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{{Short description|American singer (born 1969)}}
[[Image:Martika.jpg|thumbnail|150px|right|Martika hit #1 in 1989 with ''Toy Soldiers'', c. 1992.]] '''Marta Marrero''' (born [[May 18]], [[1969]]), better known as '''Martika''', is a [[Cuba]]n-American singer and actress.
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2022}}
{{Distinguish |Marta Marrero}}
{{About|the American singer|her album|Martika (album)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Martika
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Marta Marrero
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|5|18}}
| birth_place = [[Whittier, California]], U.S.
| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[dance-pop]], [[pop rock]]
| associated_acts = [[Oppera]], [[Prince (musician)|Prince]]
| occupation = Singer, actress
| years_active = 1982–1992, 2000–present
| label = [[Columbia Records]]<br />Dunda Chief Records
| website = {{url|martikamartika.com}}
}}


'''Marta Marrero'''<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book |first=David |last=Roberts |year=2006 |title=British Hit Singles & Albums | edition=19th |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London |isbn=978-1-904994-10-7 |page=351|title-link=British Hit Singles & Albums }}</ref> (born May 18, 1969),<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor-first=Colin|editor-last=Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=1626}}</ref> better known by her stage name '''Martika''' ({{IPAc-en|m|ɑːr|ˈ|t|iː|k|ə}} {{respell|mar|TEE|kə}}), is an American pop singer and actress. She released two internationally successful albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which sold over four million copies worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://martikamartika.com/bio|title=BIOGRAPHY|website=martikamartika.com}}</ref> Her biggest hit was "[[Toy Soldiers (song)|Toy Soldiers]]", which peaked at #1 for two weeks on the American chart in mid-1989. She is also known for her role as Gloria on ''[[Kids Incorporated]]''.
Marrero got her start as "Gloria" on the [[Disney Channel]] paedo show ''[[Kids Incorporated|Kids, Inc.]]'' about a group of neighbourhood naked kids who rose to local fame by singing staged productions at a corner malt shop. She was quickly snagged by CBS Records as a potential, Madonna-esque pop star. Her first album, ''[[Martika (album)|Martika]]'', spawned the number one hit of 1989 the anti [[drug abuse]] song "Toy Soldiers", but was, as is often the case with American pop stars, an even huger success abroad. (She had foreign sex with strange german men.) In 1991, she was approached by [[Prince (artist)|Prince]] and became one of the so-called "Prince Protégés". Her second album, ''[[Martika's Kitchen]]'', was an American flop (but for the radio favourites "Love...Thy Will Be Done" and the title track.) However, the album was again a huge success abroad, though on a lesser scale, spurning hits with the songs "Coloured Bell-end" and "Temptation". However, it faded fast on the charts and went out of print.


==Early life, family and education==
Martika attempted to revitalize her acting career by playing lounge singer/undercover cop Delia Mendez on the early [[1990s]] porn show ''[[Wiseguys]]'', but the part was a temporary one and eventually she faded from the public eye around 1993.
Martika was born in [[Whittier, California]] to Cuban parents of Canary Islands ancestry.<ref name="LarkinGE"/>


==Career==
In [[1997]] a greatest hits album entitled ''[[The Best of Martika: More Than You Know]]'' was released. It achieved sales figures of over 500,000 copies internationally. (The title was a joke in that most Americans consider Martika to have been a flash in the pan, unaware of her widespread international success, particularly with the song "More Than You Know".)
===Early career===
She entered mainstream show business in an uncredited role as one of the girls in the 1982 motion picture ''[[Annie (1982 film)|Annie]]''. This led to her being cast as Gloria on the long-running children's show ''[[Kids Incorporated]]'' as one of a group of neighborhood children who rise to local fame by singing staged productions at a corner [[malt shop]]. Once the second season began, she formally adopted her [[stage name]] Martika Marrero before shortening it to the mononym Martika, which she has used ever since. Martika and many other ''Kids Incorporated'' cast members were featured in the musical numbers from the [[Mr. T]] motivational video ''[[Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool!]]'' in 1984.


