Ariel Rivera

Jose Ariel Jimenez Rivera, professionally known as Ariel Rivera (born September 1, 1966), is a Filipino singer, songwriter and actor.

Rivera was born in Manila, Philippines but has since migrated with his family to Canada. He has since become a successful singer-songwriter, actor, and Aliw award-winning artist. He is dubbed as "Kilabot ng Kolehiyala", a title formerly bestowed upon Hajji Alejandro, a popular Filipino singer in the 1970s.

Music career
Rivera was a graduate of architecture in Canada and he was also an undergraduate of Psychology before his singing talent was accidentally discovered by Vehnee Saturno while he was on holiday in the Philippines singing at a cousin's wedding. In 1989, Musiko Records & BMG Records (Pilipinas) Inc. (now known as Sony Music Philippines) signed Rivera to their label. His self-titled debut album was released after two years. The first single, "Sana Kahit Minsan" was a No. 1 pop-r&b crossover hit. The album went 3× platinum. In 1992, he quickly released his second album, Simple Lang. This album also went 3× platinum.

In 1994, Rivera began recording new material for his next album, Photograph. Photograph was released in 1995. His album reached Gold status in the Philippines. Due to his acting commitments, he wasn't able to release albums as frequently as he did before, but in 2008, he released Once Again, which continued nine original songs and covers of "Kung Ako na Lang Sana" and Michael Bolton's "Go the Distance".

Acting career
In 1992, Rivera tried acting. His first starring role in the film Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal earned him a Best Supporting Actor award in the 1992 Metro Manila Film Festival. He landed a lead role opposite Sharon Cuneta in 1993's "Ikaw". He also co-starred in Isang Sulok Ng Mga Pangarap (1994); Anghel Na Walang Langit (1995); Minsan May Pangarap: The Guce Family Story (1995); May Nagmamahal Sa Iyo (1996), Ikaw Pala Ang Mahal Ko (1997) and Bata, bata ... Pa'no Ka Ginawa? (1998). In 1999, he played the title character of Rama in the staging of Rama at Sita – The Musical by SK Entertainment at the University Theatre. For most of the 2000s, he acted in GMA teleseryes.

Personal life
Rivera has two older siblings (Leo and Gemma), and two younger siblings (Orven and Marvin).

He married actress Gelli de Belen, on December 22, 1997, in Santuario de San José, and both did a film released five months before their marriage entitled "Ikaw Pala Ang Mahal Ko". The couple has two sons: Joaquín Andrés (born January 29, 1999) and Julio Alessandro (born November 6, 2000).

Albums

 * Ariel Rivera 3× platinum (300,000 copies)
 * Simple Lang 3× platinum (300,000 copies)
 * Photograph Gold (50,000 copies)
 * Paskong Walang Katulad Gold (50,000 copies)
 * Paskong Walang Katulad, the special Ariel Rivera Deluxe Christmas album (released in 2009)
 * Getting to Know Platinum (100,000 copies)
 * Aawitin Ko Na Lang Gold (50,000 copies)
 * In My Life 2× platinum (200,000 copies)
 * Platinum Hits 5× platinum (500,000 copies)
 * Once Again (released in 2008)

Collaborations

 * Ryan Cayabyab Silver Album (Sony BMG Music Philippines, Inc., 1996)
 * The Best of Love Duets (Viva Collection Forever) (Viva Records, 1998)
 * Something More (JesCom Foundation, Inc., 2001)
 * Signature Hits OPM's Best Vol. 2 (Viva Records Corp. & Vicor Music Corp., 2009)

Awards

 * 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 Duet/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