Ariel Rivera was born in Manila on September 1, 1969. At the age of four, his family moved to Toronto, Canada, where they have lived since. While on vacation in Manila, Ariel's fate was decided when he was discovered by veteran Vehnee Saturno. “It all happened by accident”, he recalls. Ariel was asked to sing at the wedding ceremony of a friend. Saturno was in the church at the time and heard the balikbayan from Canada.

While in Canada, particularly the Mississauga, Ontario area, Ariel studied at the St. Thomas More Catholic School (primary), the Bishop Philip Pocock Catholic High School, the George Brown College where he took up Architectural Technology, and then transferred to York University where he took up a degree in Psychology.

Ariel took up voice lessons with noted singer/teacher Mon David. His first television exposure was in August 1986 when he guested on Channel 7's Daigdig ng Mga Artista.

Ariel has had his share of lounge stints, and front acted for countless concerts by both local and foreign acts before he was signed to a recording contract by BMG Records in 1991. In September of that year, his self-titled debut album was released and proved to be one of the biggest selling albums in the country. The triple platinum (sold more than 120,000 copies) debut album Ariel Rivera yielded the endearing love ballads – Sana Kahit Minsan, Walang Kang Katulad , and Sa Aking Puso . The album also won for Ariel Best New Male Artist in that year's Awit Awards and made him the new “ Kilabot ng mga Kolehyalas ” (Idol of College Girls).

Television proved to be Ariel's natural milieu as he became a “regular” at practically all musical variety shows in the country. In addition, he co-hosts the top-rated weekly show ASAP on Channel 2.

In 1992, Ariel added another feature in his cap with his film debut, co-starring with Lea Salonga (the sensational star of the London and Broadway production of ‘Miss Saigon') in a romantic drama, Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal , for which he won the Best Supporting Actor award in that year's Metro Manila Film Festival. Since then, he has earned the reputation of being one of the country's most competent actors. Recently, he bagged the Best Actor trophy for the tele-movie Parola for GMA Channel 7's Bahaghari Awards.

But Ariel Rivera is, first and foremost, a singer. His second album Simple Lang , produced by noted composer/producer/arranger Ryan Cayabyab, is certified triple platinum (sold more than 120,000 copies), and produced the hit ballads Simple Lang , Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin and Without Your Love . And his Christmas album Paskong Walang Katulad hit the gold record mark (sold over 20,000 copies).

Ariel Rivera's album Photograph gives us a portrait of Ariel at the peak of his artistry. It is another masterpiece, which reunites him with the maestro Ryan Cayabyab as producer and arranger. The release of the album was highlighted a by series of mall shows, a photo contest, and an exhibit of Ariel's photos taken during his mall tour. Photograph, the carrier single is a certified hit in the local airlines, and the album merited a gold record award for selling over 20,000 copies.

Ariel's fifth album, Getting to Know , is composed of 12 songs, ten of which are ballads/love songs. His 6 th album, Aawitan Ko Na Lang , includes songs like A Smile In Your Heart, I Don't Love You Anymore and his duet with mega-star Sharon Cuneta, Ikaw.