Richie Rivera

“It’s all about getting a reaction out of people, and the best way to do that is to do the unexpected.”.. – Richie Rivera

Doing the unexpected is exactly the hallmark of Richie Rivera, one of the most exciting drummers in rock today. The energy and showmanship of Tommy Lee (Motley Crue), the cerebral mastery of Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) and the tasteful fluidity of Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band) may sound like unlikely bedfellows, but their combination perfectly describes Richie’s style. “Having those unusual influences allows me to throw flavors of one genre into another, which makes for a far more exciting experience for the audience,” he notes. “In music, the greatest sin is to be boring…and I’m anything but that.”

Formally trained since the age of 11, including at the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles, Richie had racked up an impressive array of session credits, including television series such as "Eek The Cat," "The Mess," and "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures," before he was old enough to drive.

But while he was practically raised in a recording studio it’s in the live environment that Richie is truly at home. A dynamic performer and natural entertainer, Richie’s inherent star quality makes him a standout in front of a live audience. The hallmarks of his live performance are a flurry of spinning sticks and a huge, ear-to-ear smile that is visible all the way to that back row. “That smile is genuine,” he points out, “because to me life is just the space between shows. So each moment on stage is a tremendous release.” His skill and passion caught the attention of West Coast Performer and Music Connection magazines, the latter of which singled out Richie in 2004 as a “tremendous asset" in the live performance setting.

Richie has since toured the country many times over and, along the way, performed with artists such as MAROON 5 frontman ADAM LEVINE, TIA CARERRA (“Wayne’s World”), MADISON PAIGE, BRYAN BELLER (Joe Satriani), and famed film composer NATHAN WANG (Steven Spielberg, Jackie Chan). Other recent performance credits include Locke N'Load, Sydera, O'Mally, Derin Dow, The T.V. Babies. He has also been the house drummer for theatrical productions of Reefer Madness, Amelda, West Side Story, The King & I. He also regularly donates his talents to such charitable causes as Sharon Stone’s RIBBON OF HOPE, HOLLYWOOD CHILDREN’S LITERACY FUND, the HERE’S TO LIFE FOUNDATION and EAST/WEST PLAYERS.

Additionally, Richie is an accomplished songwriter, with songs he wrote for the band MADISON PAIGE receiving airplay throughout Japan, the United Kingdom, Europe, Brazil and in the United States, including in his own backyard on radio giant 95.5 KLOS FM.