"Optimistic, emotional, & uplifting" ~Mel M. (Yolk Magazine) Faith Rivera is a dark-skinned Filipina born on Kauai a sunny Easter afternoon. This Emmy award-winning singer/songwriter started early learning folksongs from her grandma & playing piano from the age of 6. Like the landscape & rains of her birthplace, Faith's groove is lush, exotic, & healing. "Diversity is a beautiful thing & Faith serves it up with both passion & poise" ~Neil Fagan (Performing Songwriter) As a teen, she fronted an all girls band and released her first original on cool star-shaped vinyls on Azra International. Faith left the islands and dived into classical music & jazz graduating with a BA in Music & Minor in Marketing from Cal State Long Beach. Out of school, she jumped in an RV and hit the road playing keys & singing back-up for Interscope artist, Xavier, opening for De La Soul, Morris Day & the Time, and Speech. Since then, Faith has worked as a session singer with such artists as Luther Vandross, Jon Secada, & Sheila E. After a recent visit back to Hawaii in January as a featured performer with Daniel Ho and the Honolulu Symphony, this local girl received an Emmy nomination, then won in the Outstanding Original Song category for her vocal & co-writing work on "Forever Near" aired on NBC's Passions. Faith continues to write for releases on other artists' albums from Canada to Japan. As an artist herself, Faith's eclectic music background can be heard in her collection of releases: *IN SEARCH OF FAITH Debut album produced by Faith & Daniel Ho...named a Top Indy Recording by Performing Songwriter *FAITHGROOVE Eastern-inspired grooves & spiritual lyric to empower and heal, inspired by "Conversationswith God" by Neale Donald Walsch *WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE Grammy-nominated album by LA Carpool, a salsa/rock band fronted by Faith *HAVANA TAXI More salsa/rock released by LA Carpool & recently featured on CBS's "First Monday" Though Faith is often a guest artist at other spiritual celebrations, she works as a soloist & youth choir director at a local church in downtown Long Beach. She finds joy in sharing her experiences with at risk inner city youth and inspires them to use music as a positive force in their lives by writing & performing their own songs. Closest to her heart, Faith volunteers her talents to uplifting events like the recent Humanity's Team Leadership Gathering (ww.humanitysteam.com) in Oregon and in producing Long Beach's annual Womens Festival of the Arts held each Spring at the 2nd City Council Gallery featuring over 30 artists from grammy-winning songwriters to local authors, poets, & dancers. On the web, Faith's artistry is enjoyed by listeners worldwide...charting songs & thousands of downloads on mp3.com. Her spirit-filled approach to singing & songwriting continues to create faithful fans each day...check out her groove @ www.faithgroove.com "Brilliant and exquisite vocalist... Faith's vocal work is eloquent and beyond compare" ~Erik Chico Manqueros / LatinJazzClub.com "A recently awarded Global Elite Artist whom I can never get tired of hearing. Her musical soul is so passionate and full of an uplifting spirit that has the potential toinspire the world...." ~Michael Allison / Global Music "Faith is ready for radio, MTV and VH-1 with her slick crossover urban style." ~Nick Dedina / Listen.com AWARDS / HONORS* *2003 Emmy Winner for Outstanding Orginal Song: "Forever Near" on NBC's Passions *2003 Individual Artist Fellowship Winner (Public Corporation of the Arts, Long Beach) *2002 Just Plain Folks Dance Song of the Year Award: "Kumbaya" *2002 Just Plain Folks Pop Song Nominee: "Along for the Ride" *Songwriter/Lead Singer on 2001 1st round Grammy-nominated Pop/Salsa album "When Worlds Collide" by LA Carpool *Songwriter on 2001 Hawaii Award AC Album of the Year for Daniel Ho's "Finding My Way" CD *Honorable Mention for "All That You Are" in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest *Internet Successes -Over 250,000 listens at www.mp3.com/faith -"Believe" hits #2 to Madonna on MP3.com Pop Vocal Chart -"Kumbaya" hits the Top 10 at www.mpulse.com -Featured as Girl.com's "Star of Tomorrow" -Featured Artist on Women of MP3.com -Featured Artist on GirlMedia.com