Coming out of Puerto Rico in the 1970s, Menudo was the first, and the greatest, of a wave of talented singing and dancing groups that's still relevant 30 years later. The legendary group has sold over 40 million records worldwide, broke numerous attendance records including: 13 consecutive sellout performances at Radio City Music Hall, 200,000 fans at a soccer stadium in Rio de Janeiro, over 500,000 fans at a Mexico City concert and launching the career of international superstar Ricky Martin.
Now, two generations later, a new, updated version of Menudo is back, with a contemporary sound and look, and the same universal appeal. The five new members Carlos Olivero (18 years old, Mexican/Puerto Rican, Chicago, IL); Chris Moy (15 years old, Puerto Rican/Venezuelan/Chinese, Bronx / Dutchess County, NY); Emmanuel Vélez Pagán (16 years old, Puerto Rican, Trujillo Alto, PR); José Bordonada Collazo (15 years old, Puerto Rican, Manati, Puerto Rico) and Monti Montañez (18 years old, Puerto Rican, Caguas, Puerto Rico / Now Laredo, TX) are young, polished, highly professional singing-and-dancing boy group. They will release a preview of new music on their More Than Words EP that will be released on December 18 in Target stores around the country with their full length album to follow in Spring of 2008, both via Epic Records.
People know and love this new Menudo already. The new group came together on the MTV & MTV Tr3s reality series Making Menudo. Viewers watched the dramatic competition week after week, as fifteen young Latinos, chosen from nationwide search went through a demanding "boy-band boot camp" designed by legendary pop impresario Johnny Wright to train and choose the five best suited for the even harder job of working professionally as a performing team.
The competition is over, and now the group begins. On Tuesday, November 20, 2007, the identities of the final members of the 2008 version of Menudo were unveiled on the climactic episode of Making Menudo. Five dedicated, ultra-talented guys between the ages of 15 and 18 were chosen. Carlos, Jose, Monti, Emmanuel and Chris have undergone a rigorous process of musical, choreographic, and professional education that required them to excel individually and to work together as a cohesive unit. Each one can sing lead, and each one specializes in a particular style of music. But they all do all styles, and they harmonize together.
They've recorded something like 50 new songs for their first album already, and they're already veterans after working with a wide variety of contemporary producers and writers including Danja, The Clutch, J.R. Rotem, Oak, Brian Kennedy, Elvis Williams, Akon, Red One, The Runners, and The Jams. Asked about their new album, José says, "urban pop, R & B, ballads, Latin flavors, a little bit of electronic also. Some of those songs are just those types, some of the songs are all those types together. Music for the clubs, and music just to hear." Monti adds, laughing, "Music that has never been heard before! New styles! It's definitely gonna be loved by everybody. Everybody can relate to it. We put a lot of emotion into our songs, so we want to touch lives, we want to touch people."
Monti says, "Menudo, I think of legendary, I think of history. I think of millions and millions of fans that loved Menudo and respected Menudo. Menudo was not only loved by the Latin community. They were international stars, they were loved by international people. The globe loved Menudo. And to be part of that, it's a huge honor. It's definitely a blessing. Of course, like Carlos said, we're bringing Latino back but we're doing this for everybody!" When it comes from him, it doesn't sound like hype. They're serious. And the passion comes through when they start to sing."
Asked about their new four-song More Than Words EP, they count it off and drop into "More Than Words (A E I O U)," the number they performed on the finale of Making Menudo, produced by Danja and written by The Clutch.
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