Although no bodies have been recovered from the plane crash that claimed the life of Mexican-American singer Jenni Rivera on the morning of Sunday, December 9, 2012, her family and closest friends have confirmed her death.
In the plane along with Rivera were pilots Miguel Perez and Alejandro Torres, her representative Arturo Rivera, her makeup artist Jacob Llenares, her lawyer Mario Macias and a passenger registered only as Gerardo N.
Jenni Rivera and her crew were minutes into their flight to Toluca, Mexico from a performance in Monterrey, Mexico when the plane went off radar. Although it has not been confirmed, it is assumed that some sort of explosion caused the death of those on board. After hours of search, only scattered clothes and personal items of the victims were found among ashes and burned remains of the plane.
The singer was at the peak of her career as the most current female singer in Regional Mexican music. She was the first female banda artist to sell-out a concert at the Gibson Amphitheatre. With numerous albums to her name in addition to a real estate business, cosmetics and fragrance collection, denim wear, and other entrepreneurial ventures, the 43-year-old mother of five is considered one of the pioneers of the new generation of first-born, bilingual, Mexican-American artists of the genre.
Born in Long Beach, California, Rivera sold over 15 million albums worldwide and was nominated at the 2003, 2008 and 2010 Latin Grammys. At the Monterrey concert, which would be her last, the singer was awarded Gold and Platinum standing for her latest album, “Joyas Prestadas”, as well as Gold for “La misma gran señora”. She was the only female artist nominated for a 2013 Premios Lo Nuestro “Artist of the Year” award along with Maná, Don Omar, La Arrolladora Banda el Limon de Rene Camacho and Romeo Santos.
Often considered “the people’s daughter” for her openness and availability to speak with press and fans about her personal and professional life, Rivera was respected by musicians of all genres. Mexican pop singer Paulina Rubio, Chilean rocker Beto Cuevas and Spanish singer Miguel Bose, which shared the judges panel with Rivera in a Mexican talent show, showed their respects to the singer by dedicating this past Sunday’s show in her memory. At the time of the accident Rivera was flying to Monterrey to film a new episode.
Moderatto, Enrique Bunbury and Pitbull are among the countless other celebrities that have expressed their sorrow via Twitter. On a local level, El Conjunto Nueva Ola expressed their utter shock of the news via their Facebook page and thanked Rivera for her support towards the band. “We had the opportunity to share the stage with her at the Conga Room for the Mexico vs. France game in the 2000 World Cup,” said the band. “She got on stage and sang “El Cucu” with us and from there a bond was formed.”
After the show, Rivera then invited ECNO to her radio show, “Contacto Directo”, as her featured guests. “It was there that she gave us the “good luck kick in the butt” and became our official Godmother,” said the band.
Chuck Gil, former drummer of the now defunct band The Tender Box, often played with the artist during her television presentations in Los Angeles. Gil remembers Rivera as down to earth despite her fame and fortune. “Her humility always overshadowed any other characteristic,” said Gil. “In one occasion after a presentation I told her that I wanted to meet her daughter (Chiquis). Jenni joked that her daughter only liked ugly, chubby guys; we laughed about it together.”
The family hopes to give Jenni Rivera a public funeral service as soon as her body is found and returned to Los Angeles.
