Jenni Rivera

During her career, singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist Jenni Rivera sold over 20 million records and received countless music industry accolades and awards. Her first studio album was 'Si Quieres Verme Llorar' released in the late 1990s. It was an inauspicious start to what was to become an extraordinary rise to prominence although the album only received a lukewarm reception from critics and record buyers alike. It all changed with her major label debut when she released 'Parrandera, Rebelde y Atrevida' and began her climb to stardom.

Rivera played Banda music, a male-dominated traditional Mexican genre and in the early days she met resistance from promoters who were unwilling to accept a female performer. Rivera's talents overcame these initial prejudices and she went on to become one of the highest paid female performers in the Mexican music scene.

During her 20-year career she amassed an $800m fortune from record sales, performing and acting. It all unfortunately came to an end when she was returning home from a gig at the Monterey Arena in Mexico and the jet in which she was travelling crashed, killing all on board.