Sandy Rivera

Sandy Rivera, born January 18, 1971, in New York City and now based in New Jersey, began his career as a DJ at the age of 13 in Spanish Harlem. By 1992, he started producing house music, focusing on a soulful sound. He has used various pseudonyms throughout his career, including Kings of Tomorrow, Soul Vision, and Mysterious People. Rivera established his own labels, BlackWiz in 1993 and Deep Vision Records in 1995, further cementing his presence in the house music industry. His collaborations have included artists such as Jose Burgos, HAZE, and Jay ‘Sinister’ Sealee, contributing to a diverse discography.

Rivera’s most recognized work is “Finally,” released in 2000 under his Kings of Tomorrow alias, featuring vocals by Julie McKnight. This track achieved commercial success, reaching number 24 on the UK Singles Chart and number 17 on the Billboard dance chart. It has been featured in numerous compilations from prominent labels like Defected Records, Ministry of Sound, Hed Kandi, and Warner Music. “Finally” was a key track on Kings of Tomorrow’s debut album, “It’s in the Lifestyle,” which also included “Young Hearts.” The vocal version of “Finally” was later sampled in Layo & Bushwacka’s 2003 single, “Love Story (vs. Finally).”

The second Kings of Tomorrow album, “Trouble,” was released in 2005. Rivera noted at the time that this album was produced without the use of samples, marking a stylistic shift. He began to differentiate his projects, reserving the Kings of Tomorrow alias for more radio-friendly releases and his actual name for club-oriented tracks. As a producer and remixer, Rivera has worked with artists such as Terry Callier, Gisele Jackson, Bini & Martini, Michelle Weeks, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. In recent years, he has focused on revitalizing his Deep Visionz label and continues to release new music, including the 2017 club anthem “YEAH” on Defected Records.