Ray Ricky Rivera

How many times have you come across a “rapper” who leads an 8 piece band?  In the world of hip hop it is not common for a rapper to have studied music theory, audio engineering and be fluent in an array of instruments from vocals, piano, guitar to Latin percussion.  Ray Ricky Rivera is a seasoned musician, songwriter and performer. 

 Born and raised in East Los Angeles, Ray has been strumming chords, making beats, and writing songs since he was just a kid.  Rivera got his start in the music business in 1998 as an emcee for the Latin ensemble East LA Sabor Factory. “I was 16 when I started writing songs and jamming with friends,” he says. “I was still in high school when I started touring with East LA Sabor Factory.” An instant hit in the LA underground music scene, the band was nominated by LA Weekly for “Best L.A. Based Latin Band.”  With this group, Rivera managed to place songs he co-wrote in productions for DreamWorks, Lions Gate, Showtime and PBS.  

Rivera’s creativity and love for music eventually propelled him to start the Latin Hip Hop group, Inner City Soul in 2003. ICS was a seven piece band that Rivera fronted as lead vocalist. In 2004, Rivera co-produced a 4 song EP (Makin Change) with the group.  

In 2006, Rivera decided to venture out as a solo artist to develop his own musical identity.  He then created the independent label Triumphant Records and inked a distribution deal with Koch Ent in 2007.  He has now assembled an arsenal of talented musicians as his backing band. He calls this group “The Love Soul Combo.”           

Rivera and his band deliver an explosive high energy show that can entertain any listener of any age.  Backed by a full ensemble that includes Grammy award winning drummer Andy Mendoza (formerly of Ozomatli), this group manages to take hip hop based music and transform it into a Latin frenzy of catchy soulful pop, topped with blaring horns reminiscent of 70’s funk.  Singing songs of love and life experience The Love Soul Combo deliver a polished sound best experienced live on stage.    

Rivera is hard at work producing his follow up to 2007’s Salsa and Cumbia rhythm drenched Neighborhood Fame (Triumphant Records).  His sophomore effort is poetically titled, “Love is not a fight”.  Unlike his debut, this offering will be completely crafted utilizing full live instrumentation including string and horn sections.  Rivera has recruited producer and former Oingo Boingo bassist John Avila to take on co-writer and co-producer duties. The new album is slated for release summer 2012.