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{{short description|Puerto Rican musician}} {{Short description|Puerto Rican musician and actress (1922–2002)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox person {{Infobox person
| name = Marquita Rivera | name = Marquita Rivera
| image = Marquita_Rivera_3.jpg | image = Marquita Rivera.jpg
| occupation = Actress, singer, dancer | caption = Rivera in the 1940s
| birthname = María Heroína Rivera de Santiago | birth_name = María Heroína Rivera de Santiago
| birth_date = {{birth date|1922|05|18}} | birth_date = {{Birth date|1922|05|18|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = ], ] | birth_place = ], ]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2002|10|21|1922|05|18}} | death_date = {{Death date and age|2002|10|21|1922|05|18|mf=yes}}
| death_place = ] | death_place = ], U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|dancer|comedian}}
⚫ | spouse = {{marriage|Albert Vernon Ashbrook|1946|1949|end=divorced}}<br>{{marriage|Eugene N. Biscardi II|1951|1980|end=died}}
| children = 7 | years_active = 1943–2002
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Albert Vernon Ashbrook|1946|1949|end=div}}
⚫ * {{marriage|Eugene N. Biscardi II|1951|1980|end=died}}
}}
| children = 7
}} }}


'''Marquita Rivera''' (May 18, 1922 – October 21, 2002<ref name="death">{{cite web|author=Hollywood Reporter|title=Obituaries|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4860746-1.html|work=allbusiness.com|date=2002-11-06|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref>), a.k.a. "Queen of Latin Rhythm", was a ] actress, singer and dancer.<ref name="PRPC">, prpop.org; accessed September 24, 2016.</ref> '''Marquita Rivera''' (born '''María Heroína Rivera de Santiago'''; May 18, 1922 – October 21, 2002<ref name="death">{{cite web|author=Hollywood Reporter|title=Obituaries|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4860746-1.html|work=allbusiness.com|date=2002-11-06|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref>), a.k.a. "Queen of Latin Rhythm", was a ] actress, singer and dancer.<ref name="PRPC">, prpop.org; accessed September 24, 2016.</ref>


==Early life== ==Early life==
'''María Heroína Rivera de Santiago''' was born in ], ]. She was the youngest in a family of seven sons and five daughters. The Riveras moved to New York City when Marquita was a young child and it was there that she started a musical career. Studying dance and flamenco at an early age (6), she originally studied with ]'s father, Eduardo Cansino. Hayworth herself gave Rivera a set of castanets as a gift. Rivera was born in ] to Jesus Rivera y Perez and Clara de Santiago. She was the youngest in a family of twelve, one of five daughters and seven sons. In 1929, her mother moved her and six siblings to ], as her father and the other children remained home in Puerto Rico. At six-years-old, Rivera originally studied dance and ] with ], ]'s father, and Hayworth gave Rivera a set of ] as a gift.<ref name="Mag"></ref>


==Acting and singing career== ==Acting and singing career==
{{more citations needed section|date=August 2016}}
⚫ ] and ]]]
⚫ A childhood friend of bandleader ], Rivera, accompanied by her costume designer mother, went on to earn a featured role as a dancer with "]", but it was her performance before ] and ] at the ] during their respective royal visits in 1939 that she considered the highlight of her nascent career.
⚫ She toured ], ] and ] in bands headed by ] and ]. Appearing in many New York venues, including The Apollo, Roxy, Paramount, Loews State, Strand and ], Rivera shared their stages with ], ], ], ], ] and ], ], ], ], ] and ].{{citation needed|date=August 2016}}