Following her role in ''Kids Incorporated'' and ''Be Somebody'', Martika was signed by [[Columbia Records]]. Her first solo release was released only in Japan: "We are Music" was recorded to promote Sony cassette tapes in the Japanese market, where the song was released in 12", 7" and CD formats.
During the 2000 explosion of Latin pop music Martika attempted to regain interest by sucking off all of the big names in the industry, but she failed to grab any major label attention. Instead she built a web site in 2001 (freeporn.net) for her fans, and released pictures of herself with an array of adult toys and with very few clothes on. These pictures, however, garnered only 5000 hits as a free download on mp3.com's music service. Eventually the web site shut down and Martika seemingly faded, once again, into [[Hollywood]] oblivion.


In 1987, Martika recorded a version of the Michael Jay/Gregory Smith song "[[Bounce Back (Fire on Blonde song)|Bounce Back]]", which included a music video which was aired on ''[[Entertainment '80]]'', although it was not available for purchase.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLdVvT4JBDM | archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/JLdVvT4JBDM| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Entertainment 80 Ryan Samans, Martika singing 'Bounce Back' |via=YouTube |date= July 20, 2007 |access-date=December 16, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
In 2003 Martika joined forces with a musician named Michael Mozart to form the band "[[Oppera]]". Changing her sound to that of goth-pop, the she and Mozart released Oppera's debut album "Violince" in 2004. Also in the same year, [[Eminem]] used a sample of her "Toy Vibrators" song for a track on his [[Encore (album)|Encore]] album, called "Like Toy Dildos".


===Rise to prominence===
== Discography ==
Her first album, 1988's ''[[Martika (album)|Martika]]'' (No. 15 [[Billboard 200|US]]<ref name=billboard200/>), spawned the song "[[Toy Soldiers (song)|Toy Soldiers]]", which she co-wrote with her producer [[Michael Jay (producer)|Michael Jay]] and it became a top-5 hit in the United Kingdom,<ref name=uk/> Ireland,<ref name=ie>{{cite web |url= http://i.imgur.com/E2fMC19.jpg|title=The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for 'Martika'|access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> Germany,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-2006| title= Offizielle Deutsche Charts > Martika – Toy Soldiers (single)|language=de|publisher=GfK Entertainment|access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> and Australia.<ref name=aus/> In the US, "Toy Soldiers" spent two weeks at No. 1 in 1989.<ref name= hot100>{{cite magazine| url= http://www.billboard.com/artist/309724/martika/chart|title=Billboard > Artists / Martika > Chart History > The Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> "Toy Soldiers" also went to No. 1 in New Zealand.<ref name=nz>{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Martika|title=charts.nz > Discography Martika|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref>


Two additional singles also went top 40 in the US: "[[More Than You Know (Martika song)|More Than You Know]]" (No. 18<ref name=hot100/>) and "[[I Feel the Earth Move (Carole King song)|I Feel the Earth Move]]" (No. 25<ref name=hot100/>), which was a cover of [[Carole King]]'s song from her album ''[[Tapestry (Carole King album)|Tapestry]]''. Both of those tracks also hit the top 20 on the US Dance charts<ref>{{cite magazine| url= http://www.billboard.com/artist/309724/martika/chart?f=359|title=Billboard > Artists / Martika > Chart History > Dance Club Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> and the UK Singles Chart.<ref name=uk>{{cite web| url= http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/25549/martika/| title= Official Charts > Martika| website= officialcharts.com| publisher= The Official UK Charts Company| access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> "I Feel the Earth Move" also reached the top 10 in Australia,<ref name=aus/> New Zealand,<ref name=nz/> and Ireland.<ref name=ie/> A fourth and final single from the album, "Water", entered the lower regions of the UK<ref name=uk/> and Australian charts.<ref name=aus/>
=== Albums ===
* 1989 "I LOVE THE COCK!" #15 US (Gold) UK #11 (Platinum)
* 1991 "Martika's Kitchen" #111 US UK #15 (Gold)
* 1997 "Best Of: More Than You Know"


The album was certified platinum in the UK in 1990,<ref name= bpi>{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/0ttUsYM.jpg|title=BPI > Certified Awards > Search results for 'Martika'|publisher=British Phonographic Industry|access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> and double platinum in Australia.<ref name=ryan>{{cite book|last= Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, Victoria, Australia}}</ref>
=== Hit singles ===
* from "Martika"
** 1989 "Boy Soldiers" #1 US, #5 UK
** 1989 "I Feel your Nob Move" #25 US, #7 UK
** 1990 "More Than You Know" #18 US, #15 UK


