Roy Stephan Rosselló Díaz (born May 1, 1970) is a Puerto Rican pop and gospel[1] singer, businessman, and former member of the popular Puerto Rican group Menudo. Roy currently lives in Brazil, where he focused his musical career and built a family.
Roy Rosselló | |
|---|---|
 Roy Rosselló performing in 2002 | |
| Born | Roy Stephan Rosselló Diaz May 1, 1970 San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actor, missionary |
| Children | 5 |
Through his membership in Menudo as well as his personal pursuits, he has participated in several television series and shows, such as The Love Boat, The Morning Show, Solid Gold, Good Morning America, and Soul Train, appearing in all the major networks, such as CBS, NBC, SBT and Fox, in addition to several international festivals and award ceremonies, such as the Tokyo Music Festival, where he won the Gold Award. In 1984, he was a presenter at the Grammys, handing the award for Best Recording for Children to Michael Jackson for his album "E.T. the Extra Terrestrial"
In 2014, Roselló said that he was sexually abused by his producer Edgardo Díaz, and In 2023, he stated that José Menéndez raped him when he was 14.
Early life
editIn his youth, Roy was a player for the Puerto Rican National Children's Soccer Team.
Roselló was a member of Menudo from August 1983 to January 1986 and debuted on the album A Todo Rock, albeit he didn't have lead vocals from the album, including Reaching Out and Mania. He recorded a total of six albums with the group, with the second half of the albums he was in, he had lead vocals on one song per each album. During his time, Menudo reached great popularity in Asia, more specifically in the Philippines and Japan. They had hits like "Indianápolis" and "Like A Cannonball," which was featured in the film Cannonball Run 2. It was also during his tenure in the Menudo lineup that the group scored their biggest hit in the United States, "Hold Me." Roy sang lead in the second version of "Ladron De Amor" and is seen prominently in the music video. He also sang lead in the song, "No Hay Reflexion" from the Grammy nominated album Evolucion. He also sang lead in the songs "Transformation" in English, "Alegra Esa Cara" in Spanish and "Alegra Essa Cara" in Portuguese. During concerts and TV appearances he sang lead in the song "Cambiale las Pilas"'s ("Gotta Get On Moving") second Spanish version as well as its English version, "Subete a Mi Moto", "Ghostbusters" and "One Night in Bangkok."
Personal life
editIn 1986, Roy met Brazilian children’s TV host Mara Maravilha and they started dating. Mara got pregnant by Roy, but her mother made her get an abortion in 1987. At the time the couple lived together for two years in a house he had in New York, USA. Their relationship ended in 1988, allegedly due to the excessive jealousy of Mara and her distrust of Roy. Mara stated in interviews that he wanted her to stop singing. At the time she was aware of the sexual abuse he allegedly suffered during his years in Menudo.[2][3]
Rosselló is the father of five children with five different women, including eldest son Roy Jr. with his first wife Mireya Nieves, whom he married on October 14, 1989. The marriage was concluded by a divorce decree issued on December 10, 1993.[4][5] Following this he was married to his second wife Brenda Colon Reyes for a year and a half. He also has another son named Enrico with his third wife, Mirella Rodriguez Marcolini (m. 2008-2010), and a daughter Sophia, born in 2009, who was the result of a 6 month relationship he had with Natália Borges, a former employee of a store he had in Campinas.[6][7][8]
In 2003, Roy went to Campinas after he had to acknowledge the paternity of his eldest child, Bianca, when he appeared on a TV program in Brazil. She was born when Roy was 15 years old. The girl is a result of his fling with a teenage Brazilian fan when he was on tour with Menudo there in 1985.[9][10][11] In addition to Roy Jr., Enrico, Sophia and Bianca, he is also father to a third son named Guilhermo. [4][12]
In a 2014 interview, Roy said he should have preserved himself more in relation to women. “I always liked women, but I should have been more careful,’ he regrets. The musician stated that he believes women approached him because of money. “Because I was a famous guy, they think I have money, but it’s all an illusion. For them it’s not important to allow me to have a good relationship with my children, they just want money,” he said.[13][14][15]
In 1994, Roy married Marta Rhaulin. He made for 11 years a musical duo with her, Duo Roy and Rhaulin.[16]
Roy married Patricia Avila in 2014, they have since divorced in 2018.[17]
Post Menudo
editHe spent 1987 touring the United States, starred in a movie called Star of the Jungle, and was the host of Frente Jovem in 1986, a Brazilian TV show.
In 1991, Roy Rossello studied TV production at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in Florida.
Since 2006, Rosselló has run a Caribbean-themed bar in the city of Campinas, located in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, where he also owns a jewelry store, Roy Rosello Fine Jewelry.
