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Julio Rivera

Originally from Maracaibo Venezuela, Julio Rivera played drums and percussion for more than 30 years. His career started in his teens playing and recording with local groups like Bongo, Epoca, Nueva Generación, Elite Gaitera, and Carangano. In 1989, Julio joined the famous group Guaco with which he has traveled extensively in and out of Venezuela, exposing his talent on the timbales to the world. With Guaco he has recorded more than 15 albums including their last CD called “Sin Peligro De Extinción”. Guaco’s unique style is a mix of gaita, salsa, vallenato, pop, jazz, funk and even some rock. In the studio, Julio also worked with Spanish and Venezuelan artists like David Montes, Rosario Flores, Los Blanco, Jaime Indriago, and Oscar D’Leon. In concerts, Julio has had the privilege of sharing the stage with Gilberto Santa Rosa, Luis Enrique, Rubén Blades, Oscar D’León and Ricardo Arjona. Julio was the musical director of the orchestra Julito y su Trabuco, a band that was created to rescue and promote the afro-caribbean music from the Zulia region in Venezuela. This band has played with artists Wladimir Lozano, Edgar (Dolor) Quijada, Marcial Isturiz, Orlando Poleo, Angel Flores, Wilmer Lozano, Luis Quintero, Robert Quintero, Ralph Irizarry and Gerardo Rosales. Julio was also active as educator and has done workshops and clinics around his country in efforts to keep the roots of the Venezuelan music alive. He is been guest in clinics by percussionists Robert Quintero, Vladimir Quintero, and Ralph Irizarry. His last clinic tour was sponsored by World Music Venezuela and was entitled “The Evolution of the Timbal”. Date of Birth: February 28, 1966 Date of Death: June 29th, 2020