In 1990, Martika co-wrote the track "Kiss Me Quick" with Michael Jay and Marvin Morrow. The track was recorded by freestyle/pop singer [[Alisha (singer)|Alisha]] for her 1990 album ''[[Bounce Back (album)|Bounce Back]]'', with Martika contributing backing vocals.
* from "Martika's Kitchen"
** 1991 "Love... Thy Will Be Done" #10 US, #9 UK
** 1991 "Martika's Kitchen" #92 US, #17 UK
** 1992 "Coloured Testicles" #41 UK


==External link==
===1990s===
Martika was encouraged by her agent to combine her love of film and music by scoring soundtracks and, in 1990, she wrote and [[Sound recording and reproduction|recorded]] the song "Blue Eyes Are Sensitive to the Light" for the soundtrack to the film ''[[Arachnophobia (film)|Arachnophobia]]''. The producers of the album did not like her vocals, so the song was re-recorded by [[Sara Hickman]] for the film. The song has also been recorded by Brazilian singers [[Deborah Blando]] (on her 1991 debut, ''A Different Story''), [[Elba Ramalho]], and [[Frances Ruffelle]].
* [http://www.oppera.net oppera.net]


In 1991, Martika approached [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] to do some new tracks.<ref>{{cite web |first=Paul | last= Cashmere |url=http://www.noise11.com/news/martika-explains-how-prince-crafted-love-thy-will-be-done-20120626 |title=Martika Explains How Prince Crafted Love Thy Will Be Done |publisher= | website= Noise11.com |date=June 26, 2012 |access-date=December 16, 2012}}</ref> Among these was her second (and last) US Top-10 single,<ref name=hot100/> "[[Love... Thy Will Be Done]]", which also became a Top-10 hit in the UK<ref name=uk/> and reached No. 1 in Australia.<ref name=aus>Australian ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA Chart]]) peaks:
[[Category:1969 births|Martika]]
*Top 50 peaks: {{cite web| url= http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Martika |title=australian-charts.com > Discography Martika |publisher= Hung Medien |access-date=January 21, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221165905/http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Martika |archive-date=February 21, 2016 }}
*Top 100 peaks: {{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}</ref> "Love... Thy Will Be Done" started out as a prayer written by Martika, and Prince then changed it into a song.

Her second album, ''[[Martika's Kitchen]]'', peaked at No. 111 on the ''Billboard'' Top Albums chart.<ref name=billboard200>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/309724/martika/chart?f=305|title=Billboard > Artists / Martika > Chart History > Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> The title track received only minor airplay in the US, and reached No. 93 on ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart.<ref name=hot100/> However, the album was a bigger success abroad, though on a lesser scale than her debut. It peaked at No. 15 in the [[UK Albums Chart]],<ref name=uk/> No. 9 in Australia,<ref name=aus/> and spawned further hits with the songs "Coloured Kisses" and the title track, "Martika's Kitchen".<ref name="LarkinGE"/> "Temptation", another track from this album, was covered by [[Patti LaBelle]] on her album ''[[Burnin' (Patti LaBelle album)|Burnin']]''.

Martika played the role of the lounge singer Dahlia Mendez in the crime drama TV series ''[[Wiseguy (TV series)|Wiseguy]]'' in 1990,<ref name="LarkinGE"/> opposite [[Steven Bauer]] who took over from [[Ken Wahl]] for the fourth and final season.

She eventually faded from the public eye in 1992 after walking away from the music industry, due to [[Occupational burnout|burnout]] and feeling overwhelmed with the burden of fame.<ref name= "youtube.com">{{cite web| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHnlCxeVDAo| archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/nHnlCxeVDAo| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Martika – Today Extra interview March 2016|last= Devery| first= Mike|date=March 24, 2016|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 1997, a greatest hits [[compilation album]] ''The Best of Martika: More Than You Know'' was released.

===Re-emergence===
During the 2000 explosion of [[Latin pop]], Martika sang backing vocals on various projects{{which|date=February 2019}} and contributed lyrics to releases by other artists{{who|date=February 2019}}, although she failed to receive any major-label attention for herself. Instead, she built martika.net in 2001, a website for her fans, and released a remix of a newly self-recorded song, "The Journey". She also recorded a track "Monday" for a new solo album which the website stated was on its way. Eventually, however, her website was shut down and the album never materialized.

