07/03/2003

By CECILIA M. GOMEZ-GONZALEZ
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE

Jenni Rivera has been singing since she was a child growing up in Long Beach, something you might expect -- her brothers are corridos singers Lupillo, Gustavo and Juan Rivera.

But Jenni says she always enjoyed school rather than performing.

"When I was a child my father wanted me to sing and be an artist, but I wanted an academic career," said Rivera, who has lived in Corona for the past two years.

Rivera continued her studies after graduating from high school, earned a degree in business management and pursued a career in real estate.

At the same time her father, Don Pedro Rivera, had a record label doing business with artists such as Chalino Sanchez and Graciela Beltran.

Pedro Rivera asked Jenni and her siblings to help out with the business, where she did everything from answering phones to running the office.

In 1993 when she stopped at a club with some friends, Rivera was dared by her companions to get on stage and sing. She liked it.

"My family was not popular at this time. We were just the employees and (singing) became a weekly thing for me. I would sing here and there and being that my father always wanted me to be an artist, I gave him a recording for his birthday," Rivera said. "He produced it, made copies -- but I was still doing real estate."

It was six years later that LA Spanish-language radio stations specializing in banda/corrido music began playing her "Reina de las Reinas."

She was quickly named "La Diva de la Banda," and other names soon followed such as "La Malandrina del Corrido (The Bad Girl of Corrido)" and "La Querida Socia (The Lovable Partner)" as a result of two of the most successful songs she recorded, "La Malandrina" (The Bad Girl) and "La Socia" (The Partner).

Rivera was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2002 in the category of best banda album for "Se Las Voy A Dar A Otro."

Her English-language music influences of pop, rock and rap are mixed with traditional Mexican music.

Some songs gathered for her latest release titled "Homenaje A Las Grandes (Homage to the Big Ones)" are remakes originally made famous by traditional and contemporary artists ranging from Lola Beltran, Lupita D'Alessio and Alejandra Guzman.

Rivera also pays tribute to rhythm and blues icon Diana Ross with "Where Did Our Love Go?," a song that Rivera sings in English.

"I chose Diana because she is one of my influences. Whitney (Houston), Janet (Jackson) and Celine Dion were some of my favorites," Rivera said. "Diana has some wonderful songs. I have a public for it. We speak Spanish but we like this music, too."

Rivera also penned a special track titled "Homenaje A Mi Madre," dedicated to her mother.

Rivera will celebrate her birthday on Sunday (the age is undisclosed) in a concert at the Ford Amphitheatre.

At the Ford, Rivera will perform hit songs including her latest, "La Papa Sin Catsup" off the new album that features 10 tracks and four bonus tracks in Norteno versions.

"First of all, it's always nice to get together with my fans, especially the ones here in Southern California," Rivera said. "These are the fans that have seen me grow as an artist, who gave me acceptance when I began my singing career. That's why it's always special to perform here at home."