In the early 1980s, Menudo had several hits, including 'Los Fantasmas' and a cover version of ABBA's ' Voulez-Vous'. At the end of 1979, Carlos left the band at age 15 and was replaced by 12-year-old Johnny Lozada, after which they made their first Christmas album, Felicidades. In 1979, they released an album called Chiquitita. Fifteen-year-old Nefty was the very first member to leave and was replaced by 12-year-old René Farrait. In 1978 they released another album called Laura. It featured ' Enséñame a cantar', a song by Spanish singer Micky. They were signed to Padosa Records and released their first album Los Fantasmas in 1977. The original line up consisted of 5 members, the Sallaberry brothers, Fernando and Nefty, and Díaz's cousins, the Melendez brothers, Oscar, Carlos, and Ricky.

Menudo was formed in 1977 by music producer Edgardo Díaz. Menudo is estimated to have sold 20 million albums worldwide and have generated over 300 million US dollars. Some of the members of the 'golden era' of the band reunited in 1998 under the name El Reencuentro and in 2019 for the 'Súbete a Mi Moto Tour'. New management of Menudo formed a new line-up in 2007, releasing an EP but disbanding in 2009. However, this iteration has continued to perform sporadically since. The remaining members continued to perform as MDO until their official disbandment in 2002. In 1997, the rights and the name Menudo were sold. It was also a starting point for popular international stars like Ricky Martin (1984–89) and Draco Rosa (1984–87), who were members of the band in the mid-1980s.Īs the group entered the 1990s, and their popularity started to wane, allegations of drug use and sexual abuse accusations against Díaz started to surface. The band's golden-era lineup consisted of members Ricky Meléndez, Johnny Lozada, René Farrait, Miguel Cancel, Xavier Serbiá, Charlie Masso and Ray Reyes. Menudo's original line-up consisted of (5 boys) two sets of brothers: Fernando and Nefty Sallaberry (ages 12 and 13) and the Melendez brothers, Carlos Meléndez, (age 12), Óscar Meléndez, (age 11), and Ricky Meléndez, (age 9) the latter three are Díaz's cousins. They acted in a television film (1979's Leyenda de Amor ) and two feature films, Una aventura llamada Menudo and Menudo: La Película, in a telenovela named 'Quiero Ser' and a television mini-series named Panchito y Arturo. The band had several radio hits during its course. Referred to as the 'Most Iconic Latino Pop Music Band', Menudo has been ranked as one of the Biggest Boy Bands of All Time by several publications, including Billboard, Us Weekly, Seventeen, and Teen Vogue, being the only Latin band on their lists. Menudo is a Puerto Rican boy band that was formed in Puerto Rico by producer Edgardo Díaz. Jose Montañez (Monti) now (Che Antonio).

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