Gerardo Mejía (born April 16, 1965[1]), better known by his mononym Gerardo, is an Ecuadorian-born American rapper, singer and actor who later became a recording industry executive, and more recently a pastor. Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, he moved with his family to Glendale, California, when he was 12 years old.
Gerardo
Gerardo performing at Eleva, a conference founded by Jeff Tolle.
Background information
Birth name
Gerardo Mejía
Born
(1965-04-16) April 16, 1965 (age 57) Guayaquil, Ecuador
Based in Los Angeles, California, Gerardo became known for his bandana, skintight jeans, locking, and shirtless torso. He sometimes refers to himself as the "Latin Elvis" or the "Latin Frank Sinatra".[2]
Gerardo's first major appearance in show business was as Ricky in the 1987 feature film Can't Buy Me Love.[3] He was later cast as the character Bird in the 1988 film Colors, about South Central Los Angeles gang violence. This was also the first time his dance skills were showcased, in one of the party scenes; however, he did not sing at any point in the film.
His hit single "Rico Suave" appeared on his 1991 debut album, Mo' Ritmo. The album peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard 200 chart in June 1991; the single had peaked at No. 7 in April. This song, as well as some others of Gerardo's, include verses with lines in both English and Spanish. Although his following single "We Want the Funk" (a semi-remake of Parliament's "Give Up the Funk") peaked at No. 16,[4] the popularity of "Rico Suave" has made Gerardo known as a one-hit wonder via sources including MTV, VH1,[5]Synthesis Magazine[6] and even Gerardo himself.[5]
As an A&R executive at Interscope Records, Gerardo signed rapper Bubba Sparxxx.[2] More recently, in a 2013 appearance on Katie Couric's show Katie, Gerardo discussed his newest life focus as a Christian youth pastor. He was ordained as a pastor at Praise Chapel in Kansas City and now pastors a church House of Grace in Ashland, Kentucky. [7]
Personal life
Gerardo is married to Kathy Eicher, a former pageant titleholder who was Miss West Virginia USA 1989, and 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. [8] They also have a granddaughter, Lily. They live in Kentucky.[9]
gerardo, musician, gerardo, mejía, born, april, 1965, better, known, mononym, gerardo, ecuadorian, born, american, rapper, singer, actor, later, became, recording, industry, executive, more, recently, pastor, born, guayaquil, ecuador, moved, with, family, glen. Gerardo Mejia born April 16 1965 1 better known by his mononym Gerardo is an Ecuadorian born American rapper singer and actor who later became a recording industry executive and more recently a pastor Born in Guayaquil Ecuador he moved with his family to Glendale California when he was 12 years old GerardoGerardo performing at Eleva a conference founded by Jeff Tolle Background informationBirth nameGerardo MejiaBorn 1965 04 16 April 16 1965 age 57 Guayaquil EcuadorGenresPop hip hopOccupation s Rapper singer actorInstrument s VocalsYears active1987 presentLabelsInterscope Records 1990 1993 Randy s Records 1991 1992 Based in Los Angeles California Gerardo became known for his bandana skintight jeans locking and shirtless torso He sometimes refers to himself as the Latin Elvis or the Latin Frank Sinatra 2 Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 3 Discography 3 1 Albums 3 2 Singles 4 Filmography 5 References 6 External linksCareer EditGerardo s first major appearance in show business was as Ricky in the 1987 feature film Can t Buy Me Love 3 He was later cast as the character Bird in the 1988 film Colors about South Central Los Angeles gang violence This was also the first time his dance skills were showcased in one of the party scenes however he did not sing at any point in the film His hit single Rico Suave appeared on his 1991 debut album Mo Ritmo The album peaked at No 36 on the Billboard 200 chart in June 1991 the single had peaked at No 7 in April This song as well as some others of Gerardo s include verses with lines in both English and Spanish Although his following single We Want the Funk a semi remake of Parliament s Give Up the Funk peaked at No 16 4 the popularity of Rico Suave has made Gerardo known as a one hit wonder via sources including MTV VH1 5 Synthesis Magazine 6 and even Gerardo himself 5 As an A amp R executive at Interscope Records Gerardo signed rapper Bubba Sparxxx 2 More recently in a 2013 appearance on Katie Couric s show Katie Gerardo discussed his newest life focus as a Christian youth pastor He was ordained as a pastor at Praise Chapel in Kansas City and now pastors a church House of Grace in Ashland Kentucky 7 Personal life EditGerardo is married to Kathy Eicher a former pageant titleholder who was Miss West Virginia USA 1989 and 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 8 They also have a granddaughter Lily They live in Kentucky 9 Discography EditAlbums Edit Year Album details Chart PositionsUS USR amp B1991 Mo Ritmo Released January 29 1991 Label Interscope Records 36 641992 Dos Released September 15 1992 Label Interscope Records 1994 Asi Es 10 Released May 31 1994 Label EMI Records 1995 Derrumbe 10 Released June 6 1995 Label EMI Records 2001 Gerardo Fame Sex y Dinero Released October 9 2001 Label Thump Records 2004 180 Released September 28 2004 Label Univision Records 2007 La Iglesia de la Calle Released October 23 2007 Label Machete Music TBA Luces camara y uncion Announced 2009 Label Interscope Records denotes the album failed to chart or not releasedSingles Edit Rico Suave 1991 No 7 US Billboard Hot 100 4 No 87 in Australia 11 We Want the Funk 1991 No 16 US Billboard Hot 100 4 No 128 in Australia 12 When the Lights Go Out 1991 No 98 US Billboard Hot 100 4 Latin Till I Die Oye Como Va 1991 Love 1992 Maria Elisa 1994 10 Ae Ah featuring The Outhere Brothers 1998 Americana 2004 Suena 2005 Raperito featuring Vico C 2007 Agua Amarga featuring Funky 2021 Eres bueno featuring Alex Zurdo amp Frankie J 2021 Filmography EditYear Film Television Role Other notes1987 Can t Buy Me Love Ricky1988 Colors Bird1988 Supercarrier Luis Cruz TV series1994 A Million to Juan FlacoSomebody to Love Armando2003 Pauly Shore Is Dead Rico SuaveMi Casa Su Casa Miguel Sanchez this film has the alternate title of Loco Love 2014 Suave Says Himself TV seriesReferences Edit Billboard com Biography Gerardo Retrieved September 22 2008 a b Kaufman Gil May 22 2002 Gerardo Back And Still Rico News Story MTV News MTV Retrieved October 11 2010 Gerardo Mejiaat IMDb a b c d Billboard com Artist Chart History Gerardo Retrieved November 15 2012 a b Gerardo Back And Still Rico News Story Music Celebrity Artist News MTV News Retrieved September 28 2008 Synthesis Music Gerardo King Mac Daddy an Interview with Rico Suave Archived October 6 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 28 2008 LEADERSHIP House of Grace Retrieved November 27 2020 Hija del rapero Gerardo Mejia se convierte en Miss California People en Espanol Retrieved November 27 2020 La nieta de Gerardo nacio con anticipacion 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 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 External links EditGerardo at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gerardo musician amp oldid 1125591865, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
