Mark Rivera

{{Short description|US-American rock musician and music director (born 1953)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Mark Rivera

| image = MarkRivera-BillyJoelHydeP070723 (15 of 112) (53032753148) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Rivera in 2023

| image_size =

| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|05|24}}

| birth_place = Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

| instrument = {{hlist|Saxophone|vocals|guitar|percussion|keyboards}}

| current_member_of = Billy Joel Band

| past_member_of = Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band

| genre = Rock, pop

| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|singer|musical director}}

}}

Mark Rivera (born May 24, 1953) is an American saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, singer, musical director, and corporate entertainment provider who is mostly known for his work with Billy Joel. In addition to playing soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone, Rivera's musical abilities encompass vocals, guitar, bass, flute, percussion, hammer and chromium steel pipe, and keyboards.

Early life

Mark Rivera was born in Brooklyn, New York, and attended the High School of Performing Arts in Manhattan. His mother is American and his father is a Puerto Rican American.

Career

Rivera's first national exposure came with the band Tycoon in the mid-1970s. From this venture he met the legendary producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange. Lange, as part of an association with Mick Jones and Lou Gramm of Foreigner, introduced Rivera to the "big leagues" of rock music, recording and performing.

Over the years, Rivera has worked with Hall & Oates, Peter Gabriel on his groundbreaking So album (where Rivera played on "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time"), Simon & Garfunkel, John Lennon, Billy Ocean, and Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh.

Rivera has played with Billy Joel and his band since 1982, replacing Richie Cannata.

In 1995, Rivera joined Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, with which he would continue for several tours.

File:MarkRivera1.jpg

In 2014, Rivera released his first solo album, Common Bond,{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/Mark-Rivera-Common-Bond/release/10089857 |title=Mark Rivera – Common Bond |date=2014 |publisher=Discogs}}{{cite web |last=Ragogna |first=Mike |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/californication-music-new_b_5131817 |title=A Conversation with Mark Rivera |work=HuffPost |date=April 11, 2014}} which includes appearances by Joel, Starr, Nils Lofgren and Steve Lukather.{{cite web |url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2014/2/18/mark-rivera-longtime-billy-joel-and-ringo-starr-collaborator.html |title=Mark Rivera, Longtime Billy Joel and Ringo Starr Collaborator, Releases Debut Album on Tuesday |publisher=ABC News Radio |date=February 18, 2014}} The song "Money Money Money" was a finalist for 2014's Coolest Song in the World on Little Steven's Underground Garage.{{cite web |url=http://undergroundgarage.com/the-coolest-songs-in-the-world-2014.html |title=The Coolest Songs in the World 2014 |work=Underground Garage |date=January 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150117090530/http://undergroundgarage.com:80/the-coolest-songs-in-the-world-2014.html |archive-date=January 17, 2015}}{{cite web |last=Mettler |first=Mike |url=https://www.soundandvision.com/content/mark-rivera-his-uncommon-bond-vinyl |title=Mark Rivera on His Uncommon Bond With Vinyl |work=Sound & Vision |date=December 10, 2014}}

In February 2023, Rivera released his autobiography, Sideman: In Pursuit of the Next Gig.{{cite web |last=Klein |first=Tara |title=Ringo Starr: 'I Got Lucky When Mark Joined The Band' |url=https://www.spin.com/2023/04/ringo-starr-i-got-lucky-when-mark-joined-the-band/ |work=Spin |date=April 12, 2023 |access-date=May 1, 2023}}

Musical director

Rivera's work as a musical director has gained recognition from his association with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Billy Joel and Elton John. In 2007, he was musical director for "Dear Mr. Fantasy: A Celebration for Jim Capaldi" featuring Steve Winwood, Joe Walsh, Paul Weller, Pete Townshend and Jon Lord.{{Cite web |last=Ayers |first=Chris |url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/various_artists-dear_mr_fantasy_celebration_for_jim |title=Dear Mr. Fantasy: A Celebration for Jim Capaldi |work=Exclaim! |date=November 22, 2007}} He also developed a career in promoting and producing events.

References

External links

{{Official website}}
{{IMDb name|1079969}}
{{cite web |last=Barry |first=John |url=https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/entertainment/2017/01/24/mark-rivera-billy-joel-ringo-starr-woodstock-traffic/96856974/ |title=Mark Rivera: From Billy Joel and Ringo Starr to Woodstock for a Traffic jam |work=Poughkeepsie Journal |date=January 24, 2017}}
{{cite web |last=Reavy |first=Pat |url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865693351/Meet-Mark-Rivera-Billy-Joels-sax-man-for-the-past-36-years.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201174105/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865693351/Meet-Mark-Rivera-Billy-Joels-sax-man-for-the-past-36-years.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |title=Meet Mark Rivera, Billy Joel's sax man for the past 36 years |work=Deseret News |date=November 27, 2017}}
{{cite web |last=Rodman |first=Sarah |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2014/06/21/five-mark-rivera-tunes-you-probably-know-well/0ohN936uGpXtBQvaMBF4CJ/story.html |title=Five Mark Rivera tunes you probably know well |work=Boston Globe |date=June 21, 2014}}
{{cite magazine |last=Warner |first=Denise |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7647885/mark-rivera-billboard-lounge-barclays-center |title=Mark Rivera Brings the '60s and the '70s to the Billboard Lounge at Barclays Center |magazine=Billboard |date=January 8, 2017}}

Category:Living people

Category:Musicians from Brooklyn

Category:Singers from New York (state)

Category:American male saxophonists

Category:American rock saxophonists

Category:1953 births

Category:American rock percussionists

Category:American rock keyboardists

Category:American rock guitarists

Category:American male guitarists

Category:American multi-instrumentalists

Category:American male singers