Biographical notes

Featured Album[s]:

Esto Si es lo mio

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Caras Lindas (1.9MB .aiff) La Perla (1.5MB .aiff)

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Biographical notes:
Also known as "El Conero Mayor", Rivera was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He learned the bomba and the plena, the sounds of Puerto Rico at an early age. In 1954 he recorded his first hit with his long time friend, Rafael Cortijo. He was very popular in the 1950s in the Carribean . In 1960 the two traveled to New York and took Manhattan by storm.

Rivera's music is a mix of traditional folk Puerto Rico bomba and plena and the Cuban son vocal singing style. He is looked upon as a legend from another era and has helped many young musicians get their start in the New York salsa scene.