Cristóbal Senquis Rivera (born November 16, 1946), known professionally as Chamaco Rivera, is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter.
Early life
Rivera was born in
Guayama, Puerto Rico
Guayama (, ), officially the Autonomous Municipality of Guayama (), is a Guayama barrio-pueblo, city and Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality on the Caribbean Sea, Caribbean coast of Puerto Rico. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 ...
to parents Vicenta Senquis and Carmelo Rivera. At age 14, Rivera discovered his passion for singing when composer Alfonso Pillot gave him the opportunity to sing in his band.
Career
In 1962, Rivera moved to
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. The following year, he joined the band New Jersey Swing Combo. He also sang in Mike Hernández's band, where he was given the nickname "Chamaco" as Rivera was the youngest member of the group.
In 1970, Rivera began performing with
Willie Rosario's band and was featured in his album ''De Donde Nace el Ritmo'', in which he recorded his well-known hit "La Vida". He also recorded a second album, ''Mas Ritmo'', with Rosario in 1972. Rivera was also one of the featured artists in
Rafael Cortijo
Rafael Antonio Cortijo Verdejo (December 11, 1928 – October 3, 1982) was a Puerto Rican musician, orchestra leader, composer and percussion instrument craftsman.
Early career
As a child, Cortijo became interested in Caribbean music and en ...
's 1974 album, ''Con las Siete Potencias''.
In 1974, Rivera formed his own band and recorded his first solo album, ''Chamaco''. Many solo recordings followed, including ''Mi Chamaco'' (1976), ''El Juicio'' (1978), ''Canción, Hombre y Pueblo'' (1980), and ''Chamaco Para Buen Rato'' (1981). Rivera's 1984 album ''Por Fin'' features the song "Consuelo", a duet recorded alongside
José Feliciano
José Montserrate Feliciano García (; born September 10, 1945) is a Puerto Rican musician. He recorded many international hits, including his rendition of the Doors' " Light My Fire" and his self-penned Christmas song "". Music genres he explo ...
. In 1987, Rivera returned to collaborate with Willie Rosario for a live concert in
Cali, Colombia
Santiago de Cali (), or Cali, is the capital of the Valle del Cauca department, and the most populous city in southwest Colombia, with 2,280,522 residents estimate by National Administrative Department of Statistics, DANE in 2023. The city span ...
. Rivera continued to record songs and produce new albums well into the 1990s. In 1994, he wrote and recorded the song "Contestame Dios Mio" (a tribute song to fellow singer
Hector Lavoe, who died the previous year) for his album ''Aqui Estoy''.
In 2011, Rivera recorded two new songs, "Matalas" and "Milagro 33", the latter being a tribute to the 33 miners involved in the
2010 Copiapó mining accident
The 2010 Copiapó mining accident, also known as the "Chilean mining accident", began on 5 August 2010, with a cave-in at the San José copper–gold mine, located in the Atacama Desert, north of the regional capital of Copiapó, in northern ...
. Rivera teamed up with fellow singer
Meñique as well as bandleader Ivan Marrero for the album ''El Gran Meñique y Chamaco Rivera Presentan Iván Marrero y su Charanga'', which was released in 2013.
In 2017, Rivera reunited with Willie Rosario for the first time in 45 years and recorded their latest collaboration single, "Se Volvieron a Juntar".
Personal life
Rivera has been married to Elizabeth Senquis since 1972, and both currently reside in
St.Cloud, Florida. They have 3 kids together. Before this marriage he fathered 2; who are the oldest. During his marriage he has had extramarital affairs leading to other children being born; Jocelyn Senquis and Chadel Senquis, this last one being the youngest of his children.
He currently performs in small local and international venues.
Discography
* 1974: ''Chamaco''
* 1976: ''Mi Chamaco''
* 1978: ''El Juicio''
* 1980: ''Canción, Hombre y Pueblo''
* 1981: ''Chamaco Para Buen Rato''
* 1984: ''Por Fin''
* 1985: ''Chamaco''
* 1986: ''Chamaco Rivera''
* 1992: ''Merengue Music Machine''
* 1993: ''En La Batalla''
* 1994: ''Aquí Estoy''
* 2011: ''Chamaco''
* 2011: ''Toda Una Historia''
* 2013: ''El Gran Meñique y Chamaco Rivera Presentan Iván Marrero y su Charanga''
References
External links
Chamaco Rivera on Facebook
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rivera, Chamaco
1946 births
Living people
People from Guayama, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican bandleaders
20th-century Puerto Rican male singers
20th-century Puerto Rican singers
Puerto Rican male composers
Puerto Rican male singer-songwriters
Latin music songwriters
Salsa musicians
21st-century Puerto Rican male singers
21st-century Puerto Rican singers