Originally from Maracaibo Venezuela, Julio Rivera has been playing drums and percussion for more than 30 years.



Julio Rivera was born in Maracaibo on the 28th of February of 1966, and always felt a strong connection with music since then, in a household where family and friends were musicians. This fact played a big part on his education, leading him to be a part in several musical groups, starting in “Los Chamacos del Zulia” at age 9, alongside one of his brothers.



He later formed part of the musical group “Bongo” directed by his great friend Gustavo Gollo, who put him for the first time in front of the kettle drums at age 15.



While in his teens, Julio continued playing and recording with local groups like Epoca, Nueva Generación, Elite Gaitera, and Carangano.



In 1988 Julio Rivera 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 12 albums including their last cd called “Escultura”. Guaco’s unique style is a mix of gaita, salsa, vallenato, pop, jazz, funk and even some rock.



In the studio Julio Rivera has 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 Rivera is the musical director of the orchestra Julito y su Trabuco, a band that was created to rescue and promote the afro-caribean 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 Rivera is 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'.