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Ricky Martin In the Spotlight

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Ricky Martin mania sweeps Toronto

TORONTO - Thousands of overheated and screaming people thronged Toronto's Yonge Street today --not just because of rush-hour traffic at the end of a week of bad air and muggy weather.

They were there to catch a glimpse --maybe to even jostle elbows-- with one of the Latin music world's biggest singing sensations.

Ricky Martin, a swivel-hipped performer from way south of the border has come to Toronto on a promotional tour to sell his latest CD.

Just as generations ago there were fans who fainted to bat eyes at the Beatles, Ricky Martin wowed them today in the city streets.

"I love Ricky Martin... I love him so much because he's gorgeous and talented and I love him so much ... and he's got a cute butt," said a nearly breathless Meagan O'Connell. She lined up at 3:30 this morning in the hopes of getting an autograph from Martin.

Martin grabbed the world's attention at this year's Grammy Awards. Since then, he's gyrated to the top of the charts with his insanely catchy single, Livin' La Vida Loca.

Martin is the latest in a string of post-adolescent cutie-pies who seem to dominate the airwaves. Like other boy groups such as Hanson, The Moffats, and The Backstreet Boys, Martin's dreamboat looks have earned him millions of young - mostly female - fans.

Thousands of them lined up for hours - clogging Toronto's Yonge Street today hoping for an autograph and just maybe a hug and even a kiss

Although Martin has been a star in his native Puerto Rico since the 80s, he's an overnight sensation in North America. He's kicked the hype machine into overdrive. Ricky Martin's shaking pelvis has even earned him comparisons to Elvis Presley. But not everyone is quite so breathless.

Errol Nazareth is a music writer for the Toronto Sun. He says Martin's success is easy to figure out: "Martin's label, Sony, may be generating the hype but his fans are generating the enthusiasm."

...Enough enthusiasm to create a traffic headache for weary commuters trying to find their way home on a Friday afternoon.

Other Ricky Martin Articles:

Ricky Martin's Vida Loca With Madonna !
What? Madonna fancies the pants off Ricky Martin?

Ricky Martin's songwriter adds note of caution to "crossover" label!
Thousands of teenage girls were screaming in the streets of Toronto to catch a glimpse of singing sensation Ricky Martin!

Ricky Martin mania sweeps Toronto!
One fan says ... "Rick's got a cute butt too!!hello