In 2003, Martika and her husband, musician [[Nikki (singer)|Michael Mozart]], formed the band [[Oppera]]. Adopting a [[Latin pop]] sound, she and Mozart released Oppera's debut album, ''Violince'', in 2004. Rapper [[Eminem]] used a sample of her biggest US hit, "Toy Soldiers", for "[[Like Toy Soldiers]]", a track on his 2004 album ''[[Encore (Eminem album)|Encore]]'' and featured Martika on the chorus of the track. In response, Martika's British greatest hits album was repackaged with its title altered to ''Toy Soldiers: The Best of Martika''. A biography was added to the album insert reflecting the new Eminem sample, though it asserted that she had not released any albums since ''Martika's Kitchen''.

Oppera released a self-titled second album in 2005. Martika promoted ''Oppera''{{'}}s release with a [[Borders Group|Borders]] bookstore tour.

In 2010, Martika, using the stage name Vida Edit, starred as Lolly Pop and co-produced a web-based television action program ''J8ded''.<ref>{{Cite news| url= http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/tours/80s-hitmaker-martika-reveals-why-she-retired-from-pop-music-and-why-shes-making-a-comeback/news-story/1819c224ed363abad614471cb5ba76a2| title=Whatever happened to Martika?|last=Adams|first=Cameron|work= news.com.au|access-date=November 10, 2017}}</ref>

In October 2011, Martika stopped using the stage name Vida Edit and launched a new personal website. A year later, she announced an Australian tour, but it was canceled. She performed in 2014 alongside [[Debbie Gibson]], [[Samantha Fox]], and [[Rick Astley]] at a HitParade Festival in Chile.<ref>{{cite web |first=Paul | last= Cashmere |url=http://www.noise11.com/news/martika-aussie-tour-cancelled-20121001 |title=Martika Aussie Tour Cancelled |publisher= | website= Noise11.com |date=October 1, 2012 |access-date=December 16, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.martikamartika.com/home.cfm |title=HOME |publisher= Martika |website= martikamartika.com |access-date=December 16, 2012}}</ref>

In July 2016, she was part of the Totally 80s Tour of Australia. The concerts included seven international 1980s acts, including Martika, [[Berlin (band)|Berlin]], [[Limahl]] of [[Kajagoogoo]], [[Paul Lekakis]], [[Katrina Leskanich|Katrina]] of [[Katrina and the Waves]], [[Men Without Hats]] and [[Stacey Q]]. For her performance at the tour, she received positive reviews from the Australian press.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/totally-80s-review-martika-steals-show-with-timeless-hits-20160715-gq6l4j.html| title=Totally 80s! review: Martika steals show with timeless hits|first=Michael|last=Dwyer|date=July 16, 2016|website= [[Sydney Morning Herald]]}}</ref>

==Personal life==
As of 2016, Martika was living in [[Dayton, Ohio]] with her musician husband, concentrating on married life.<ref name="youtube.com"/>

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Award
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Nominee(s)
! scope="col" | Category
! scope="col" | Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
! scope="row"|[[ASCAP Pop Music Awards]]
| 1990
| "[[Toy Soldiers (song)|Toy Soldiers]]"
| Most Performed Song
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1990/CB-1990-06-23.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717033024/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1990/CB-1990-06-23.pdf |archive-date=2020-07-17 |url-status=live|title=Cash Box|date=June 23, 1990|website=Worldradiohistory.com|access-date=September 28, 2021}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" rowspan=6|[[Smash Hits Poll Winners Party]]
| rowspan=2|1989
| rowspan=5|Herself
| Most Fanciable Female
| {{nom}}
| rowspan=2|<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/smashhits-remembered/1990-poll-winners |title=Smash Hits Magazine Remembered |access-date=May 4, 2022 |archive-date=August 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824002253/http://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/smashhits-remembered/1990-poll-winners |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| Most Promising New Solo Artist
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=4|1991
| Well-Dressed Person
| {{nom}}
| rowspan=4|
|-
| Best Female Solo Singer
| {{nom}}
|-
| Worst Female Solo Singer
| {{nom}}
|-
| "[[Love... Thy Will Be Done]]"
| Best Single
| {{nom}}
{{end}}

==Discography==
{{Main|Martika discography}}

===Studio albums===
* ''[[Martika (album)|Martika]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Martika's Kitchen]]'' (1991)

===with Oppera===
* ''[[Oppera|Violince]]'' (2004)
* ''Oppera'' (2005)