More recently, through another TV show in Brazil, he met his long-lost daughter and decided to settle in the South American country. Roy fell in love with the people, the culture, the tropical weather and the hospitality he found in Brazil, his new home.
Return to music
editIn 2009, Roy entered into the Brazilian music scene, when he formed a band of axé and Caribbean music.
A Fazenda
editOn September 14, 2014, Roy joined as a contestant on the famous Brazilian reality show A Fazenda 7 on TV Record.
On October 21, 2014, Rosselló alleged on the show that he and Ricky Martin had been victims of sexual abuse from Edgardo Diaz while Rosselló and Martin were members of Menudo.[18]
Sexual assault allegations
editOn April 18, 2023, on a segment of the Today Show about an upcoming docuseries, Roy alleged that he had been raped by José Enrique Menendez, the father of Lyle and Erik Menendez. Roy stated that when he was visiting their New Jersey home at the age of 14, José drugged and raped him. "That's the man here that raped me", [Roy] says in a clip of the docuseries, pointing to Menendez in a photo. "That's the pedophile."[19]
Rosselló also accused his former producer Edgardo Díaz of sexually abusing him in October 2014.[18] As of May 2, 2023, Edgardo Díaz was under investigation by the LAPD over allegations brought by Roy that he was sexually assaulted as a former teenage member of the group Menudo in the 1980s. It is the first known criminal investigation surrounding Menudo and its creator by law enforcement.[20]
Discography
editWith Menudo
edit- A Todo Rock (1983) (Didn't have lead vocals)
- Reaching Out (1984) (Didn't have lead vocals)
- Mania (1984) (Didn't have lead vocals)
- Evolucion (1984)
- Menudo (1985)
- Ayer y Hoy (1985)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Deus Vai Abrir o Céu". YouTube. 2017-05-23. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ^ "7 fatos sobre a polêmica Mara Maravilha". Blasting News. 15 March 2019. 4. Maravilha já ficou grávida de Roy, ex-integrante do grupo Menudo.
- ^ "Mara Maravilha - Biografia, Últimas Notícias, Curiosidades, Idade e muito mais!". Metropolitana.
- ^ a b "Sentencia de Tribunal Apelativo de 31 de Mayo de 2007, número de resolución KLCE200700801=31 May 2007". vlex.
- ^ "Sentencia de Tribunal Apelativo de 28 de Abril de 2008, número de resolución KLAN0701644". vlex. 28 April 2008.
- ^ "Atual mulher de Roy fala sobre prisão do peão e critica ex: "Ela não aceita nenhuma proposta"". R7. 25 September 2014.
- ^ Falcão, Diego (30 September 2014). "Ex-Menudo Roy pode voltar a ser preso por atraso de outra pensão". Portal Do Holanda.
- ^ Barbosa, Kathucy (26 September 2014). "Mulher de Roy fala sobre prisão e critica ex: "Ela não aceita nenhuma proposta". Portal Do Holanda.
- ^ "Tremendo show de ExMenudo en programa de televisión". El Espectador. 25 September 2014.
- ^ "A Fazenda 7". UOL. 12 September 2014.
- ^ "Esposa de Roy fala sobre a dificuldade do marido de pagar as pensões". Hoje Em Dia. 26 September 2014.
- ^ M de Mulher, Redação (15 January 2014). "Amiga garante: 'Roy entrou em A fazenda para pagar pensões atrasadas'". Claudia.
- ^ Jr, Hildeberto (11 June 2014). "Roy diz que cachê de "A Fazenda 7" foi quase todo gasto para pagar pensão... Veja mais em". UOL.
- ^ Saures, Ana Carolina (5 December 2016). "Ex-menudo tem dois mandados de prisão por não pagar pensão". VejaSaoPaulo.
- ^ "EX-MENUDO ROY DEIXA 'A FAZENDA' APÓS TER PEDIDO DE PRISÃO DECRETADO". ExtraGlobo. 25 September 2014.
- ^ As várias vozes de Marta Rhaulin
- ^ "Fenômeno dos anos 80, ex-Menudo Roy Rosselló abre lancheria em Porto Alegre". Diario Gaucho. 20 Feb 2016.
- ^ a b "Roy Rosello Alleges Former Menudo Manager Abused Him, Had Ricky Martin Dress As Woman". Latin Post. 2014-10-22. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
- ^ Stevens, Matt (2023-04-18). "Ex-Member of Menudo Says He Was Raped by Father of the Menendez Brothers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- ^ Hernandez, Salvador (2 May 2023). "Ex-Menudo star accuses boy band founder of sexual assault. Now the LAPD is investigating". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
External links
edit- Roy Rosselló at IMDb
