# Mark Rivera > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mark_Rivera > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mark_Rivera.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Rivera > Source revision: 1348251802 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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 | 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](/source/Brooklyn), New York, U.S. | instrument = {{hlist|Saxophone|vocals|guitar|percussion|keyboards}} | current_member_of = [Billy Joel Band](/source/Billy_Joel_Band) | past_member_of = [Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band](/source/Ringo_Starr_%26_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](/source/Billy_Joel). In addition to playing [soprano](/source/soprano), [alto](/source/alto), [tenor](/source/tenor), and [baritone](/source/baritone) [saxophone](/source/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](/source/Brooklyn), New York, and attended the [High School of Performing Arts](/source/High_School_of_Performing_Arts) in [Manhattan](/source/Manhattan). His mother is American and his father is a Puerto Rican American. ==Career== Rivera's first national exposure came with the band [Tycoon](/source/Tycoon_(band)) in the mid-1970s. From this venture he met the legendary producer [Robert John "Mutt" Lange](/source/Robert_John_%22Mutt%22_Lange). Lange, as part of an association with [Mick Jones](/source/Mick_Jones_(Foreigner)) and [Lou Gramm](/source/Lou_Gramm) of [Foreigner](/source/Foreigner_(band)), introduced Rivera to the "big leagues" of rock music, recording and performing. Over the years, Rivera has worked with [Hall & Oates](/source/Hall_%26_Oates), [Peter Gabriel](/source/Peter_Gabriel) on his groundbreaking ''[So](/source/So_(album))'' album (where Rivera played on "[Sledgehammer](/source/Sledgehammer_(Peter_Gabriel_song))" and "[Big Time](/source/Big_Time_(Peter_Gabriel_song))"), [Simon & Garfunkel](/source/Simon_%26_Garfunkel), [John Lennon](/source/John_Lennon), [Billy Ocean](/source/Billy_Ocean), and [Eagles](/source/Eagles_(band)) guitarist [Joe Walsh](/source/Joe_Walsh). Rivera has played with [Billy Joel](/source/Billy_Joel) and [his band](/source/Billy_Joel_Band) since 1982, replacing [Richie Cannata](/source/Richie_Cannata). In 1995, Rivera joined [Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band](/source/Ringo_Starr_%26_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'',{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/Mark-Rivera-Common-Bond/release/10089857 |title=Mark Rivera – Common Bond |date=2014 |publisher=[Discogs](/source/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](/source/Nils_Lofgren) and [Steve Lukather](/source/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](/source/Little_Steven)'s ''[Underground Garage](/source/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/the-coolest-songs-in-the-world-2014.html |archive-date=January 17, 2015 |access-date=May 31, 2019 |url-status=dead }}{{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](/source/Sound_%26_Vision_(magazine)) |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](/source/Spin_(magazine)) |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](/source/Ringo_Starr_%26_His_All-Starr_Band), Billy Joel, and [Elton John](/source/Elton_John). In 2007, he was musical director for "Dear Mr. Fantasy: A Celebration for [Jim Capaldi](/source/Jim_Capaldi)" featuring [Steve Winwood](/source/Steve_Winwood), Joe Walsh, [Paul Weller](/source/Paul_Weller), [Pete Townshend](/source/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. ==See also== *[Billy Joel Band](/source/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}} {{Foreigner}} {{Authority control}} {{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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mark Rivera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Rivera) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Rivera?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.