⚫ ] and ] in 1947]]
⚫ Rivera put together her own show and performed it at the ] and Havana-Madrid in New York. She was also a marquee name back in her homeland where she entertained at venues such as Zero's Nightclub and El San Juan Theatre. In the mid-1940s Rivera was signed by Azteca Studios in ]. She acted for director ] in ''Me persigue una mujer (1947)'' with Jose Torvay and David Silva, and the comedy ''El Conquistador (1947)'', starring Torvay and Enrique Herrera.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}} After her contract ended at Azteca, Rivera went on to sign a Hollywood contract with a Paramount Pictures, and made her American movie debut as lead singer and specialty performer in the Hope-Crosby-Lamour comedy ''The Road to Rio (1947)''. Rivera was selected (in a popularity poll by Mexican filmgoers themselves) to star in a Hollywood film biography of the late Mexican spitfire ]. The film was shelved when legal issues involving Ms.Vélez's estate arose.<ref>{{cite web|last=Vogel|first=Michelle|title=The Original Lupe Vélez Biopic…and the Star Who "Almost" Played Her…|url=http://mvozus.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/the-original-lupe-velez-biopic-and-the-star-who-almost-played-her/|accessdate=June 23, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Vogel|first=Michelle|title=Lupe Velez: The Life and Career of Hollywood's "Mexican Spitfire"|url=http://mvozus.wordpress.com|accessdate=June 23, 2012}}</ref>
⚫ A childhood friend of bandleader ], Rivera, accompanied by her costume designer mother, earned her first role as a featured dancer in the ] production ''].'' She next performed at the ] with ] and ] attending during their respective royal visits, something she considered the highlight of her nascent career.<ref name="YSB"></ref><ref name="Mag"/>


⚫ She toured ], ] and ] in bands headed by ] and ]. Appearing in many New York venues, including ], ], Paramount,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Inc|first=Nielsen Business Media|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZQwEAAAAMBAJ&q=paramount+pictures+marquita+rivera&pg=PT15|title=Billboard|date=1942-12-26|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en}}</ref> ], ] and ], Rivera shared the stages of such performers as ], ], ], ], ] and ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name="YSB"/><ref name="Mag"/>
⚫ She continued to work in "hot spots" such as the famous Ciro's nightclub with Desi Arnaz's band. In 1948, Rivera was honored with the Key to the City of San Juan by Mayoress ] for her achievements on Broadway, Mexico, and in Hollywood. Today she is being honored with a huge event in Puerto Rico ...November 29, 30 and Dec 1. Marquita Rivera will be given some special honors: a proclamation given by the Senators and House of Representatives of Puerto Rico and then a separate Award by all the Mayors of Puerto Rico to commemorate her achievements as one of the first Latin/American actresses.<ref name="Caribbean Business PR">{{cite web|title=Pioneer PR performer Rivera honored |url=http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=65404&ct_id=1 |publisher=Caribbean Business PR |accessdate=June 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104190453/http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=65404&ct_id=1 |archivedate=November 4, 2013 }}</ref>

⚫ Rivera put together her own show and performed at the ] and Havana-Madrid in New York. She was a marquee name back in her homeland where she entertained at venues such as Zero's Nightclub and El San Juan Theatre. In the mid-1940s Rivera was signed by Azteca Studios in ]. She acted for director ] in ''Me persigue una mujer'' (1947) with Jose Torvay and David Silva, and in the comedy ''El Conquistador'' (1947), starring Torvay and Enrique Herrera.<ref name="YSB" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Marquita Rivera -|url=http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=9636|access-date=2020-07-30|website=www.criterionforum.org}}</ref> After her contract ended at Azteca, Rivera went on to sign a Hollywood contract with ], and made her American movie debut as lead singer and specialty performer in the ]-] comedy '']'' (1947).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Neibaur|first=James L.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vgGhAwAAQBAJ&q=marquita+rivera&pg=PA77|title=The Bob Hope Films|date=2004-12-14|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-1050-7|language=en}}</ref> Although Rivera was selected in a popularity poll by Mexican filmgoers to star in an ] biography of the late "Mexican spitfire" ], the film was shelved when legal issues arose involving Vélez's estate.<ref>{{cite web|last=Vogel|first=Michelle|title=The Original Lupe Vélez Biopic…and the Star Who "Almost" Played Her…|date=June 8, 2012 |url=http://mvozus.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/the-original-lupe-velez-biopic-and-the-star-who-almost-played-her/|accessdate=June 23, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Vogel|first=Michelle|title=Lupe Velez: The Life and Career of Hollywood's "Mexican Spitfire"|url=http://mvozus.wordpress.com|accessdate=June 23, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Mag"/>
{{ external media
| float = center
| audio1 = You may watch Marquita Rivera in "Luba Malina - Cuban Pete"
}}
⚫ She continued to work in "hot spots" such as the famous ] nightclub with ]'s band. In 1948, Rivera was honored with the Key to the City of ] by Mayor ] for her achievements on Broadway, Mexico, and in Hollywood. In December 2011, she was honored in Puerto Rico with special honors from the Senate for her achievements as one of the first Latin/American actresses, two of her children attended.<ref name="Caribbean Business PR">{{cite web|title=Pioneer PR performer Rivera honored |url=http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=65404&ct_id=1 |publisher=Caribbean Business PR |accessdate=June 23, 2012 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104190453/http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=65404&ct_id=1 |archivedate=November 4, 2013 }}</ref> In May 2012, Rivera was honored in ] with the ] Award for Artistic Excellence on her 90th birthday, her son attended.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1108194123851/archive/1109996024241.html|title=This Friday, May 18, Recognition of Marquita Rivera@IPRAC, 11am|website=archive.constantcontact.com|access-date=2020-03-09}}</ref>


