Robbie Rivera

Robbie Rivera faced early setbacks while launching his house music DJ career after being raised in Puerto Rico. Admiration for the freestyle and Eurobeat sounds arriving on the island led him to acquire two turntables in pursuit of learning the craft. Those decks, however, omitted pitch control, the function required for blending records smoothly. Self-taught through trial and error, he began with the standard mobile assignments at weddings and school parties, yet an instinctive skill for moving crowds earned him slots at major clubs by age 16. After high school Rivera enrolled at the Art Institute at Fort Lauderdale to study music production, where he encountered numerous digital audio tools including Protools. Still in college, he issued his first release, “Sorulla,” shaped by the Latin house approach of early C+C Music Factory. The track gained traction in New York and Miami, setting his professional path in motion. In 2000 Rivera’s “Bang” became a major success, topping the U.K. dance charts. He launched his own Juicy label and created mix CDs for Max Music, Filtered, and others. Growing exposure for his deep sound generated remix assignments for Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Moloko, and Sarah Brightman. In 2003 SFP issued Wicked, a collection of his productions.