Gerardo (musician)

Gerardo Mejía (born April 16, 1965^[1]), better known by his mononym Gerardo, is an Ecuadorian-born American singer, rapper and actor. He gained wide visibility with a 1990s hit song "Rico Suave", and later became a recording industry executive, and a Christian pastor.^[2][3]

Gerardo
Mejía in 2010
Background information
Birth name	Gerardo Ernesto Mejía Aguilera
Born	(1965-04-16) April 16, 1965 (age 59) Guayaquil, Ecuador
Genres	Pop hip hop
Occupations	Singer rapper actor pastor
Years active	1987–present
Labels	Interscope Records (1990–1993) Randy's Records (1991–1992)

Personal life

Mejía is married to Kathy Eicher, a former pageant titleholder who was Miss West Virginia USA 1989. 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.^[4] They have a granddaughter, Lily, and live in Kentucky.^[5]

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album details	Chart Positions
		US	US R&B
1991	Mo' Ritmo Released: January 29, 1991 Label: Interscope Records	36	64
1992	Dos Released: September 15, 1992 Label: Interscope Records	—	—
1994	Así Es[6] Released: May 31, 1994 Label: EMI Records	—	—
1995	Derrumbe[6] 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	—	—
"—" denotes the album failed to chart or not released

Singles

• "Rico Suave" (1991; No. 7 US Billboard Hot 100),^[7] No. 87 in Australia.^[8]
• "We Want the Funk" (1991; No. 16 US Billboard Hot 100)^[7] No. 128 in Australia.^[9]
• "When the Lights Go Out" (1991; No. 98 US Billboard Hot 100)^[7]
• "Latin Till I Die (Oye Como Va)" (1991)
• "Here Kitty Kitty" (1992)
• "Love" (1992)
• "Maria Elisa" (1994)^[6]
• "Ae-Ah" (featuring The Outhere Brothers) (1998)
• "Americana" (2004)
• "Sueña" (2005)
• "Raperito" (featuring Vico C) (2007)
• "Agua Amarga" (featuring Funky) (2021)
• "Eres bueno" (featuring Alex Zurdo & Frankie J) (2021)

Filmography

Year	Film/Television	Role	Other notes
1987	Can't Buy Me Love	Ricky
1988	Colors	Bird
1988	Supercarrier	Luis Cruz	TV series
1994	A Million to Juan	Flaco
	Somebody to Love	Armando
2003	Pauly Shore Is Dead	Rico Suave
	Mi Casa, Su Casa	Miguel Sanchez	this film has the alternate title of Loco Love.
2014	Suave Says	Himself	TV series

References

1. Biography – Gerardo. Billboard.com. Retrieved September 22, 2008.
2. Newman, Jason (December 11, 2014). "Gerardo on Foot Fetishes, Prince Parties and 'Rico Suave'". Rolling Stone.
3. VanDyke, Nicole; Reporter, C. P. (December 15, 2023). "'Rico Suave' singer turned pastor embarks on new film franchise 'Celestials'". www.christianpost.com.
4. "Hija del rapero Gerardo Mejía se convierte en Miss California". People en Español. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
5. "La nieta de Gerardo nació con anticipación". El Universo (in Spanish). January 31, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
6. "Andy Kotz – Producer". AKMusic Productions. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
7. Artist Chart History – Gerardo, Billboard.com. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
8. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
9. "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing August 19, 1991". Retrieved August 19, 2022.

External links

• Gerardo at IMDb