Ricky Martin named king of Puerto Rican parade

Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin performs during the International Song Festival in Vina del Mar, Chile, in this Monday, Feb, 26, 2007, file photo. Ricky Martin, Puerto Rico's all-time top-selling artist, added a new honor to go with his multiple Grammy awards on Thursday when he was named king of the 50th annual National Puerto Rican Parade in New York. (AP Photo/Santiago Llanquin)

NEW YORK - Ricky Martin, Puerto Rico's all-time top-selling artist, added a new honor to go with his multiple Grammy awards on Thursday - he was named king of the 50th annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York. Parade organizers said the honor recognizes Martin's musical success and his efforts to fight the exploitation of children worldwide.
"He has always expressed his pride as a Puerto Rican and a Latino," parade committee president Madelyn Lugo said in a news release. "He has served as one of our greatest ambassadors, and we can't think of a better role model to honor as the King of the Parade."

Martin, named Person of the Year in 2006 by the Latin Recording Academy, accepted with gusto.

"I am honored and very humbly accept the invitation to participate in the 50th anniversary of the national Puerto Rican parade," he said.

Lugo said that while the parade has awarded other titles before such as grand marshal and padrino, or godfather, this year's parade, scheduled for June 10, is the first to have a king.