25. GERARDO
Back in 1990, Hip Hop had Spanish fever — and it was transmitted by Gerardo’s mega-hit song, “Rico Suave.” Station after station played Ecuadorian rapper’s song and made Gerardo a sex symbol and household name.
His album, Mo’ Ritmo climbed up the Billboard charts and peaked at the 7th spot. But eventually, people chalked him up to being a one-hit-wonder. But he wasn’t. He could smell a hit from anywhere … he just would not be performing it. In 1999, he was hired as an A&R executive at Interscope Records singing international sensation Enrique Iglesias and later rapper Bubba Sparxxx.
A married man with three children, now he has devoted his life to the gospel. His first assignment was to pastor the Praise Chapel in Kansas City and currently he pastors the House of Grace church in Ashland, Kentucky.