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Film
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Annie (1982 film)|Annie]]'' || Dancer || Uncredited
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo]]'' || Kid || as Marta Marrero
|-
| 1984 || ''[[List of Kids Incorporated episodes#(Pilot) (1983)|Kids Incorporated: The Beginning]]'' || Gloria ||as Marta Marrero
Video
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool!]]'' || Marta||as The Dimples
Video
|-
|1998
|''Exposé''
|Self
|
|-
| 2001 || ''Route 10''|| Penny ||
|-
! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Television
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1984-1986
|''[[Kids Incorporated]]''
|Gloria
|65 episodes
|-
|1985|| ''[[Hardcastle and McCormick]]'' || Luisa Montega || Episode: "You're Sixteen, You're Beautiful, and You're His"
|-
|1986
|[[One Big Family (TV series)|''One Big Family'']]
|Natasha
|Episode: "Kate's Friend"
|-
|1986
|[[List of Kids Incorporated episodes#Season 3 (1986)|''Kids Incorporated: Rock in the New Year'']]
|Gloria
|TV movie
|-
|1987
|''[[Silver Spoons]]''
|Kiki
|Episode: "Band on the Run"
|-
|1990
|''[[The Little and Large Show]]''
|
|Episode #10.1
|-
|1990
|[[Wiseguy (TV series)|''Wiseguy'']]
|Dahlia Mendez
|6 episodes
|-
! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Music videos
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1989 || [[Toy Soldiers (song)|''Toy Soldiers'']]||rowspan=4|Martika||
|-
| 1989 || [[I Feel the Earth Move#Martika version|''I Feel the Earth Move'']]||
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Love... Thy Will Be Done]]''||
|-
| 1992 || ''[[Coloured Kisses]]''||
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-05-ca-175-story.html |title=Playing a Sultry Vixen |first=Dennis |last=Hunt |date=March 5, 1989 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=October 1, 2011}}
* {{cite book |title=Notable Hispanic American Women |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dCWqXOE5lmgC&q=martika+notable+hispanic+women&pg=PA253 |first=Diane |last=Telgen |first2=Eva M. |last2=Neito |first3=Jim |last3=Kamp |date=March 1993 |publisher=[[Thomson Gale]] | page=251 |isbn=978-0-8103-7578-9}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|http://martikamartika.com/}}
* {{IMDb name|0551822|Martika}}
* [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4849|pure_url=yes}} Martika] at [[AllMusic]]
* {{Discogs artist|id=Martika}}

{{Martika}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Actresses from California]]
[[Category:American child actresses]]
[[Category:American entertainers of Cuban descent]]
[[Category:American women singers]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American child singers]]
[[Category:American freestyle musicians]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:Actors from Whittier, California]]
[[Category:Singers from California]]
[[Category:Musicians from Whittier, California]]
[[Category:Columbia Records artists]]

Latest revision as of 07:44, 15 August 2024

Not to be confused with Marta Marrero.
This article is about the American singer. For her album, see Martika (album).
Martika
Birth nameMarta Marrero
Born (1969-05-18) May 18, 1969 (age 55)
Whittier, California, U.S.
GenresPop, dance-pop, pop rock
Occupation(s)Singer, actress
Years active1982–1992, 2000–present
LabelsColumbia Records
Dunda Chief Records
Websitemartikamartika.com

Marta Marrero[1] (born May 18, 1969),[2] better known by her stage name Martika (/mɑːrˈtiːkə/ mar-TEE-kə), is an American pop singer and actress. She released two internationally successful albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which sold over four million copies worldwide.[3] Her biggest hit was "Toy Soldiers", which peaked at #1 for two weeks on the American chart in mid-1989. She is also known for her role as Gloria on Kids Incorporated.

Early life, family and education

[edit]

Martika was born in Whittier, California to Cuban parents of Canary Islands ancestry.[2]

Career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

She entered mainstream show business in an uncredited role as one of the girls in the 1982 motion picture Annie. This led to her being cast as Gloria on the long-running children's show Kids Incorporated as one of a group of neighborhood children who rise to local fame by singing staged productions at a corner malt shop. Once the second season began, she formally adopted her stage name Martika Marrero before shortening it to the mononym Martika, which she has used ever since. Martika and many other Kids Incorporated cast members were featured in the musical numbers from the Mr. T motivational video Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool! in 1984.

