Johnny Lozada | |
|---|---|
| Born | Johnny Lozada Correa (1967-12-21)December 21, 1967 (age 58) |
| Occupations | TV host, actor, singer (1980—1990,1998—2015) |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Spouse | Sandy Meléndez |
Johnny Lozada Correa (born December 21, 1967) is aPuerto Rican singer, actor, host, and television personality.
Lozada was a member of Puerto Ricanboy bandMenudo during its golden years, joining the group in 1980 and staying until early 1984.[1] After leaving Menudo, he formed the singing group Proyecto M withRene Farrait andXavier Serbiá, who were, like him, Menudo alumni. After the dissolving ofProyecto M, Lozada took on acting participating in several Latintelenovelas. In 1998, Lozada and other former members of Menudo received an invitation from Ray Reyes and formedEl Reencuentro, to reminisce the years they had spent with Menudo. The concerts proved to be a success, and the tours extended for several years.[2][3][4]
In 2010, Lozada joinedSal y Pimienta, a Latingossip show, as a commentator. After two years, he left the show to host¡Despierta América!.[5]
Johnny Lozada Correa was born inCaguas,Puerto Rico, at the San Rafael Clinic. He is the only son of Ramón Lozada and Aracelis "Celita" Correa.[3][6][7]
Lozada joined Menudo at the end of 1979, replacing original memberCarlos Meléndez. Lozada spent the next four years with the group. During that time, he participated in albums likeMás, Mucho Más (1980),Fuego (1981),Quiero Ser (1981),Por Amor (1982), andA Todo Rock (1983), among others. He also starred in thetelenovelasQuiero Ser andEs por Amor, both based on the group. Finally, Lozada acted in the filmsMenudo: La Película andUna Aventura Llamada Menudo.
During this time, the group enjoyed success in all of America. According to creator,Edgardo Díaz, this installment of the group "opened a lot of doors in Latin America, and was very strong". Among their achievements are four sold-out concerts at theMadison Square Garden in 1983, and record-breaking concerts inBrazil with an audience of 200,000 inSão Paulo and 100,000 inRio de Janeiro andBelo Horizonte.[8]
Lozada was considered the most emotional of the group,[6] and his hits with the group included the classic "Clara", "Mi Banda Toca Rock", "Lady" and "Señora Mia".
In 1984, Lozada turned 16 and left Menudo, as was usual among its members. He was replaced byRobi Rosa. A farewell concert was held at theRadio City Music Hall inNew York City.[9]
Lozada was signed byRCA and recorded two solo albums:Johnny andInvítame.[3] This last album was nominated forBest Latin Pop Album at the27th Grammy Awards, alongsideJosé Feliciano,Plácido Domingo,José José,María Conchita Alonso, andMenudo themselves.
In 1986, Lozada participated in a campaign to encourage youthabstinence fromsex, in which he recorded two duets ("Cuando Estemos Juntos" and "Détente") withTatiana and music videos for them. This received much publicity in Latin America and even in the United States, where it was the subject of a report byJohn Stossel on20/20.
That year also, Lozada participated alongside thePuerto Rico national basketball team (joining such stars asJose Ortiz,Ruben Rodriguez,Federico Fico Lopez andAngelo Cruz among others) as well asRafael Jose,Magali Carrasquillo,Kobbo Santarrosa, Jaime Bello, and others in a song named "Yo Voy a Mi", for which a CD and musical video were produced, in order to boost the basketball team's games' attendance numbers as it headed to the 1987 Pre-Olympic tournament in Uruguay and, later on, to the 1988 Olympic Games in South Korea.[10]
In 1987, Lozada joined former Menudo alumniRene Farrait andXavier Serbiá in the singing group Proyecto M (Lozada and Farrait were later joined at Proyecto M by Lozada's former bandmate at Menudo,Ray Reyes). The group enjoyed some success inLatin America, and was invited to participate in thetelenovelaAlba Marina, alongside Venezuelan singerKarina. The group was together for 8 years and recorded four albums, during which Serbiá left and was replaced byRay Reyes.[11]
After leaving Proyecto M, Lozada began acting participating intelenovelas likeSeñora Tentación andEscándalo. In 2001, he playedboxer Johnny Trinidad in theAmigas y rivalestelenovela withTelevisa. The next year, he starred inCómplices al Rescate asveterinarian Sebastián. He also acted in the playSolo para Mujeres, and in the third season ofBig Brother VIP.[2]
In 1998, Lozada and former Menudo membersRene Farrait,Miguel Cancel,Ray Reyes,Charlie Masso andRicky Meléndez got together in Puerto Rico for a concert namedEl Reencuentro, with dedication to the convalescing ex-MenudoFernando Sallaberry, Menudo's original lead singer, who was unable to join the reunion due to health issues. The concert featured new renditions of their hits from Menudo. El Reencuentro was so successful that they needed to add two more concerts that weekend and later, they went on tour all overLatin America and the United States. The group toured frequently[12] until 2015, when they broke up.
