Carlos Javier Meléndez Sauri (born 10 April 1965 in
Hato Rey
Hato Rey ( Spanish for ''king’s cattle farm''), often considered the central business district of Puerto Rico, is a highly urbanized financial, commercial, and residential district in San Juan, the capital municipality of the archipelago and ...
,
Puerto Rico
; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...
) is a Puerto Rican architect and singer who is a former member of
Menudo.
Meléndez is a cousin of band creator
Edgardo Diaz, who had success as director of
La Pandilla in
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
and who admired the success obtained by
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5, later known as the Jacksons, are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was formed in Gary, Indiana in 1964, and originally consisted of brothers Jackie, Ti ...
in the United States. Carlos Meléndez and his brothers,
Oscar
Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to:
People and fictional and mythical characters
* Oscar (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters named Oscar, Óscar or Oskar
* Oscar (footballer, born 1954), Brazilian footballer ...
and
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
Puerto Rico
; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...
when the group began to have a
televised
Television (TV) is a telecommunications, telecommunication media (communication), medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of signal transmission, ...
show, and with two of Menudo's first hits: a Spanish version of
ABBA
ABBA ( ) were a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. They are one of the most popular and successful musical groups of all time, and are one of the List ...
'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 U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
.
In pop culture
Melendez is played by
Leyson Andreck Brito
Leyshon is a Welsh surname derived from the Welsh masculine given name ''Lleision''. A variant of the surname is Leyson.
Notable people with the surname include:
;Leyshon
* Glynn Leyshon, Canadian wrestler and academic
* Nell Leyshon, British pl ...
in the 2020 Amazon Prime Video series based on Menudo, "
Subete A Mi Moto".
Discography
With Menudo
* ''Los Fantasmas'' (1977)
* ''Laura'' (1978)
* ''
Chiquitita
"Chiquitita" ("Little Girl" in Spanish) is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released in January 1979 as the first single from '' Voulez-Vous'' (1979), the group's sixth album. Agnetha Fältskog performs the lead vocals. Origin ...
'' (1979)
* ''Felicidades'' (1979)
See also
*
List of Puerto Ricans
This is a list of notable people from Puerto Rico which includes people who were born in Puerto Rico (Borinquen) and people who are of full or partial Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican descent. Puerto Rican citizens are included, as the governm ...
References
1965 births
Living people
Menudo (band) members
20th-century Puerto Rican male singers
20th-century Puerto Rican singers
{{PuertoRico-bio-stub