Following her role in Kids Incorporated and Be Somebody, Martika was signed by Columbia Records. Her first solo release was released only in Japan: "We are Music" was recorded to promote Sony cassette tapes in the Japanese market, where the song was released in 12", 7" and CD formats.

In 1987, Martika recorded a version of the Michael Jay/Gregory Smith song "Bounce Back", which included a music video which was aired on Entertainment '80, although it was not available for purchase.[4]

Rise to prominence

[edit]

Her first album, 1988's Martika (No. 15 US[5]), spawned the song "Toy Soldiers", which she co-wrote with her producer Michael Jay and it became a top-5 hit in the United Kingdom,[6] Ireland,[7] Germany,[8] and Australia.[9] In the US, "Toy Soldiers" spent two weeks at No. 1 in 1989.[10] "Toy Soldiers" also went to No. 1 in New Zealand.[11]

Two additional singles also went top 40 in the US: "More Than You Know" (No. 18[10]) and "I Feel the Earth Move" (No. 25[10]), which was a cover of Carole King's song from her album Tapestry. Both of those tracks also hit the top 20 on the US Dance charts[12] and the UK Singles Chart.[6] "I Feel the Earth Move" also reached the top 10 in Australia,[9] New Zealand,[11] and Ireland.[7] A fourth and final single from the album, "Water", entered the lower regions of the UK[6] and Australian charts.[9]

The album was certified platinum in the UK in 1990,[13] and double platinum in Australia.[14]

In 1990, Martika co-wrote the track "Kiss Me Quick" with Michael Jay and Marvin Morrow. The track was recorded by freestyle/pop singer Alisha for her 1990 album Bounce Back, with Martika contributing backing vocals.

1990s

[edit]

Martika was encouraged by her agent to combine her love of film and music by scoring soundtracks and, in 1990, she wrote and recorded the song "Blue Eyes Are Sensitive to the Light" for the soundtrack to the film Arachnophobia. The producers of the album did not like her vocals, so the song was re-recorded by Sara Hickman for the film. The song has also been recorded by Brazilian singers Deborah Blando (on her 1991 debut, A Different Story), Elba Ramalho, and Frances Ruffelle.

In 1991, Martika approached Prince to do some new tracks.[15] Among these was her second (and last) US Top-10 single,[10] "Love... Thy Will Be Done", which also became a Top-10 hit in the UK[6] and reached No. 1 in Australia.[9] "Love... Thy Will Be Done" started out as a prayer written by Martika, and Prince then changed it into a song.

Her second album, Martika's Kitchen, peaked at No. 111 on the Billboard Top Albums chart.[5] The title track received only minor airplay in the US, and reached No. 93 on Billboard Hot 100 chart.[10] However, the album was a bigger success abroad, though on a lesser scale than her debut. It peaked at No. 15 in the UK Albums Chart,[6] No. 9 in Australia,[9] and spawned further hits with the songs "Coloured Kisses" and the title track, "Martika's Kitchen".[2] "Temptation", another track from this album, was covered by Patti LaBelle on her album Burnin'.

Martika played the role of the lounge singer Dahlia Mendez in the crime drama TV series Wiseguy in 1990,[2] opposite Steven Bauer who took over from Ken Wahl for the fourth and final season.

She eventually faded from the public eye in 1992 after walking away from the music industry, due to burnout and feeling overwhelmed with the burden of fame.[16]

In 1997, a greatest hits compilation album The Best of Martika: More Than You Know was released.

Re-emergence

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During the 2000 explosion of Latin pop, Martika sang backing vocals on various projects[which?] and contributed lyrics to releases by other artists[who?], although she failed to receive any major-label attention for herself. Instead, she built martika.net in 2001, a website for her fans, and released a remix of a newly self-recorded song, "The Journey". She also recorded a track "Monday" for a new solo album which the website stated was on its way. Eventually, however, her website was shut down and the album never materialized.

In 2003, Martika and her husband, musician Michael Mozart, formed the band Oppera. Adopting a Latin pop sound, she and Mozart released Oppera's debut album, Violince, in 2004. Rapper Eminem used a sample of her biggest US hit, "Toy Soldiers", for "Like Toy Soldiers", a track on his 2004 album Encore and featured Martika on the chorus of the track. In response, Martika's British greatest hits album was repackaged with its title altered to Toy Soldiers: The Best of Martika. A biography was added to the album insert reflecting the new Eminem sample, though it asserted that she had not released any albums since Martika's Kitchen.