Lozada continued to tour with El Reencuentro until 2015, as well as acting in theater. He has worked in the comedyAl Aire and the playManos Quietas.[9] In 2012, he joined the cast ofConfesiones del Pene.[13]
In 2010, Lozada joinedSal y Pimienta, a Latingossip show, as commentator. After two years, he left the show to host¡Despierta América!.[5] In December 2016, Lozada announced that he would be leaving¡Despierta América!.[14] In February 2017, he joined the cast of the children's reality/talent showPequeños Gigantes USA as a celebrity captain.[15] The group that Lozada coached, "Peque Flow", won the competition.[16] On July 30, 2018, Lozada joined the Puerto Rican gossip show Lo Se Todo, replacing long time host Pedro Juan Figueroa.[17] Lozada left "Lo Se Todo" in January 2019.
As of October 30, 2023, Lozada is a co-host of the morning talk/variety showEn La Mañana onWLII-DT (TeleOnce).
On November 24, 2013, Lozada won the fourth season ofUnivision's dance competitionMira Quien Baila.[18] The judge panel for this season was composed byHoracio Villalobos,Bianca Marroquin andNinel Conde. Lozada began his participation in the contest by winning the first gala, earning 66% of the public vote.[19] The following week he defeated El Dasa in a duel, receiving 76%.[20] On September 29, 2013, Lozada was forced to dance twice, after a regional Mexican routine failed to convince the judges. He avoided the elimination round by advancing with a tango in his second routine. Throughout the season he was disfavored by the all-Mexican jury, even being involved in controversy when his masculinity was questioned by Conde following the regional Mexican routine.[21][22] Lozada remained diplomatic to the attack, but his wife did respond.[23][24] The following week he danced toLa Isla Bonita, remaining in the winner's circle.[25] The fifth date did not feature eliminations from the previous gala, but Lozada avoided being nominated to the elimination round with acha-cha-cha.[26] This was followed by another direct classification with apasodoble.[27]
At the seventh gala, Lozada fell into the elimination round for the first time, following an urban routine.[28] In the eight date, he performed adisco routine and survived the jury's nomination to the elimination round by bestingManny Manuel with 62% of the vote.[29][30] During the voting process, his nomination became atrending topic in several countries.[31] At the ninth gala, Lozada danced aquickstep, being sent into a single-elimination qualificatory to the finals.[32] At the semifinals, he danced amerengue and advanced by eliminatingMane de la Parra, who only gathered 35% despite receiving the public endorsement of Conde.[33][34] Despite publicly supporting his opponent, Conde did not congratulate Lozada or react following his elimination.[35] He suffered a slight muscle torn in his right arm during this gala, but was treated with injections and decided to continue.[36] With two tangos in the finals, Lozada defeatedMarjorie de Sousa andPedro Moreno by gathering 53% of the total vote.[37] He donated the $50,000 prize toHabitat for Humanity's Puerto Rico chapter.[38]
Four years later, Lozada returned to the show as one of the judges for season five along withRoselyn Sanchez andJavier Castillo.
Lozada is married to Sandy Meléndez. They have three children together: Natalia, Thalía, and Jahn Gabriel.[39][40] Lozada also has an adopted son, Felipe.
Lozada is played byLeonel Otero in the 2020 Amazon Prime Video series based on Menudo, "Subete A Mi Moto".[41]
