Gerardo Mejía (born April 16, 1965[1]), better known by his mononym Gerardo, is an Ecuadorian-born American singer, rapper and actor. He gained wide visibility with a 1990s hit song "Rico Suave", and later became a recording industry executive, and a Christian pastor.[2][3]
Gerardo | |
|---|---|
 Mejía in 2010 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gerardo Ernesto Mejía Aguilera |
| Born | April 16, 1965 Guayaquil, Ecuador |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels |
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Personal life
editMejía is married to Kathy Eicher, a former pageant titleholder who was Miss West Virginia USA 1989. They have three children: Nadia, Bianca, and Jaden. Nadia is a model who competed in pageants like her mother, and won the title of Miss California USA 2016.[4] They have a granddaughter, Lily, and live in Kentucky.[5]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Year | Album details | Chart Positions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | ||||||||
| 1991 | Mo' Ritmo
|
36 | 64 | ||||||
| 1992 | Dos
|
— | — | ||||||
| 1994 | Así Es[6]
|
— | — | ||||||
| 1995 | Derrumbe[6]
|
— | — | ||||||
| 2001 | Gerardo: Fame, Sex y Dinero
|
— | — | ||||||
| 2004 | 180°
|
— | — | ||||||
| 2007 | La Iglesia de la Calle
|
— | — | ||||||
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart or not released | |||||||||
Singles
edit- "Rico Suave" (1991; No. 7 US Billboard Hot 100),[7] No. 87 in Australia.[8]
- "We Want the Funk" (1991; No. 16 US Billboard Hot 100)[7] No. 128 in Australia.[9]
- "When the Lights Go Out" (1991; No. 98 US Billboard Hot 100)[7]
- "Latin Till I Die (Oye Como Va)" (1991)
- "Here Kitty Kitty" (1992)
- "Love" (1992)
- "Maria Elisa" (1994)[6]
- "Ae-Ah" (featuring The Outhere Brothers) (1998)
- "Americana" (2004)
- "Sueña" (2005)
- "Raperito" (featuring Vico C) (2007)
- "Agua Amarga" (featuring Funky) (2021)
- "Eres bueno" (featuring Alex Zurdo & Frankie J) (2021)
Filmography
edit| Year | Film/Television | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Can't Buy Me Love | Ricky | |
| 1988 | Colors | Bird | |
| 1988 | Supercarrier | Luis Cruz | TV series |
| 1994 | A Million to Juan | Flaco | |
| Somebody to Love | Armando | ||
| 2003 | Pauly Shore Is Dead | Rico Suave | |
| Mi Casa, Su Casa | Miguel Sanchez | this film has the alternate title of Loco Love. | |
| 2014 | Suave Says | Himself | TV series |
References
edit- ^ Biography – Gerardo. Billboard.com. Retrieved September 22, 2008.
- ^ Newman, Jason (December 11, 2014). "Gerardo on Foot Fetishes, Prince Parties and 'Rico Suave'". Rolling Stone.
- ^ VanDyke, Nicole; Reporter, C. P. (December 15, 2023). "'Rico Suave' singer turned pastor embarks on new film franchise 'Celestials'". www.christianpost.com.
- ^ "Hija del rapero Gerardo Mejía se convierte en Miss California". People en Español. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ "La nieta de Gerardo nació con anticipación". El Universo (in Spanish). January 31, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Andy Kotz – Producer". AKMusic Productions. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
- ^ a b c Artist Chart History – Gerardo, Billboard.com. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- ^ "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing August 19, 1991". Retrieved August 19, 2022.