==Personal life== ==Personal life==
Rivera was married to business tycoon Albert Vernon Ashbrook from 1946–49, by whom she had one child, Marquita, her namesake. In 1951, she married physician Eugene N. Biscardi II in New York City. They eventually became a family of seven children.{{clarify|date=August 2016}} Of their children, eldest son Eugene Biscardi III is a one-time model-turned-fashion photographer who has appeared occasionally as an actor on film and TV, and daughter Jessica Biscardi is a former model/actress and former "Miss New York".<ref name="PRPC"/> Rivera was married to business tycoon Albert Vernon Ashbrook from 1946 to 1949 and they had one child, Marquita, her namesake. In 1951, she married physician Eugene N. Biscardi II in New York City, they had six children and remained married until his death in 1988. Of their children, eldest son Eugene Biscardi III, a model-turned-fashion photographer has appeared occasionally as an actor on film and TV, and daughter Jessica Biscardi, a model/actress was the 1973 ] winner.<ref name="PRPC"/><ref name="Mag"/>


By the 1950s, Rivera had phased out her career in order to concentrate on raising her large family. In 1963, however, she made a special appearance at ] that featured an all-star lineup, including opera performers Thomas Hayward, Rina Telli, Dino Formichini and James Boxwill, led by Philharmonic conductor Warner S. Bass. She did not appear again publicly until 1977 when she returned to the stage in a limited engagement of her own off-Broadway revue, ''The Marquita Rivera Show''. In the 1980s her husband, Dr. Biscardi, retired and the couple relocated to Los Angeles where Rivera would occasionally make TV appearances. She also traveled frequently throughout the South on the beauty pageant circuit as a judge. Following the death of her husband in 1988, Rivera chose to retire completely from the limelight.<ref name="PRPC"/> By the 1950s, Rivera concentrated on raising her large family and made few public appearances. In 1963, she made a special appearance at ] that featured opera performers ], Rina Telli, Dino Formichini and James Boxwill, led by ] conductor Warner S. Bass. In 1977, she returned to the stage in a limited engagement of her own off-Broadway revue, ''The Marquita Rivera Show''. By the 1980s her husband, Dr. Biscardi retired and the couple relocated to Los Angeles where Rivera would occasionally make TV appearances and travel as a beauty contestant judge. Following the death of her husband in 1988, Rivera chose to completely retire.<ref name="PRPC"/><ref name="Mag"/>


==Death== ==Death==
On October 21, 2002, Rivera died at ] in ] following a stroke. She was survived by her seven children, as well as 17 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.<ref name="PRPC"/> On October 21, 2002, Rivera died at ] in ] following a stroke. She was survived by her seven children, as well as 17 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.<ref name="PRPC"/>


==References in popular culture== ==References in popular culture==
Line 41: Line 52:


