Gerardo Mejía (born April 16, 1965 Billboard.com – Biography – Gerardo Retrieved September 22, 2008.), better known by his mononym Gerardo, is an

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...

ian-born

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

rapper, singer and actor who later became a recording industry executive, and more recently a pastor. Born in

Guayaquil , motto = Por Guayaquil Independiente en, For Independent Guayaquil , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Ecuador#South America , pushpin_re ...

, he moved with his family to

Glendale, California Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, California, United States. At the 2020 United States Census, 2020 U.S. Census the population was 196,543, up from ...

, when he was 12 years old. Based in Los Angeles, California, Gerardo became known for his

bandana A kerchief (from the Old French ''couvrechief'', "cover head"), also known as a bandana, bandanna, or "Wild Rag" (in cowboy culture), is a triangular or square piece of cloth tied around the head, face or neck for protective or decorative purpos ...

, skintight jeans, locking, and shirtless torso. He sometimes refers to himself as the "Latin

Elvis Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

" or the "Latin

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...

Career

Gerardo's first major appearance in show business was as Ricky in the 1987 feature film ''

Can't Buy Me Love "Can't Buy Me Love" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released in March 1964 as the A-side of their sixth single. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The song was included o ...

''. He was later cast as the character Bird in the 1988 film ''

Colors Color (American English) or colour (British English) is the visual perceptual property deriving from the spectrum of light interacting with the photoreceptor cells of the eyes. Color categories and physical specifications of color are associa ...

'', about

South Central Los Angeles South Los Angeles, also known as South Central Los Angeles or simply South Central, is a region in southwestern Los Angeles County, lying mostly within the city limits of Los Angeles, south of downtown. It is "defined on Los Angeles city maps as a ...

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 (song), Rico Suave" appeared on his 1991 debut album, ''Mo' Ritmo''. The album peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard 200 chart in June 1991; the single had peaked at No. 7 in April. This song, as well as some others of Gerardo's, include verses with Spanglish, lines in both English and Spanish. Although his following single "We Want the Funk" (a semi-remake of Parliament (band), Parliament's "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker), Give Up the Funk") peaked at No. 16,[ Billboard.com – Artist Chart History – Gerardo]. Retrieved November 15, 2012. the popularity of "Rico Suave" has made Gerardo known as a one-hit wonder via sources including MTV, VH1,Gerardo: Back And 'Still Rico' – News Story , Music, Celebrity, Artist News , MTV News
Retrieved September 28, 2008. ''Synthesis Magazine''Synthesis : Music : Gerardo : King Mac Daddy : an Interview with Rico Suave.
. Retrieved September 28, 2008. and even Gerardo himself. As an A&R executive at Interscope Records, Gerardo signed rapper Bubba Sparxxx. More recently, in a 2013 appearance on Katie Couric's show ''Katie (talk show), Katie'', Gerardo discussed his newest life focus as a Christian youth pastor. He was ordained as a pastor at Praise Chapel in Kansas City and now pastors a church House of Grace in Ashland, Kentucky.

Personal life

Gerardo is married to Kathy Eicher, a former pageant titleholder who was Miss West Virginia USA 1989, and they have three children: Nadia Mejia, Nadia, Bianca, and Jaden. Nadia is a model who competed in pageants like her mother, and won the title of Miss California USA 2016. They also have a granddaughter, Lily. They live in Kentucky.

Discography

Albums

Singles

* "Rico Suave (song), Rico Suave" (1991; No. 7 US Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100), No. 87 in Australia. * "We Want the Funk" (1991; No. 16 US ''Billboard'' Hot 100) No. 128 in Australia. * "When the Lights Go Out" (1991; No. 98 US ''Billboard'' Hot 100) * "Latin Till I Die (Oye Como Va)" (1991) * "Love" (1992) * "Maria Elisa" (1994) * "Ae-Ah" (featuring The Outhere Brothers) (1998) * "Americana" (2004) * "Sueña" (2005) * "Raperito" (featuring Vico C) (2007) * "Agua Amarga" (featuring Funky (artist), Funky) (2021) * "Eres bueno" (featuring Alex Zurdo & Frankie J) (2021)

Filmography

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1965 births Living people People from Guayaquil Ecuadorian emigrants to the United States Hip hop singers Rappers from California 20th-century American rappers 21st-century American rappers Hispanic and Latino American rappers Naturalized citizens of the United States