Troy Kurtis
Encyclopedia
Troy Kurtis is an actor
and singer
who was the first non-Latin American to become a member of the well known group Menudo
, during their MDO
era. He became known as Troy Tuminelli as a member of MDO.
Troy never demonstrated interest in joining the show business world, until he was 18 singing at bars. He spent a great amount of time trying to find him personally.
Kurtis was finally discovered by Desmond Child, a well known producer with connections to Edgardo Diaz and who is the manager of fellow former Menudos Ricky Martin and Robby Rosa. Child contacted Diaz immediately; Diaz signed Kurtis to a contract in 2000, and Kurtis then changed his artistic last name to "Tuminelli".
As "Troy Tuminelli", Troy would record one CD with MDO, 2001's "Subir Al Cielo" ("Climbing to Heaven"), which scored one major hit: "Te Quise Olvidar" spent five weeks as number one on Billboard's Latin charts.
Because of management issues Troy was replaced later in 2001 by Caleb Aviles, a Puerto Rican born in Wisconsin. Kurtis then launched a solo career. Although he has not launched a CD of his own, Troy dreams of touring again.
“Many believed Troy was going to last in the group, but when it did not last it was not much of a shock to the fans” He did not know Spanish well and at an Orlando concert his dance move were less than perfect.” – Fan Since 2000
In 2003, Kurtis was signed to play "Nico Castaneda" in the American soap opera, "Guiding Light". On August 24 of that year, Kurtis made his television acting debut, as Castaneda, in the aforementioned show. Troy's part was cancelled due to personal complications with management and casting agency contracts, after Guiding Light's May 13, 2004 episode.
In October 2004, he played the lead role in the New York City showcase of the musical Job and the Snake in a local church.
Kurtis continues on searching for new opportunities as an actor and singer. Even though his rise to fame was short lived maybe with hope and one day his dream just might come true. In the meantime life as a spectator can be frustrating.
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
and singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
who was the first non-Latin American to become a member of the well known group Menudo
Menudo (band)
Menudo was a Puerto Rican boy band that was formed in the 1970s by producer Edgardo Díaz, releasing their first album in 1977. The band achieved much success, especially during the 1980s, becoming the most popular Latin American teen musical group of the era....
, during their MDO
MDO (band)
MDO is a Latin American pop/rock band, spun off in 1997 from the Puerto Rican boy band once known as Menudo.-Band history:In the mid-1990s, Edgardo Diaz, Menudo's creator and director, sold the rights for the trademarked name Menudo to a Panamanian company...
era. He became known as Troy Tuminelli as a member of MDO.
Troy never demonstrated interest in joining the show business world, until he was 18 singing at bars. He spent a great amount of time trying to find him personally.
Kurtis was finally discovered by Desmond Child, a well known producer with connections to Edgardo Diaz and who is the manager of fellow former Menudos Ricky Martin and Robby Rosa. Child contacted Diaz immediately; Diaz signed Kurtis to a contract in 2000, and Kurtis then changed his artistic last name to "Tuminelli".
As "Troy Tuminelli", Troy would record one CD with MDO, 2001's "Subir Al Cielo" ("Climbing to Heaven"), which scored one major hit: "Te Quise Olvidar" spent five weeks as number one on Billboard's Latin charts.
Because of management issues Troy was replaced later in 2001 by Caleb Aviles, a Puerto Rican born in Wisconsin. Kurtis then launched a solo career. Although he has not launched a CD of his own, Troy dreams of touring again.
“Many believed Troy was going to last in the group, but when it did not last it was not much of a shock to the fans” He did not know Spanish well and at an Orlando concert his dance move were less than perfect.” – Fan Since 2000
In 2003, Kurtis was signed to play "Nico Castaneda" in the American soap opera, "Guiding Light". On August 24 of that year, Kurtis made his television acting debut, as Castaneda, in the aforementioned show. Troy's part was cancelled due to personal complications with management and casting agency contracts, after Guiding Light's May 13, 2004 episode.
In October 2004, he played the lead role in the New York City showcase of the musical Job and the Snake in a local church.
Kurtis continues on searching for new opportunities as an actor and singer. Even though his rise to fame was short lived maybe with hope and one day his dream just might come true. In the meantime life as a spectator can be frustrating.