On this day June 18, 1983, Puerto Rican pop group Menudo played the first of four back to back sold out shows at Madison Square Garden. All 80,000 tickets sold within three days, proving the group’s explosive popularity at the height of Menudomania.
The lineup at the time included Johnny Lozada, Charlie Masso, Miguel Cancel and Ricky Melendez. These concerts were a major breakthrough moment for Latin pop, drawing thousands of screaming fans and marking one of the earliest times a Spanish language teen group headlined such a massive American venue.
80s insight: The energy around Menudo in the early 80s was electric. Their success at Madison Square Garden showed that youth driven Latin pop had a powerful voice in the decade’s musical landscape.
The lineup at the time included Johnny Lozada, Charlie Masso, Miguel Cancel and Ricky Melendez. These concerts were a major breakthrough moment for Latin pop, drawing thousands of screaming fans and marking one of the earliest times a Spanish language teen group headlined such a massive American venue.
80s insight: The energy around Menudo in the early 80s was electric. Their success at Madison Square Garden showed that youth driven Latin pop had a powerful voice in the decade’s musical landscape.
