Jerry Rivera

Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Jerry Rivera started performing onstage as a child alongside his parents in Los Barones Trio, a group formed by his guitarist/singer father. ∙ He signed a record deal at age 14 and became known as El Bebé de la Salsa after the release of his debut LP, 1989’s Empezando a Vivir. ∙ Cuenta Conmigo, his third LP, was a No. 1 hit in Latin America for three months, won two trophies at 1993’s Lo Nuestro Awards, and is one of the best-selling salsa albums ever. ∙ Rivera helped popularize salsa among young people with 1993’s Cara de Niño, which earned him his first Top 10 hit, “Qué Hay de Malo,” and picked up a Grammy nomination. ∙ The telegenic artist landed a role in the 1994 film I Like It Like That, appeared in various Puerto Rican TV specials, and played himself in the telenovela Mi Destino Eres Tú in 2005. ∙ Wyclef Jean sampled the trumpet intro from Rivera’s 1992 hit “Amores Como el Nuestro” for 2006’s “Hips Don’t Lie,” which was a global smash for Shakira.