Mon Rivera
Efraín Rivera Castillo (May 25, 1924 – March 12, 1978), widely known as Mon
Rivera, was a prominent Puerto Rican bandleader celebrated for his contributions
to plena, salsa, and Latin jazz. Born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, he was the son
of Monserrate "Don Mon" Rivera Alers, a revered plena composer. Don Mon's
socially conscious and humorous plenas, such as Aló, ¿Quién Ñama?, influenced
Efraín’s musical journey.
Efraín initially gained local fame as a shortstop for the Indios de Mayagüez
before pursuing a career in music. A multi-instrumentalist, he performed with
various orch...
