Sandy Rivera is an American

house music House is a music genre characterized by a repetitive Four on the floor (music), four-on-the-floor beat and a typical tempo of 120 beats per minute. It was created by Disc jockey, DJs and music producers from Chicago metropolitan area, Chicago' ...

DJ,

record producer A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure.Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...

and label owner. Born in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

, he is now based in

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

Biography

Rivera, born January 18th 1971 and started his career at age 13 as a DJ in his native

Spanish Harlem East Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem or and historically known as Italian Harlem, is a neighborhood of Upper Manhattan, New York City, roughly encompassing the area north of the Upper East Side and bounded by 96th Street to the south, Fif ...

. He began producing

in 1992, specializing in a more soulful sound. He has worked under a variety of pseudonyms, including Kings of Tomorrow, Soul Vision and Mysterious People, either alone or with partners

Jose Burgos Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. The name was popular during the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods. * Jose ben Abin * Jose ben Akabya *Jose the Galile ...

HAZE Haze is traditionally an atmospheric phenomenon in which dust, smoke, and other dry particulates suspended in air obscure visibility and the clarity of the sky. The World Meteorological Organization manual of codes includes a classification ...

and Jay 'Sinister' Sealee (Rivera parted ways with Sealee in 2002). He is the owner of labels BlackWiz (founded 1993) and Deep Vision Records (founded 1995). Rivera's best known track is "

Finally Finally may refer to: Albums * ''Finally'' (Namie Amuro album) (2017) * ''Finally'' (Blackstreet album) or its title song * ''Finally'' (Sean Ensign album) or its title song "It's My Life (Finally)" * ''Finally'' (Layzie Bone & A.K. album) ...

", released in 2000 as Kings of Tomorrow on Distance Records, with vocals by

Julie McKnight Julie may refer to: * Julie (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the name Film and television * ''Julie'' (1956 film), an American film noir starring Doris Day * ''Julie'' (1975 film), a Hindi film by K. S. Sethumadhava ...

, which peaked at number 24 in the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

and at number 17 on the ''Billboard'' dance chart, and appeared in a large number of compilations from labels such as

Defected Records In politics, a defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one state in exchange for allegiance to another, changing sides in a way which is considered illegitimate by the first state. More broadly, defection involves abandoning a person, ca ...

Ministry of Sound Ministry of Sound or Ministry of Sound Group is a multimedia entertainment business based in London with a nightclub, shared workspace and private members' club, worldwide events operation, music publishing business and fitness studio. James ...

Hed Kandi Hedkandi is an English record label, events and music brand owned by Ministry of Sound. Its back catalogue includes both artist albums and dance music compilations. History A record Label founded in 1999 at Jazz FM Radio Station's Enterprise ...

, and

Warner Music Warner Music Group Corp. ( d.b.a. Warner Music Group, commonly abbreviated as WMG) is an American multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It is one of the " big three" recording companies and t ...

. The track is included in K.O.T.'s first album ''It's in the Lifestyle''. The same album also yielded the track "Young Hearts". The vocal version of "Finally" was also used as a part of a remixed single by the British act Layo & Bushwacka for their 2003 single " Love Story (vs. Finally)". The second K.O.T. album was released in 2005, titled ''Trouble''. Rivera claims this is his first album produced without recourse to samples, and marks the official separation between this and other aliases: Kings of Tomorrow is used for more radio-friendly tracks, while his real name will be used for club-friendly tracks. As a producer and remixer, Sandy Rivera has worked for a variety of other artists, including veteran jazz musician

Terry Callier Terrence Orlando "Terry" Callier (May 24, 1945 – October 27, 2012) was an American soul music, soul, Folk music, folk and jazz guitarist and singer-songwriter. Life and career Callier was born in the North Side of Chicago, Illinois, and was r ...

, Gisele Jackson,

Bini & Martini Bini & Martini were a duo composed of house music producers and DJs Gianni Bini and Paolo Martini (both born 28 November 1974), from Italy. They are known under a variety of pseudonyms, including House of Glass, Eclipse, The Goodfellas and The Gro ...

