Mark Rivera Talks Billy Joel, Ringo Starr & SIDEMAN on the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast with Tom Needham
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Mark Rivera will be featured on the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast.
Mark Rivera is renowned as Billy Joel’s saxophonist and the Musical Director for Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band. A multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Rivera has spent the last 50 years sharing the stage with some of rock’s biggest legends, including John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Simon & Garfunkel, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Tony Bennett, Sheila E., Joe Walsh, Hall & Oates, and Peter Gabriel.
Rivera has also made appearances on TV in “Kevin Can Wait” and “The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert.”
A devoted husband and father for nearly four decades, Rivera’s memoir “Sideman” reflects on his struggles to balance the high-octane life of a globe-trotting rock musician with the everyday responsibilities of family life. His constant drive to play music kept him chasing “the next gig.”
During the global pandemic, the sideman found himself forced to put down his instruments and reflect on his life and career. Through optimism, humor, and candid storytelling, Rivera reveals what it takes to rise and stay in the music industry while also offering a glimpse into the human side of a career spent playing alongside legendary performers.
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