Scarlet Rivera

Life and career Born Donna Shea in Joliet, Illinois, Rivera was privately trained in classical violin

Bob Dylan is said to have discovered Rivera in New York City before the rehearsal for his 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue tour. While being driven in his limousine around Greenwich Village, Dylan spotted Rivera walking with her violin case. Dylan stopped to talk with Rivera and invited her to his rehearsal studio, where she spent the afternoon playing along with several of his new songs. "If I had crossed the street seconds earlier," said Rivera in 2012, "it never would have happened." After a session with her, Dylan invited Rivera to play on the Rolling Thunder Revue tour. She played an important role on Dylan's studio album Desire.

In 1977, Rivera released her self-titled debut LP for Warner Bros. Records. Lindsay Planer from AllMusic praises the album, saying that Rivera "has consistently found specific and viable places for the violin in rock".

Rivera has recorded multiple albums as a composer in numerous styles, instrumental, new-age, Celtic

Rivera released the EP All of Me in April 2020 on Bright Sun Records, singing her own songs.

In May 2021, to celebrate Bob Dylan's 80th birthday, Rivera, along with Nine Mile Station, released a new version of "Hurricane". Paul Zollo, a writer for American Songwriter, said that "Her presence of sound and spirit lifts this 'Hurricane' into a higher realm. The reverence she has for the song and its songwriter shines in the purity and passion of her playing."

She continues to be an active recording artist, performer and composer. Her album Celtic Magic was set to be released in 2022.

Personal life Rivera is of Irish-Sicilian ancestry.

Discography

Scarlet Rivera (Warner Bros., 1977) Scarlet Fever (Warner Bros., 1978) Celtic Dreams (Bci/Eclipse Music, 1998) Celtic Myst (Bci/Eclipse Music, 1998) Behind the Crimson Veil – Scarlet Rivera and Tommy Eyre (Bci/Eclipse Music, 1999) Celtic Spirit (Bci/Eclipse Music, 1998) Voice of the Animals (Scarlet Rivera, 2000) Journey with an Angel (Echo Sonic, 2003) Magical Christmas (Bci/Eclipse Music, 2004) A New Map of the World (Disconforme [Spain], 2004) by Ritual (Uruguay) Hope: Intermezzo Sinfonico (Clara Luz Music BMI, 2015) by Eduardo Del Signore

With Bob Dylan Bootleg Series, Vol. 1–3 (c. 1975–1976) (Columbia, 1991) The Bootleg Series Vol. 5: Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue (1975) (Columbia, 2002) Bob Dylan - The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings (1975) (Columbia, 2019) Desire (1976) (Columbia) Hard Rain (1976)

With Peter Maffay Sonne in der Nacht - 1. Diese Sucht die Leben heißt, (LP, CD, Video, DVD) (1984) (WEA Musik)

With Dee Dee Bridgewater Just Family (Elektra, 1977)