, Michelle Weeks,

Ladysmith Black Mambazo Ladysmith Black Mambazo are a South African male choral group singing in the local vocal styles of ''isicathamiya'' and '' mbube''. They became known internationally after singing with Paul Simon on his 1986 album ''Graceland'', and have won m ...

and Walter L. Robinson.

Discography

Albums

*1998 ''The Beginning'', as Kings of Tomorrow (not a K.O.T. album, includes various tracks produced or remixed by Rivera; the CD version is mixed) *2000 ''The Calling'', as Sandy Rivera & Jose Burgos *2000 ''It's in the Lifestyle'', as Kings of Tomorrow *2000 ''It's in the Lifestyle - Limited Edition'', as Kings of Tomorrow *2001 ''Kings of Tomorrow Sessions - Mixed by Sandy Rivera'' *2002 ''It's in the Lifestyle - The Remixes'', as Kings of Tomorrow *2005 ''Trouble'', as Kings of Tomorrow

Singles

;Sandy Rivera *1996 ''The King Size EP'' *1997 "Come On", with Jon Cutler and Mike Delgado *1997 "Expansions '97/Head Hunters" *1998 "Come Into My Room", with Littleton Brown *2001 "Class Is in Session" *2001 "Forever", with John "DNR" Alvarez and Shawnee Taylor *2002 "Changes", with

*2002 "I Can't Stop", with Littleton Brown *2005 "Hope", with Elzi Hall *2005 "Just Won't Do", with Robert Owens *2007 "Freak", with

*2009 "Deeper", with

*2009 "Whatever", with Andy Daniell *2017 "Try a Little Tenderness" ;Sandy Rivera & Jose Burgos All are collaborations with

. *1997 "The Path" *1999 ''Expanded EP'' *2000 "12th Street Soul" *2000 "Keep It Coming" *2000 "I Wanna Dance with You", with Karen Workman *2000 "No Smoke" *2001 "Leaving Me" *2001 ''La Cultura EP'' ;Kings of Tomorrow/K.O.T. *1993 ''D'Menace EP'', with John "DNR" Alvarez *1993 ''Showcase EP'', with George Rivera *1993 "Go Black Scatt", with George Rivera *1994 "Abstract Collage" *1994 ''Black Sinister Science EP'', with Jay 'Sinister' Sealee and Stacey Alexander *1995 "I'm So Grateful", with Densaid *1996 "10 Minute High", with Jay 'Sinister' Sealee and Michelle Weeks *1996 "Fade II Black", with Jay 'Sinister' Sealee *1996 "Open Your Mind/K.O.T. Anthem", with Jay 'Sinister' Sealee *1997 "Set My Spirit Free", with

Dawn Tallman Dawn Tallman is an American soul, R&B and gospel singer. Biography She is marketed as "The Queen of Gospel Energy" by her record company. She was born and raised in Danbury, Connecticut, and started singing in church and later on was featured in ...

*1997 "Ancestors", with Jay 'Sinister' Sealee *1997 ''Witness Protection EP'' *1997 "The Session" *1997 "Organic Warfare", with Jay 'Sinister' Sealee *1998 "I Want You (For Myself)", with Jay 'Sinister' Sealee and

*1998 "Let It Go", with Dawn Tallman *1998 ''The Blackwiz EP'' *1998 ''The K.O.T. Invasion EP'', with Jay 'Sinister' Sealee *1999 "My Love Is Real", with Jay 'Sinister' Sealee *2000 ''Going Back to Blackwiz EP'', with Jose Burgos and Jay 'Sinister' Sealee *2000 "In the Night", with Littleton Brown *2000 "Finally", with Jay 'Sinister' Sealee and Julie McKnight *2000 "Tear It Up", with Jay 'Sinister' Sealee and Julie McKnight *2001 "Class Is in Session" *2002 "Young Hearts", with Treasa Fennie *2003 "Dreams/Thru", with

and George Rivera *2004 "Dreams", with

*2004 "So Alive" *2005 "Another Day", with Leedia Urtega *2005 "Thru", with

*2005 "6PM", with Nina Lares *2008 "Can't Stop", with Rae *2011 "Take Me Back", with April *2011 "I Need to Love Me", with April *2012 "Show Me", with Elzi Hall *2013 "Fall for You" with April *2016 "Kaoz" *2016 "Closer" with Alex Mills *2016 "Please" with Random Soul *2018 "Faded" with Kandace Springs ;Soul Vision All are collaborations with

