Jose Ariel Jimenez Rivera was born on September 1, 1966 in Manila, Philippines but has since migrated with his family to Canada. Rivera was an architect in Canada before his singing talent was accidentally discovered while vacationing in the Philippines. 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.
In 1989, Musiko Entertainment signed Rivera to their label. His self-titled debut album was released after two years. The first single, "Sana Kahit Minsan" was a #1 pop-r&b crossover hit. The album went 3x platinum. In 1991, he quickly released his second album, Simple Lang. This album also went 3x 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.
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 (1994); Minsan May Pangarap: The Guce Family Story (1995); May nagmamahal sa iyo (1996), Ikaw pala ang mahal ko (1997) and Bata, bata ... Paano ka ginawa? (1998).
Acting awards.
Rivera was born on September 1, 1966. He has four siblings but manages to keep his personal life private. He married actress/tv host Anna Gianelli De Belen on December 22, 1997 at Santuario de San Jose both did a film released 5 months before their marriage entitled "Ikaw Pala Ang Mahal Ko" and she has borne him two sons: Joaquin Andres (January 29, 1999) and Julio Alessandro (November 4, 2000).
