New biography offers intimate portrait of Jenny Rivera

Washington: The executive director of Latin content and programming for Billboard, Leila Cobo, has written a biography of the late Jenni Rivera, an intimate portrait of the difficult, successful life of the star of Mexican regional music.

When she died last Dec 9 in an air crash in Mexico, Rivera was at the height of her fame - she was the top selling singer in her musical category and the only Latino artist with her own radio and TV programs, as well as her own lines of makeup and fashion, and even a beneficent foundation.

In the biography 'Jenni Rivera: The Incredible Story of a Warrior Butterfly', Cobo notes that she had an indomitable determination.

Jenni was born in Culver City on the west side of Los Angeles, the first girl among four brothers. She grew up like a princess - but also like a warrior, because she soon learned to stand up for herself among men.

At age 15 she got pregnant, but thanks to teachers at her school, she never gave up her studies. Rivera's life as a young mom wasn't easy.

She recorded her first disc in 1993 as a gift for her dad, an album of traditional songs that didn't attract much attention. Every year afterwards she recorded another for her father - because she wanted to do it and because it made her happy.

By the start of the last decade she had climbed the heights of stardom, travelling, recording and forging very close ties with her many fans.

IANS