Francisco de Jesús Rivera Figueras (born 4 June 1948), known asPaquito D'Rivera, is a Cuban-Americanalto saxophonist,clarinetist and composer. He was a member of the Cubansongo bandIrakere and, since the 1980s, he has established himself as a bandleader in the United States. His smooth saxophone tone and his frequent combination ofLatin jazz andclassical music have become his trademarks.[1]
Francisco de Jesús Rivera Figueras was born on 4 June 1948 inHavana,Cuba.[2] His father playedclassical saxophone, entertained his son withDuke Ellington andBenny Goodman records and sold musical instruments. He took D'Rivera to clubs like theTropicana (frequented by his musician friends and customers) and to concert bands and orchestras.[3]
At age five, D'Rivera began saxophone lessons by his father Francisco Lorenzo Rivera Sanchez (tito). In 1960, he attended Alejandro Garcia Caturla Conservatory of Music, where he learned saxophone and clarinet In 1965, he was a featured soloist with the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra. He and Valdés founded Orchestra Cubana de Música Moderna and then in 1973 the groupIrakere, which fused jazz, rock, classical, and Cuban music.
By 1980, D'Rivera had become dissatisfied with the constraints placed on his music in Cuba for many years. In an interview with ReasonTV, D'Rivera recalled that the Cuban communist government described jazz and rock and roll as "imperialist" music that was officially discouraged in the 1960s/70s, and that a meeting withChe Guevara sparked his desire to leave Cuba.[4] In early 1980, while on tour inSpain, he sought asylum with the American Embassy, leaving his wife and child and brother Enrique, who is also a saxophonist, behind, with a promise to bring them out of Cuba. He fulfilled that promise nine years later.[5]
Upon his arrival in the United States, D'Rivera found great support for him and his family. His mother, Maura, and his sister, Rosario, had left Cuba in 1968 and became US citizens. Maura had worked in the US in the fashion industry for many years, and Rosario had become a respected artist and entrepreneur. Paquito was introduced to the jazz scene at some prestigious clubs and concert halls in New York. He became something of a phenomenon after the release of his first two solo albums,Paquito Blowin' (June 1981) andMariel (July 1982).[6]
In 2005, D'Rivera wrote a letter criticizing musicianCarlos Santana for his decision to wear a T-shirt with the image ofChe Guevara on it to the2005 Academy Awards, citing Guevara's role in the execution of counter-revolutionaries in Cuba, including his own cousin.[7]
Throughout his career in the United States, D'Rivera's albums have received reviews from critics and have hit the top of the jazz charts. His albums have shown a progression that demonstrates his extraordinary abilities in bebop, classical and Latin/Caribbean music. D'Rivera's expertise transcends musical genres as he is the only artist to ever have won Grammy Awards in both Classical and Latin Jazz categories.[10]
D'Rivera was a judge for the 5th and 8th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists.[11]
D'Rivera resides inNorth Bergen,New Jersey.[14] In 2001 D'Rivera purchased a $750,000 colonial-style home, which is located onBoulevard East, overlooking theHudson River. In September 2023, he put the home up for sale for $1.75 million.[15]
