Jerry Rivera this Saturday at Lehman Center Celebrate Puerto Rican Heritage Month

Jerry Rivera grew up in Puerto Rico in a musical family, the son of singer Edwin "Pino" Rivera. He released his first CD, Abriendo Puertas (1990), when he was only fifteen. His 1992 album Cuenta Conmigo was one of the top-selling salsa records, spawning two major hits -- the title track and "Casi Un Hechizo." A year later, Rivera released his third album, Empezando A Vivir, and a fourth, Cara de Niño. Over a dozen original albums range from Latino Pop to his bolero album, Rivera (RCA Int'l, 2001) and his popular tribute to Frankie Ruíz, Canto a mi Idolo...Frankie Ruíz (RCA, Int'l, 2003). He has also released several greatest hits compilations, most recently Mi Historia Musical (Sony Int'l, 2004). His newest recordings are Ay Mi Vida (Sony Int'l, 2005) and the re-mastered original recording 10 de Colección (Sony Int'l, 2005). Rivera's career also includes numerous appearances on television and in the film I Like It Like That, featuring Jon Seda, Rita Moreno, and the Barrio Boyzz.

Ray Sepúlveda was born into a Puerto Rican family that settled in New York. The salsa singer was inspired by Latin artists at a very young age, especially tropical performers, and learned much from his father, Ray Sepúlveda Sr., a bolero singer and recording artist with the Trío Los Románticos. As a teenager, Sepúlveda sang with a band from Mayagüéz, Puerto Rico called La Justicia, which became La Solución. He later performed with Frankie Ruíz in La Dictadora. After living in Puerto Rico for six years, Sepúlveda emerged on the New York scene in 1977 with the Sociedad 76 Orchestra, recording for first time on Fania Records, and in 1983 joined the Adalberto Santiago Orchestra. 1988 he formed the Johnny and Ray Orchestra with fellow Sociedad '76 alum, percussionist Johnny Ray (Zamot), and recorded two albums for PolyGram Records: Salsa Con Clase, yielding the chart-topping single "Mascarada," and Night Gold. After many successful years with PolyGram, Sepúlveda released five solo albums on RMM Records.

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is on the campus of Lehman College at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468. Tickets for Jerry Rivera and Ray Sepúlveda on Saturday, November 11 at 8pm, are: $50, $45, $40 and $35 and can be purchased by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718.960.8833 (Mon. through Fri., 10 AM - 5 PM, and beginning at 12 noon on the day of the concert), or through 24-hour online access at www.LehmanCenter.org . Lehman Center is accessible by #4 or D train to Bedford Park Blvd. and is off the Saw Mill River Parkway and the Major Deegan Expressway. Free attended parking is available.

Lehman Center receives support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

For additional information, photos, interview requests, please contact: Leah Grammatica / LGPR / 212.243.6052 / Leahgram@aol.com