Mercurio

Pop act Mercurio originated in Puebla, Mexico, during the mid-'90s. Their debut album appeared in 1995, after which the ensemble rapidly emerged as one of the nation's foremost vocal-and-dance collectives. During 1996 the group opened for Ricky Martin at Guadalajara's Plaza de Toros; shortly afterward they shared a bill with Jeans and Kairo at Mexico City's Auditorio Nacional. "Como Decirle Que la Quiero" served as Mercurio's inaugural hit single and accompanying video. As their audience expanded, the band journeyed first to Colombia and subsequently to the Vatican for an audience with Pope John Paul II. Chicas Chic arrived in 1997, the same year Mercurio earned the Eres' Best Pop Band Award—an honor they reclaimed in 1998 while additionally being named Best Live Act. Es Tiempo de Vivir followed in 1998, succeeded the next year by the compilation Fenómeno. In March 2000 Elias, Rodrigo, Alex, Adrián, and Mike commenced a Central American tour as their album Evolución attained gold certification in Mexico.