Ricky Martin heads to U.S. in 2006

Latin pop sensation Ricky Martin will back his latest album, "Life," with a U.S. tour that launches early next year.

Martin's month-long run through the U.S. kicks off Jan. 15 in El Paso, TX, and, following a string of shows throughout the Lone Star State, focuses on the Southwest and West Coast for the remainder of January, and the East Coast during February; Chicago is the only Midwest stop.

Tickets for some shows are already on sale, though most are scheduled to hit the box office later this month. Details are included in the itinerary shown below.

Released on Oct. 11, "Life" is Martin's first English-language album since 2000's "Sound Loaded," and second since his self-titled 1999 breakthrough set, which spawned the hits "She Bangs" and "Livin' la Vida Loca." "Sound Loaded" didn't enjoy the commercial success of its predecessor, and Martin has since stayed mostly out of the spotlight in the U.S.

"'Life,' the album, came about because I believe that life is not one-dimensional," Martin said in a statement. "After spending time in silence, away from the stage, I had the time to travel and exchange ideas with people from all over the world--Brazil, Thailand, India, Egypt--and from all walks of life. Being influenced by all these cultures in a creative process, I've learned how connected we all are.

"I have been able to focus on simple things that make life powerful," he continued. "In each song on my album, we describe, through lyrics or music, stories that not only represent my personal experiences, but also scenarios that I have witnessed."

Martin co-wrote many of the songs on "Life," according to a press release, and collaborated on the album with a team of songwriters and producers that included Black Eyed Peas' Will.I.Am and songwriting/production team The Matrix.

Guests on the set include Fat Joe & Amerie (on "I Don't Care"), Voltio (on "I Am"), and Daddy Yankee with Black Eyed Peas' Taboo (on "Drop It On Me"). Portions of "Life" were recorded in Miami, Los Angeles, and Cairo.

Martin launched his world tour last month with a Latin American leg that wraps up Dec. 12 in his native Puerto Rico.