Born and raised in Carolina, Puerto Rico (PR), Latin Grammy Nominee Recording Artist (“Sentimentales” by Lucy Fabery/Humberto Ramirez 2014) and former pianist for the 5-time Grammy winner Olga Tañón (2000-2005) Edgardo Rivera begins studies in music at the age of thirteen years old in the School of Fine Arts in Carolina, PR under the instruction of Marcos Adorno and Leni Prieto. Rivera starts his career as a professional musician very young having the opportunity to perform with the tops artists of the music scene in Puerto Rico. Some of these artists are: Olga Tañón, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Melina León, Gisselle, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Manny Manuel, Milly Quezada, Obie Bermudez, Son by Four, Pedro Brull, Elías Lopes, Charlie Sierra, Humberto Ramirez, Giovanni Hidalgo among others, having the opportunity to perform around the world with these artists. 

 

After several years working as a freelance musician decided to continue his formal education in music and earned a Bachelors Degree of Art in Popular Music with a concentration in Piano Performance with a minor concentration in Music Education from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico graduating with Honors Cum Laude awarded by the Dean of the university as a distinguished undergraduate student. After completing his undergraduate degree Rivera was accepted in the prestigious University of North Texas where he completed a Masters Degree of Music in Jazz Studies – Jazz Piano Performance. He has studied jazz piano with Prof. Dan Haerle and Stefan Karlsson, and has attended master classes by Chris Potter, Dave Brubeck, Jimmy Cobb, Curtis Fuller, Billy Hart, Lyle Mays, George Garzone, John Abercrombie, Eddie Gomez, among others.  During his time at UNT Edgardo has performed with several large Jazz Ensembles (UNT Lab Bands), including the UNT Latin Jazz Ensemble and he rapidly became the first call in the Latin-Music Scene in the DFW Area.

​

In the academia role has been part of the faculty at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico Music Department, The Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, and working towards a Doctorate degree in Musical Arts. Professor Edgardo Rivera continue performing as a freelance pianist, creating its owns music projects and teaching at his private music studio.