==Awards== ==Awards==
* 1948: Honored with the Key to the City of San Juan, Puerto Rico by Mayoress Felisa de Rincon, for her achievements on Broadway, Mexico, and in Hollywood.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}} * 1948: Honored with the Key to the City of San Juan, Puerto Rico by Mayor Felisa de Rincon, for her achievements on Broadway, Mexico, and in Hollywood.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}
* 2011: Puerto Rico Senate Legacy Award. * 2011: Puerto Rico Senate Legacy Award.
* 2011: Federation of Mayors Award, ]. * 2011: Federation of Mayors Award, ].
* 2012: City of Chicago Mayors Award of Recognition.<ref name="Chicago Cultural Alliance">{{cite web |title=Recognition of Marquita Rivera |url=http://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/events/eventDetails.asp?a=v&e=1412 |publisher=Chicago Cultural Alliance |accessdate=June 22, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.is/20130414132343/http://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/events/eventDetails.asp?a=v&e=1412 |archivedate=April 14, 2013 }}</ref> * 2012: City of Chicago Mayors Award of Recognition.<ref name="Chicago Cultural Alliance">{{cite web |title=Recognition of Marquita Rivera |url=http://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/events/eventDetails.asp?a=v&e=1412 |publisher=Chicago Cultural Alliance |accessdate=June 22, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130414132343/http://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/events/eventDetails.asp?a=v&e=1412 |archivedate=April 14, 2013 }}</ref>
* 2012: ] Award for Artistic Excellence by the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (IPRAC).<ref name="Chicago Cultural Alliance"/> * 2012: ] Award for Artistic Excellence by the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (IPRAC).<ref name="Chicago Cultural Alliance"/>


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Latest revision as of 04:04, 21 December 2024

Puerto Rican musician and actress (1922–2002)

Marquita Rivera
Rivera in the 1940s
BornMaría Heroína Rivera de Santiago
(1922-05-18)May 18, 1922
Fajardo, Puerto Rico
DiedOctober 21, 2002(2002-10-21) (aged 80)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • dancer
  • comedian
Years active1943–2002
Spouses
Albert Vernon Ashbrook ​ ​(m. 1946; div. 1949)​
Eugene N. Biscardi II ​ ​(m. 1951; died 1980)​
Children7

Marquita Rivera (born María Heroína Rivera de Santiago; May 18, 1922 – October 21, 2002), a.k.a. "Queen of Latin Rhythm", was a Puerto Rican actress, singer and dancer.

Early life

Rivera was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico to Jesus Rivera y Perez and Clara de Santiago. She was the youngest in a family of twelve, one of five daughters and seven sons. In 1929, her mother moved her and six siblings to New York City, N.Y., as her father and the other children remained home in Puerto Rico. At six-years-old, Rivera originally studied dance and flamenco with Eduardo Cansino, Rita Hayworth's father, and Hayworth gave Rivera a set of castanets as a gift.

Acting and singing career

Marquita Rivera with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in 1947

A childhood friend of bandleader Tito Puente, Rivera, accompanied by her costume designer mother, earned her first role as a featured dancer in the Broadway production George White's Scandals of 1936. She next performed at the 1939 New York World's Fair with King George VI and Queen Elizabeth attending during their respective royal visits, something she considered the highlight of her nascent career.

She toured Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia in bands headed by Paul Whiteman and Noro Morales. Appearing in many New York venues, including The Apollo, Roxy, Paramount, Loew's State Theatre, Strand and Radio City Music Hall, Rivera shared the stages of such performers as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Mickey Rooney, Ann Miller, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Kathryn Grayson, Victor Borge, Ed Sullivan, Merv Griffin and Betty Hutton.

Rivera put together her own show and performed at the Latin Quarter (nightclub) and Havana-Madrid in New York. She was a marquee name back in her homeland where she entertained at venues such as Zero's Nightclub and El San Juan Theatre. In the mid-1940s Rivera was signed by Azteca Studios in Mexico City. She acted for director Fernando Soler in Me persigue una mujer (1947) with Jose Torvay and David Silva, and in the comedy El Conquistador (1947), starring Torvay and Enrique Herrera. After her contract ended at Azteca, Rivera went on to sign a Hollywood contract with Paramount Pictures, and made her American movie debut as lead singer and specialty performer in the Bob Hope-Bing Crosby comedy The Road to Rio (1947). Although Rivera was selected in a popularity poll by Mexican filmgoers to star in an independent film biography of the late "Mexican spitfire" Lupe Vélez, the film was shelved when legal issues arose involving Vélez's estate.

