Ariel Rivera
Jose Ariel Jimenez Rivera is a successful singer, actor, an artist and also an architect. He is fondly named ”Ariel Rivera” in show business. He started his singing career as early as 1989 and still active presently. He engages mostly in OPM songs.
Ariel Rivera was born on May 21, 1970 in the Philippines. He is a blessing to Ben Rivera of Chinese ancestry and Fannie Rivera of the Spanish lineage. He migrated to Canada with his family and became a Canadian citizen. He studied at St. Thomas More Catholic School for his primary education and studied in Bishop Philip Pocock Catholic High School. He took up Architectural Technology in George Brown College but later transferred to York University taking up a degree in Psychology. He took up voice lesson under Mon David, a noted singer/teacher. His first exposure on TV was on “Daigdig Ng Mga Artista” on Channel 7.
Before he started singing, he is an architect in Canada and his hidden talent was discovered accidentally while having vacation here in the Philippines. Vehnee Saturno happened to be in the church where this balikbayan Canadian was asked to sing in the wedding ceremony.
He has four siblings but manages to keep his personal life private. He married Gelli de Belen on December 22, 1997 at Santuario de San Jose and bore him two sons: Joaquin Andres (January 29, 1999) and Julio Alessandro (November 2, 2000).
Before signing with BMG 1991, Ariel already fronted countless concerts both foreign and local. After two years, he released his self-titled debut album, “Ariel Rivera” under the same label. The album went to 3x platinum. Sana Kahit Minsan, the first single from the album instantly a #1 pop-R&B crossover hit. He immediately released his second album entitled Simple Lang and also went to 3x platinum.
In 1992, he switched and tried his luck in acting. He immediately gained recognition in his first starring role in “Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal” as Best Supporting Actor award in 1992 Metro Manila Film Festival. Together with Sharon Cuneta as his lead opposite role in “Ikaw” made him a bankable leading actor. He starred many films such as “Isang Sulok Ng Mga Pangarap” , “Anghel Na Walang Langit” , “Minsan May Pangarap: The Guce Family Story”, “May Nagmamahal Sa Iyo”, “Ikaw Pala Ang Mahal Ko”, “Bata, Bata…Paano Ka Ginawa?”
In 1994, Ariel began recording for his new album. In the spring of 1995, the third album entitled Photograph was released. It turned to gold status in the Philippines. In 1996, he released yet another album entitled Paskong Walang Katulad under BMG Pilipinas. This fourth album reached its gold status like any other albums.
On 1997, Rivera had released his fifth album, Getting To Know under the label of BMG Pilipinas and earned him a platinum album. On 1999, Aawitin Ko Na Lang was his sixth album and garnered his album a Gold status under BMG Pilipinas.
On 2001, Rivera again releases a double platinum album under BMG Pilipinas entitled In My Life, selling almost 200,000 copies nationwide. In 2003, his greatest hits collection was released under BMG Pilipinas with the title of Platinum Hits. It reached to 5x platinum, selling almost 500,000 copies.
Albums
Songs of Ariel Rivera
Ariel Rivera was born on May 21, 1970 in the Philippines. He is a blessing to Ben Rivera of Chinese ancestry and Fannie Rivera of the Spanish lineage. He migrated to Canada with his family and became a Canadian citizen. He studied at St. Thomas More Catholic School for his primary education and studied in Bishop Philip Pocock Catholic High School. He took up Architectural Technology in George Brown College but later transferred to York University taking up a degree in Psychology. He took up voice lesson under Mon David, a noted singer/teacher. His first exposure on TV was on “Daigdig Ng Mga Artista” on Channel 7.
Before he started singing, he is an architect in Canada and his hidden talent was discovered accidentally while having vacation here in the Philippines. Vehnee Saturno happened to be in the church where this balikbayan Canadian was asked to sing in the wedding ceremony.
He has four siblings but manages to keep his personal life private. He married Gelli de Belen on December 22, 1997 at Santuario de San Jose and bore him two sons: Joaquin Andres (January 29, 1999) and Julio Alessandro (November 2, 2000).
Before signing with BMG 1991, Ariel already fronted countless concerts both foreign and local. After two years, he released his self-titled debut album, “Ariel Rivera” under the same label. The album went to 3x platinum. Sana Kahit Minsan, the first single from the album instantly a #1 pop-R&B crossover hit. He immediately released his second album entitled Simple Lang and also went to 3x platinum.
In 1992, he switched and tried his luck in acting. He immediately gained recognition in his first starring role in “Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal” as Best Supporting Actor award in 1992 Metro Manila Film Festival. Together with Sharon Cuneta as his lead opposite role in “Ikaw” made him a bankable leading actor. He starred many films such as “Isang Sulok Ng Mga Pangarap” , “Anghel Na Walang Langit” , “Minsan May Pangarap: The Guce Family Story”, “May Nagmamahal Sa Iyo”, “Ikaw Pala Ang Mahal Ko”, “Bata, Bata…Paano Ka Ginawa?”
In 1994, Ariel began recording for his new album. In the spring of 1995, the third album entitled Photograph was released. It turned to gold status in the Philippines. In 1996, he released yet another album entitled Paskong Walang Katulad under BMG Pilipinas. This fourth album reached its gold status like any other albums.
On 1997, Rivera had released his fifth album, Getting To Know under the label of BMG Pilipinas and earned him a platinum album. On 1999, Aawitin Ko Na Lang was his sixth album and garnered his album a Gold status under BMG Pilipinas.
On 2001, Rivera again releases a double platinum album under BMG Pilipinas entitled In My Life, selling almost 200,000 copies nationwide. In 2003, his greatest hits collection was released under BMG Pilipinas with the title of Platinum Hits. It reached to 5x platinum, selling almost 500,000 copies.
Albums
- Ariel Rivera
- Simple Lang
- Photograph
- Paskong Walang Katulad
- Getting To Know
- Aawitin Ko Na Lang
- In My Life
- Platinum Hits
- Mula Sa Puso
- A.S.A.P.
- Sa Linggo nAPO Sila
- GMA Telecine Special
- GMA Mini Series
- GMA True Stories
- GMA Love Stories
- Forever In My Heart
- Narito Ang Puso Ko
- Mahiwagang Baul
- Magpakailanman
- Sugo
- Atlantika
- Fantastic Man
- S.O.P.
- Kamandag
- Best New Male Artist- Awit Awards, 1991
- Best Performance by a New Male Recording Artist- 1992
- Best Supporting Actor- Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal, Metro Manila Film Festival, 1992
- Music Video of the Year- Tunay Na Ligaya, 1997
- Best Vocal Performance of the Year by a Dou/Group- I Don’t Love You Anymore with Lea Salonga, 1999
- Outstanding Lead Actor- Forever In My Heart, 2nd Golden Screen Awards, 2005
- Best Actor- Parola, Bahaghari Awards
Songs of Ariel Rivera
- A Smile In Your Heart
- Aawitin Ko Na Lang
- Ayoko Na Sana
- Both In Love
- Di Mo Na Ba Ako Mahal
- Ikaw
- In My Life
- Kahit Na Magtiis
- Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin
- Photograph
- I Don’t Love You Anymore
- In A Lover’s Eye