. *1998 "Don't Stop", with Littleton Brown *1999 "Low Down", with Jaquito May Perkins *2000 "Don't Hold Back", with Dihann Moore *2000 " Tracey in My Room", as EBTG vs. Soul Vision (official mash-up produced by

Ben Watt Benjamin Brian Thomas Watt (born 6 December 1962) is a British musician, singer, songwriter, author, DJ and radio presenter, best known as one half of the duo Everything but the Girl. Early life Watt was born in Marylebone, London, and grew u ...

) *2001 "You've Been on My Mind", with D'Layna ;Mysterious People : All are collaborations with Jay 'Sinister' Sealee. *1996 "Love Revolution" *1997 ''The Rude Movements EP'' *1998 "Fly Away" ;D'Menace *1997 "Spirit in My Soul" *1997 "Ya-Yahoo!" *1998 "Deep Menace (Spank)" ;Other aliases *1992 "Right Now/Break the Ice", as Awesome Foursome, with George Rivera, Wilson X. Yepez and Víctor "Overdose" Sánchez *1994 "The K.O.T. Theory of Rhythmic Seduction", as Kidz of Tomorrow, with Jose Burgos *1995 "The Blackwiz", as Ancestors, with Treasa Fennie *2000 "Free Call", as Delicious Inc meets Sandy Rivera, with Jamie Lewis and Littleton Brown *2000 "Scream & Shout", as The Committee, with Jose Burgos, Jay 'Sinister' Sealee and Kim Armstrong *2001 "Life", as Auréi *2001 "Let the Reign Begin", as Organized Noize, with John "DNR" Alvarez *2001 "I am the Drum", as Organized Noize, with Chris "Ludikris" Conway *2002 ''Keep Flowing EP'', as Sanjose, with Jose Burgos *2003 "Moodbangers", as Moodbangers *2004 "Midnight Express", as Moodbangers, with John Alvarez

(Co-)productions for other artists

*1993 Trique-Dik-Slik - "Euphoria (Mary Jane Too)", with Jay 'Sinister' Sealée and

Eric Priest Eric Ronald Priest (born 7 November 1943) is Emeritus Professor at St Andrews University, where he previously held the Gregory Chair of Mathematics and a Bishop Wardlaw Professorship. Career and research Priest is a recognised authority in sol ...

*1995 Michelle Wilson- "Lifted Higher" *1995

Sabrynaah Pope Sabrynaah Pope (October 6, 1959 - September 24, 2005) was a female house-music vocalist from Brooklyn, New York. She was well known for her work with house acts 95 North, DJ Pierre, and as part of U.D.A.U.F.L., which scored a number-one track on ...

- "Shelter" *1995 Big O - "Shmoov wit da Ruffness" *1996 Sean Grant - "I Hear My Calling", with Jay 'Sinister' Sealée *1996 Sean Grant - "Keep On Pressing", with Jay 'Sinister' Sealée *1997 Gisele Jackson - "Happy Feelings" *1997

- "Rock Steady", Jay 'Sinister' Sealée *1997 Big Foot - "Black Lagoons" *2003 GR-69 - "Trouble" *2007

DADA Dada () or Dadaism was an art movement of the European avant-garde in the early 20th century, with early centres in Zürich, Switzerland, at the Cabaret Voltaire (Zurich), Cabaret Voltaire (in 1916). New York Dada began c. 1915, and after 192 ...

- "Lollipop", with Trix - #18 UK *2014 Ivy Queen - " Cuando Las Mujeres" (Remix)

References

External links

Official websiteSandy Rivera fan page
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rivera, Sandy Living people Year of birth missing (living people) People from East Harlem Club DJs DJs from New York City Remixers American DJs American dance musicians American house musicians Electronic dance music DJs