Menudo Reunites for 50th Anniversary Tour This Fall
Seven former members of the Puerto Rican boy band will hit the road across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico to mark five decades since the group's founding.
Menudo, widely considered one of the most popular Latino boy bands of all time, is reuniting for a six-day tour this fall to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the group told The Associated Press.
The reunion lineup was selected by businessperson Paul Tarnopol, who acquired the Menudo brand name. The seven performers taking part are Rene Farrait (1979-1982), Roy Rossello (1983-1986), Raymond Acevedo (1985-1988), Sergio Gonzales (1986-1990), Ralphy Rodriguez (1987), Ruben Gomez (1987-1990) and Robert Avellanet (1988-1991).
Established in Puerto Rico in the late 1970s, Menudo became known for its youthful, ever-rotating lineup — members were typically replaced once they turned 16 — and launched the careers of stars including Ricky Martin and Draco Rosa. Over its run, the group featured more than 40 performers.
The tour kicks off October 10 at Los Angeles' YouTube Theater, followed by stops at Chicago's Rosemont Theatre on October 17, New York's United Palace on November 7, Mexico City's Metropolitan Theatre on November 28 and Hollywood, Florida's Hard Rock Live on December 4. It concludes December 12 at the Coca-Cola Music Hall in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Speaking to the AP in Miami, the members declined to reveal the setlist but promised motorcycles onstage, a nod to their 1981 hit "Súbete A Mi Moto." Rodriguez said the group has adjusted some songs' keys to accommodate their voices but that "the Menudo magic" remains because "we still have that child, that inner child in us that's coming out while we're singing."
Gomez credited the band's staying power to its songwriting, citing Spanish writers Carlos Villa and Alejandro Monroy. Acevedo said the reunion arrives as Latin music has become a global force. "We're proud to be pioneers in this whole thing," he said, pointing to the international success of fellow Puerto Rican artists like Martin and Bad Bunny.
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