Martika

Marta Marrero, known professionally as Martika, was born on May 18, 1969, in the United States. She first gained recognition as an actress, portraying Gloria on the popular television series Kids Incorporated from 1984 to 1986. This role paved the way for her music career, leading to a recording contract with Columbia Records.

In October 1988, Martika released her self-titled debut album, which received critical acclaim and commercial success. The album featured the hit single "Toy Soldiers," which topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and achieved Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. Other successful singles from the album included "More Than You Know," "I Feel the Earth Move," and "Water," contributing to over three million copies sold worldwide.

Her second album, Martika's Kitchen, released in 1991, did not replicate the success of her debut but still produced notable singles like "Love... Thy Will Be Done" and "Martika's Kitchen." The album was certified Gold in Australia and the UK, selling over one million copies globally. However, in 1992, Martika stepped away from the music scene, citing burnout and the pressures of fame.

After a lengthy hiatus, she returned to music in 2000, forming the band Oppera with her husband, Nikki. In 2005, her iconic single "Toy Soldiers" was sampled by Eminem in his track "Like Toy Soldiers," where she was credited as a songwriter. In 2012, Martika released her first solo single in nearly two decades, "Flow With the Go," which was intended to be the lead single from her shelved third album, Mirror Ball.