External audio
audio icon You may watch Marquita Rivera in "Luba Malina - Cuban Pete" here

She continued to work in "hot spots" such as the famous Ciro's nightclub with Desi Arnaz's band. In 1948, Rivera was honored with the Key to the City of San Juan by Mayor Felisa Rincón de Gautier for her achievements on Broadway, Mexico, and in Hollywood. In December 2011, she was honored in Puerto Rico with special honors from the Senate for her achievements as one of the first Latin/American actresses, two of her children attended. In May 2012, Rivera was honored in Chicago, Ill with the Antonio Martorell Award for Artistic Excellence on her 90th birthday, her son attended.

Personal life

Rivera was married to business tycoon Albert Vernon Ashbrook from 1946 to 1949 and they had one child, Marquita, her namesake. In 1951, she married physician Eugene N. Biscardi II in New York City, they had six children and remained married until his death in 1988. Of their children, eldest son Eugene Biscardi III, a model-turned-fashion photographer has appeared occasionally as an actor on film and TV, and daughter Jessica Biscardi, a model/actress was the 1973 Miss New York City winner.

By the 1950s, Rivera concentrated on raising her large family and made few public appearances. In 1963, she made a special appearance at Carnegie Hall that featured opera performers Thomas Hayward, Rina Telli, Dino Formichini and James Boxwill, led by Philharmonic conductor Warner S. Bass. In 1977, she returned to the stage in a limited engagement of her own off-Broadway revue, The Marquita Rivera Show. By the 1980s her husband, Dr. Biscardi retired and the couple relocated to Los Angeles where Rivera would occasionally make TV appearances and travel as a beauty contestant judge. Following the death of her husband in 1988, Rivera chose to completely retire.

Death

On October 21, 2002, Rivera died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California following a stroke. She was survived by her seven children, as well as 17 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

References in popular culture

  • Marquita is one of the legacies honored in Miluka Rivera's book "El legado puertorriqueño en Hollywood, los famosos y los olvidados" (The Puerto Rican Legacy in Hollywood, the Famous and the Forgotten)
  • Marquita was the inspiration for the protagonist and is featured on the cover of Mexico City The Golden Years

Awards

  • 1948: Honored with the Key to the City of San Juan, Puerto Rico by Mayor Felisa de Rincon, for her achievements on Broadway, Mexico, and in Hollywood.
  • 2011: Puerto Rico Senate Legacy Award.
  • 2011: Federation of Mayors Award, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
  • 2012: City of Chicago Mayors Award of Recognition.
  • 2012: Antonio Martorell Award for Artistic Excellence by the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (IPRAC).

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1946 Cuban Pete
1947 Me persigue una mujer
1947 El conquistador
1947 Road to Rio Lead Singer and Dancer Uncredited
1981 Sanford Woman #1 Episode: "Cal's Mom", (final appearance)

See also

References

  1. Hollywood Reporter (November 6, 2002). "Obituaries". allbusiness.com. Retrieved April 14, 2008.
  2. ^ Marquita Rivera profile, prpop.org; accessed September 24, 2016.
  3. ^ Magazine
  4. ^ Yo Soy Borinquen
  5. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (December 26, 1942). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  6. "Marquita Rivera -". www.criterionforum.org. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  7. Neibaur, James L. (December 14, 2004). The Bob Hope Films. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1050-7.
  8. Vogel, Michelle (June 8, 2012). "The Original Lupe Vélez Biopic…and the Star Who "Almost" Played Her…". Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  9. Vogel, Michelle. "Lupe Velez: The Life and Career of Hollywood's "Mexican Spitfire"". Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  10. "Pioneer PR performer Rivera honored". Caribbean Business PR. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. "This Friday, May 18, Recognition of Marquita Rivera@IPRAC, 11am". archive.constantcontact.com. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  12. Rivera, Miluka. "Press". Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  13. ^ "Recognition of Marquita Rivera". Chicago Cultural Alliance. Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2012.

External links

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