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Gerardo Mejía

Gerardo Mejía

Rapper Known for his '90s Hit Song "Rico Suave” & his Reality TV Show "Suave Says"

Gerardo Mejía is an Ecuadorian rapper and singer who later became a recording industry executive.

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Gerardo Mejía is an Ecuadorian rapper and singer who later became a recording industry executive, and more recently a youth pastor. Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, he and his family moved to Glendale, California, when he was 12 years old.

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,” the “Latin Frank Sinatra” or the Latin “Tony Zuzio.”

Gerardo’s first major appearance in show business was as Ricky in the 1987 feature film “Can’t Buy Me Love.” 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 “Tear the Roof Off the Sucker”) peaked at No. 16, the popularity of “Rico Suave” has made Gerardo known as a one-hit wonder via sources including MTV, VH1, Synthesis and even Gerardo himself.

Now an A&R executive at Interscope Records, Gerardo was responsible for bringing Enrique Iglesias to the attention of Interscope Label Executives in early 1999. He also signed rapper Bubba Sparxxx. More recently, in a 2013 appearance on Katie Couric’s show “Katie,” Gerardo discussed his newest life focus as a Christian youth pastor.

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An Evening With Gerardo Mejía

Videos

Videos

GERARDO MEJIA - Sueña
GERARDO MEJIA "AMIGO" OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

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