Carlos Javier Meléndez Sauri (born 10 April 1965 in Hato Rey,

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...

) is a Puerto Rican architect and singer who is a former member of Menudo. Meléndez is a cousin of band creator

Edgardo Diaz Edgardo is an Italian-language form of the name Edgar. It may refer to: *Edgardo Abdala (born 1978), Chilean-Palestinian football midfielder *Edgardo Adinolfi (born 1974), Uruguayan football player *Edgardo Alfonzo (born 1973), former Major League ...

, who had success as director of La Pandilla in

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

and who admired the success obtained by The Jackson 5 in the United States. Carlos Meléndez and his brothers, Oscar and

Ricky Ricky may refer to: Places *Říčky (Brno-Country District), a village and municipality in the Czech Republic *Říčky v Orlických horách, a village in the north of the Czech Republic * Rickmansworth, a town in England sometimes called "Ricky" ...

, wore curly hair, a style which was popular during the 1970s. In 1977, Diaz created Menudo, asking Carlos and his brothers to become band members, along with Fernando and Nefty Sallaberry, who are also brothers. Carlos Meléndez lasted in Menudo until mid 1980, barely missing out on the group's golden era. The only Meléndez brother to participate during Menudo's era of worldwide fame was Ricky. Like Oscar, Carlos Meléndez did, however, become famous through

when the group began to have a televised show, and with two of Menudo's first hits: a Spanish version of

ABBA ABBA ( , , formerly named Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid or Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida) are a Swedish supergroup formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group's ...

's "Voulez Vous" and "Los Fantasmas". Carlos Meléndez tried a duo singing career with Fernando Sallaberry for a brief time after leaving Menudo. He did not record any major hits by himself, however, and soon, retired from music. In 1987, 4 of the original 5 Menudo members, Carlos & Ricky Meléndez, and Nefty and Fernando Sallaberry reunited on a project - a group- they were going to call XCHANGE. There was some publicity, and they recorded a few demos, but were not offered a recording contract and disbanded. Carlos Melendez is an architect who resides in

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

In pop culture

Melendez is played by Leyson Andreck Brito in the 2020 Amazon Prime Video series based on Menudo, " Subete A Mi Moto".

Discography

With Menudo

* ''Los Fantasmas'' (1977) * ''Laura'' (1978) * '' Chiquitita'' (1979) * ''Felicidades'' (1979)

References

1965 births Living people Menudo (band) members 20th-century Puerto Rican male singers {{PuertoRico-bio-stub