Mayito Rivera

Singer and percussionist.

Mario Enrique Rivera Godines was born on January 19, 1966 in Pinar del Río. From a very early age he began studying percussion in his native city, later on, he moved to Havana and studied percussion for fourteen years, first at the National School of Art and then at the Higher Institute of Art.

Mayito is one of the most comprehensive Cuban musicians, since he has an exceptional voice (probably the second best voice after Benny Moré) and a gift for improvisation. He can play several musical instruments, namely, the bass, guitar, piano, trumpet, Cuban percussion. Likewise, he is arranger and composer.

For a while, he played the bass with the Moncada Group until Master Juan Formell invited him to join Los Van Van orchestra with which he has been performing for ten years now.

Since his very first presentation with this orchestra, singing "¿Qué tiene Van Van"" which became a musical hit in Cuba and abroad, Mayito has been dis seminating classic pieces of Los Van Van orchestra like, for example, "Normal, Natural", "Voy a publicar tu foto", "Un socio", "De La Habana a Matanzas", "El tren se va", "Llévala a tu vacilón", "Ay Dios Ampárame" and "Soy Todo".

Aside from having a predominant role in many records from this orchestra, Mayito has also participated in more than seventy recording productions, namely, "Para bachatear... Chappotín" devoted to Cuban musician Félix Chappotín and completely sang by Mayito who, besides, specially selected the repertoire; "La rumba soy yo", together with a constellation of singers and Cuban instruments deserving the 2001 Latin Grammy Award.

Together with Los Van Van, Mayito Rivera has performed in countless countries and was also member of the Cuban Team made up by outstanding musicians coming from the most important Cuban groups of dancing popular music.

Mayito Rivera is one of the most creative young musicians and one of the most powerful Cuban voices from all times.