José Manuel Rivera Rivera, known artistically as Josean Rivera, is a Puerto Rican salsa vocalist and composer. Born in Puerto Rico, he was given the nickname Josean by his parents during childhood. He discovered his passion for singing as a teenager and shared the stage with prominent figures of Puerto Rican salsa early in his career, officially joining maestro Raphy Leavitt's orchestra, La Selecta, in November 1999.
As a solo artist, Rivera is recognized for defending the classic sound and cadence of traditional salsa and cha cha cha. His discography includes the albums 'El Nuevo Amolador' (2018), 'Un Sonero Para El Pueblo' (2019), 'Esto No Es Secreto' (2021), and 'Fino Soneo Elegante Cantar' (2024). His releases feature compositions by Angel 'Junito' Matos, Johnny Vega, and Rivera himself, with arrangements by musicians such as Cesar Hijar, Kevin Pagan, and William 'Willie' Melo.
Rivera's 2026 album, 'Contraste', was released in collaboration with Salsaneo Records, a label that has backed several of his recent productions. Key singles within his active recording period from 2016 to 2026 include 'Sigo Siendo Callejero' (2019), 'La Carta' (2022), and 'Afincao y sazonao' (2026).
