{{Short description|US-American rock musician and music director (born 1953)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}} {{BLP sources|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians --> | 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, and musical director who is mostly known for his work with Billy Joel. In addition to playing soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone, Rivera's musical abilities include 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. thumb|right|Rivera live with Billy Joel in 2008 In 2014, Rivera released his first solo album, ''Common Bond'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/Mark-Rivera-Common-Bond/release/10089857 |title=Mark Rivera – Common Bond |date=2014 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> which includes appearances by Joel, Starr, Nils Lofgren and Steve Lukather.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The song "Money Money Money" was a finalist for 2014's Coolest Song in the World on Little Steven's ''Underground Garage''.<ref>{{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/the-coolest-songs-in-the-world-2014.html |archive-date=January 17, 2015 |access-date=May 31, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
In February 2023, Rivera released his autobiography, ''Sideman: In Pursuit of the Next Gig''.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He also developed a career in promoting and producing events.
==See also== *Billy Joel Band
==References== {{reflist}}
==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/music/rock/mark-rivera-billboard-lounge-barclays-center-7647885/ |title=Mark Rivera Brings the '60s and the '70s to the Billboard Lounge at Barclays Center |magazine=Billboard |date=January 8, 2017}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rivera, Mark}} 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 Category:Guitarists from New York (state) Category:American musicians of Puerto Rican descent Category:20th-century American guitarists Category:21st-century American saxophonists Category:21st-century American keyboardists Category:20th-century American keyboardists Category:Billy Joel Band members Category:Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band members Category:20th-century American flautists Category:American male flautists Category:21st-century American flautists