and Scope, appeared as guests on television shows such as "Silver Spoons," "The Love Boat," and "Sesame Street," and acted as youth ambassadors for UNICEF.
Significance
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Menudo broke world several world records, including most consecutive sold-out concerts at Radio City Music Hall (13), and largest live audience- 500,000 people- in Mexico City. Among famous artists who got their start in Menudo are international singing star Ricky Martin and Grammy award winning singer/song writer Draco (formerly Robby) Rosa.
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