Oppera released a self-titled second album in 2005. Martika promoted Oppera's release with a Borders bookstore tour.

In 2010, Martika, using the stage name Vida Edit, starred as Lolly Pop and co-produced a web-based television action program J8ded.[17]

In October 2011, Martika stopped using the stage name Vida Edit and launched a new personal website. A year later, she announced an Australian tour, but it was canceled. She performed in 2014 alongside Debbie Gibson, Samantha Fox, and Rick Astley at a HitParade Festival in Chile.[18][19]

In July 2016, she was part of the Totally 80s Tour of Australia. The concerts included seven international 1980s acts, including Martika, Berlin, Limahl of Kajagoogoo, Paul Lekakis, Katrina of Katrina and the Waves, Men Without Hats and Stacey Q. For her performance at the tour, she received positive reviews from the Australian press.[20]

Personal life

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As of 2016, Martika was living in Dayton, Ohio with her musician husband, concentrating on married life.[16]

Awards and nominations

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Award Year Nominee(s) Category Result Ref.
ASCAP Pop Music Awards 1990 "Toy Soldiers" Most Performed Song Won [21]
Smash Hits Poll Winners Party 1989 Herself Most Fanciable Female Nominated [22]
Most Promising New Solo Artist Nominated
1991 Well-Dressed Person Nominated
Best Female Solo Singer Nominated
Worst Female Solo Singer Nominated
"Love... Thy Will Be Done" Best Single Nominated

Discography

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Main article: Martika discography

Studio albums

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with Oppera

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Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes
1982 Annie Dancer Uncredited
1984 Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo Kid as Marta Marrero
1984 Kids Incorporated: The Beginning Gloria as Marta Marrero

Video

1984 Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool! Marta as The Dimples

Video

1998 Exposé Self
2001 Route 10 Penny
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1984-1986 Kids Incorporated Gloria 65 episodes
1985 Hardcastle and McCormick Luisa Montega Episode: "You're Sixteen, You're Beautiful, and You're His"
1986 One Big Family Natasha Episode: "Kate's Friend"
1986 Kids Incorporated: Rock in the New Year Gloria TV movie
1987 Silver Spoons Kiki Episode: "Band on the Run"
1990 The Little and Large Show Episode #10.1
1990 Wiseguy Dahlia Mendez 6 episodes
Music videos
Year Title Role Notes
1989 Toy Soldiers Martika
1989 I Feel the Earth Move
1991 Love... Thy Will Be Done
1992 Coloured Kisses

References

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  1. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 351. ISBN 978-1-904994-10-7.
  2. ^ a b c d Larkin, Colin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1626. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  3. ^ "BIOGRAPHY". martikamartika.com.
  4. ^ "Entertainment 80 Ryan Samans, Martika singing 'Bounce Back'". July 20, 2007. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2012 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ a b "Billboard > Artists / Martika > Chart History > Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Official Charts > Martika". officialcharts.com. The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for 'Martika'". Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  8. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts > Martika – Toy Soldiers (single)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  9. ^ a b c d e Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks:
  10. ^ a b c d e "Billboard > Artists / Martika > Chart History > The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  11. ^ a b "charts.nz > Discography Martika". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  12. ^ "Billboard > Artists / Martika > Chart History > Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  13. ^ "BPI > Certified Awards > Search results for 'Martika'". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  14. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  15. ^ Cashmere, Paul (June 26, 2012). "Martika Explains How Prince Crafted Love Thy Will Be Done". Noise11.com. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  16. ^ a b Devery, Mike (March 24, 2016). "Martika – Today Extra interview March 2016". Archived from the original on December 11, 2021 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ Adams, Cameron. "Whatever happened to Martika?". news.com.au. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  18. ^ Cashmere, Paul (October 1, 2012). "Martika Aussie Tour Cancelled". Noise11.com. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  19. ^ "HOME". martikamartika.com. Martika. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  20. ^ Dwyer, Michael (July 16, 2016). "Totally 80s! review: Martika steals show with timeless hits". Sydney Morning Herald.
  21. ^ "Cash Box" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. June 23, 1990. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 17, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  22. ^ "Smash Hits Magazine Remembered". Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2022.

Further reading

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[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations related to Martika.
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