Johnny Lozada

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Lozada and the second or maternal family name is Correa.
Johnny Lozada
Born Johnny Lozada Correa
December 21, 1967
Caguas, Puerto Rico
Occupation TV host, actor, singer
Years active 1980-Present
Spouse(s) Sandy Meléndez

Johnny Lozada Correa (born December 21, 1967 in Caguas, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican singer, actor, host, and television personality. He currently hosts Univision's breakfast television show ¡Despierta América!.

Lozada was a member of Puerto Rican boy band Menudo during its golden years, joining the group in 1980 until early 1984.[1] After leaving Menudo, he formed Proyecto M with Rene Farrait and Xavier Serbiá, who were Menudo alumni as well. After the dissolving of Proyecto M, Lozada took on acting participating in several Latin telenovelas. In 1998, Lozada and other former members of Menudo formed El 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 joined Sal y Pimienta, a Latin gossip show, as a commentator. After two years, he left the show to host ¡Despierta América!.[5]

Family and early life

Johnny Lozada Correa was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico at the San Rafael Clinic. He is the only son of Ramón Lozada and Aracelis "Celita" Correa.[3][6][7]

Recording and acting career

Menudo: 1979–1984

Main article: Menudo (band)

Lozada joined Menudo at the end of 1979, replacing original member Carlos Meléndez. Lozada spent the next four years with the group. During that time, he participated in albums like Más, Mucho Más (1980), Fuego (1981), Quiero Ser (1981), Por Amor (1982), and A Todo Rock (1983), among others. He also starred in the telenovelas Quiero Ser and Es por Amor, both based on the group. Finally, Lozada acted in the films Menudo: La Película and Una 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 the Madison Square Garden in 1983, and record-breaking concerts in Brazil with an audience of 200,000 in Sao Paulo and 100,000 in Rio de Janeiro and Belo 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", and "Señora Mia".

Solo career and Proyecto M

In 1984, Lozada turned 16 and left Menudo, as was usual among its members. He was replaced by Robi Rosa. A farewell concert was held at the Radio City Music Hall in New York.[9]

Lozada was signed by RCA and recorded two solo albums: Johnny and Invítame.[3] This last album was nominated for Best Latin Pop Album at the 27th Grammy Awards, alongside José Feliciano, Plácido Domingo, José José, María Conchita Alonso, and Menudo themselves.

In 1986, Lozada participated in a campaign to encourage youth abstinence from sex, in which he recorded two duets ("Cuando Estemos Juntos" and "Détente") with Tatiana 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 by John Stossel on 20/20.

In 1987, Lozada joined former Menudo alumni Rene Farrait and Xavier Serbiá in the group Proyecto M. The group enjoyed some success in Latin America and was invited to participate in the telenovela Alba Marina, alongside Venezuelan singer Karina. The group was together for 8 years and recorded four albums, during which Serbiá left and was replaced by Ray Reyes.[10]

Acting career and El Reencuentro

After leaving Proyecto M, Lozada began acting participating in telenovelas like Señora Tentación and Escándalo. In 2001, he played boxer Johnny Trinidad in the Amigas y rivales telenovela with Televisa. The next year, he starred in Cómplices al Rescate as veterinarian Sebastián. He also acted in the play Solo para Mujeres, and in the third season of Big Brother VIP.[2]

In 1998, he and former Menudo's Farrait, Miguel Cancel, Ray Reyes, Charlie Masso and Ricky Meléndez got together in Puerto Rico for a concert named El Reencuentro. 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 over Latin America and the United States. The group still tours frequently.[11]

Television host

Lozada has continued to tour with El Reencuentro, as well as acting in theater. He has worked in the comedy Al Aire and the play Manos Quietas.[9] In 2012, he joined the cast of Confesiones del Pene.[12]

In 2010, Lozada joined Sal y Pimienta, a Latin gossip show, as commentator. After two years, he left the show to host ¡Despierta América!.[5]

Mira Quien Baila (2013)

On November 24, 2013, Lozada won the fourth season of Univision's dance competition Mira Quien Baila.[13] The judge panel for this season was compossed by Horacio Villalobos, Bianca Marroquin and Ninel Conde. Lozada began his participation in the contest by winning the first gala, earning 66% of the public vote.[14] The following week he defeated El Dasa in a duel, receiving 76%.[15] 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.[16][17] Lozada remained diplomatic to the attack, but his wife did respond.[18][19] The following week he danced to La Isla Bonita, remaining in the winner's circle.[20] The fifth date did not feature eliminations from the previous gala, but Lozada avoided being nominated to the elimination round with a cha-cha-cha.[21] This was followed by another direct classification with a pasodoble.[22]

At the seventh gala, Lozada fell into the elimination round for the first time, following an urban routine.[23] In the eight date, he performed a disco routine and survived the jury's nomination to the elimination round by besting Manny Manuel with 62% of the vote.[24][25] During the voting process, his nomination became a trending topic in several countries.[26] At the ninth gala, Lozada danced a quickstep, being sent into a single-elimination qualificatory to the finals.[27] At the semifinals, he danced a merengue and advanced by eliminating Mane de la Parra, who only gathered 35% despite receiving the public endorsement of Conde.[28][29] Despite publicly supporting his opponent, Conde did not congratulate Lozada or react following his elimination.[30] He suffered a slight muscle torn in his right arm during this gala, but was treated with injections and decided to continue.[31] With two tangos in the finals, Lozada defeated Marjorie de Sousa and Pedro Moreno by gathering 53% of the total vote.[32] He donated the $50,000 prize to Habitat for Humanity's Puerto Rico chapter.[33]

Personal life

Lozada is married to Sandy Meléndez. They have three children together: Natalia, Thalía, and Jahn Gabriel.[34][35] Lozada also has an adopted son, Felipe.

Actor

References

See also