Sandy Rivera (born January 18, 1971) is an American

house music House is a genre of electronic dance music characterized by a repetitive Four on the floor (music), four-on-the-floor beat and a typical tempo of 115–130 beats per minute. It was created by DJs and music producers from Chicago's underground ...

DJ,

record producer A record producer or music producer is a music creating project's overall supervisor whose responsibilities can involve a range of creative and technical leadership roles. Typically the job involves hands-on oversight of recording sessions; ensu ...

and label owner. Born in

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 ...

, he is now based in

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

Biography

Rivera started his career at age 13 as a DJ in his native

Spanish Harlem East Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem, or , is a neighborhood of Upper Manhattan in New York City, north of the Upper East Side and bounded by 96th Street to the south, Fifth Avenue to the west, and the East and Harlem Rivers to the east ...

. 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. Given name Mishnaic and Talmudic periods * Jose ben Abin * Jose ben Akabya *Jose the Galilean * Jose ben Halafta ...

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 classificati ...

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 in 1995). Rivera's best known track is " Finally", released in 2000 under the alias Kings of Tomorrow on Distance Records, with vocals by Julie McKnight, which peaked at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart and at number 17 on the ''Billboard'' dance chart, and appeared in a large number of compilations from labels such as

Defected Records Defected Records, or simply Defected, is a British independent record label specialising in house music recordings, compilation albums, events, publishing, artist bookings and management. Defected is one of the longest running independent lab ...

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 publisher (popular music), music publishing busin ...

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 The Hedkandi label was founded in 1999 at radio station Jazz FM's En ...

, and

Warner Music Warner Music Group Corp., 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 the third-largest in the gl ...

. The track is included on 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 part of a remixed single by the British act Layo & Bushwacka for their 2003 single "

Love Story (vs. Finally) "Love Story (vs. Finally)" (also known as "Love Story") is a song written and released by British duo Layo & Bushwacka!. It was originally released in 2002 under the name "Love Story", charting at number 4 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Dance Club Play ...

". The second K.O.T. album was released in 2005, titled ''Trouble''. Rivera claimed that the album was his first produced without recourse to samples, and marked the official separation between this and other aliases: Kings of Tomorrow is used for more radio-friendly tracks, while his real name was to be used for club-friendly tracks. As a producer and remixer, 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 ...

, Gisele Jackson, Bini & Martini, 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 (genre), mbube''. They became known internationally after singing with American Paul Simon on his 1986 album ''Grace ...

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 HAZE *2009 "Deeper", with HAZE *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 *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 Julie McKnight *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 a member 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 *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 ...

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

DADA Dada () or Dadaism was an anti-establishment art movement that developed in 1915 in the context of the Great War and the earlier anti-art movement. Early centers for dadaism included Zürich and Berlin. Within a few years, the movement had s ...

- "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 People from East Harlem American club DJs DJs from New York City American remixers American dance musicians American electronic dance music DJs 1971 births