Sideman
In Pursuit of the Next Gig
by Mark Rivera
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Pub Date Feb 07 2023 | Archive Date Jan 31 2023
BenBella Books | Matt Holt
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Description
While most successful sidemen are lucky to spend a decade in the music business, multi-instrumentalist Mark Rivera is working on his fifth.
Best known as Billy Joel’s saxophonist as well as Musical Director for Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band, Rivera has shared the stage with some of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s greatest performers, including John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Simon & Garfunkel, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Tony Bennett, Sheila E., Joe Walsh, Hall & Oates, and Peter Gabriel.
How does he do it while avoiding the typical pitfalls—falling out of favor with the band, burnout, depression?
A devoted father and husband for nearly forty years, Rivera’s recollections in Sideman demonstrate that while he struggled to balance the two worlds—a rock ‘n’ roller circling the globe and a regular guy worried about putting food on the table—his body’s compulsion to always be playing music kept him in constant pursuit of “the next gig.”
The sideman is put to the test as he recounts his past from the confines of a global pandemic, and the man accustomed to “keeping up with the music” is forced to put down his instruments and reflect.
Full of optimism, humor, and candor, Rivera turns the spotlight on the sideman’s life, revealing not only what it takes to climb the industry ladder (and stay there), but something more surprising: a bit of ourselves rocking out amongst all those superstars.
Featured Reviews
TUDOR Q, Reviewer
3.5 Stars
I was intrigued to read this one because I've seen Mark Rivera a few times in concert with musical acts I admire. I saw him perform with Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, Billy Joel, and at The Fest for Beatles Fans. I was particularly struck seeing him perform at Beatlefest when I heard just how great he can sing...and thought, "He's much more than a saxophone player!" He just doesn't stand there and play notes; he feels and becomes the music on stage. He's played with Hall and Oates, Simon & Garfunkel, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Foreigner- and many more.
The book clocks in at just over 250 pages and the writing is very easy and free-flowing as if he's talking to you. He seems like a very down to earth guy, and a family man. Like a lot of other artists who were navigating the constraints of the pandemic, he took this opportunity to write his story. Although he's known primarily as a sax player, he's so much more. He plays many other instruments and has a canny knack of directing all the other musicians to sound their best, but without coming off as a jerk. He found himself coaxing more exact performances out of both Ringo and Paul McCartney...correcting them on their own songs...and coming out of it with the utmost appreciation and respect. That's how Mark Rivera not only has been a musician in Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, but quickly became its Musical Director. And now when Mark is busy with his obligation to touring with Billy Joel (as he has for decades), he still maintains his job as Musical Director for Ringo. They are friends and Ringo even wrote the forward to this book!
This was a good and quick read, and an interesting one for music fans like me.
Thank you to the publisher BenBella Books for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
Readers who liked this book also liked:
Allan Kozinn; Adrian Sinclair
Arts & Photography, Biographies & Memoirs, Nonfiction (Adult)
