Abel Talamantez

Abel Talamántez Mendoza (born October 16, 1978 in Pecos, Texas), is a Mexican American singer. He is currently a vocalist for the band Cruz Martínez Y Los Super Reyes. He is also a former member of the bands Menudo,MDO, and A.B. Quintanilla Y Los Kumbia Kings. Talamántez was the second member of Mexican origin in Menudo.

Biography

Born in Pecos, Texas, to Mexican parents. Talamántez grew up playing basketball with his brother (who would join La Sombra), with Cruz Martínez, owner and founder of international groups Kumbia Kings and Los Super Reyes, and three sisters (who would form Esmi Talamántez Y Viento Loco). He became a member of the famous Puerto Rican music group, Menudo, in 1992, after several group members had left the group in the middle of a scandal that had threatened to break up the band. Edgardo Díaz held auditions and Talamántez, together with Alexis Grullón, among others, were chosen as the new members of Menudo. In Menudo, Abel got to share the stage with the only member of the group who stayed through the scandal, Adrián Olivares, who was the first non-Puerto Rican member of Menudo. For a short period, Talamántez moved to Puerto Rico with the rest of the band.