Hermenegildo " Herman " Olivera Jr. was born to Puerto Rican Parents on January 30 , 1959 in Newark,New Jersey.

He began singing at the age of twelve & by the time he reached fifteen, he was singing with various local groups. It was at one of these engagements where Manny Oquendo , Andy Gonzalez & Pupy Cantor were struck by the young singer's vocal talent as well as his charismatic stage presence. It was just a matter of time before he was offered the chance to be behind the microphone in front of Manny Oquendo's "Conjunto Libre" with whom he recorded five albums & had a string of hits like "Decidete", "No Me Echen La Culpa", "Que Humanidad " & "Tu Me Perteneces" among others.

After his tenure with "Libre" , Herman went on to work regularly with "Johnny Pacheco" for a few years & also frequently worked with "Ray Barretto" , "Bobby Rodriguez Y La Compañia " & "The Machito Orchestra". He also participated in the "Israel Cachao Lopez" documentary produced by Andy Garcia titled "Como Mi Ritmo No Hay Dos".

Herman Olivera is featured as lead vocalist on forty one productions to date, including one solo recording " Chequea La Mercancia " & has also collaborated with many mainstream artists on a number of projects.

This dynamic SONERO is currently the lead singer of the "Eddie Palmieri Orchestra" , where he is featured on five cd's with the nine time Grammy Award Winner & Master Pianist including "Masterpiece/Obra Maestra" with the late, great Tto Puente which garnered two grammys.

Herman Olivera is considered by many as one of the very few SONEROS left in the true salsa genre. He has & continues to tour all over the world, appearing as a featured vocalist in many prestigious festivals, T.V. shows, etc., including stints with The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band & The Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Band. It has been noted that this brilliant vocalist has all the essential qualities of a great singer: diction, vocalization, soul & feeling which combined with his charisma & the palatable timbre of his voice projects the well seasoned mixture of the Afro Caribbean rhythms.

DOCUMENTARIES - VIDEO - TELEVISION
1981 - Crossover Dreams
1987 - David Sanborn Show - NBC
1990 - Latin Roots - PBS
1993 - Cachao - Como mi Ritmo No Hay Dos
1999 - El Show Del Mediodia
1999 - Eddie Palmieri & Friends "Live"
2002 - Don Francisco (Sabado Gigante - Univision )

DISCOGRAPHY
1980 - Increible - Conjunto Libre
1983 - Sonido, Estilo Y Ritmo - Conjunto Libre
1896 - Orquesta La Exclusiva
1990 - Salsa Sudada
1991 - Right There - Steve Turre
1993 - Chequea La Mercancia - Herman Olivera
1994 - Ahora - Libre
1997 - Muevete / On The Move - Libre "Live"
1997 - RikoSon All Stars
1998 - Soneando Trombon - Jimmy Bosch
1998 - El Rumbero Del Piano - Eddie Palmieri (Grammy Nominated)
1998 - Flex Y La Rumba
1999 - Eddie Palmieri & Friends "Live"
1999 - Salsa Dura - Jimmy Bosch
2000 - The Conga Kings
2000 - Masterpiece / Obra Maestra - Eddie Palmieri & Tito Puente (Winner of two Grammys)
2001 - Pa' los Treseros - Nelson Gonzalez (Grammy Nominated)
2001 - Pal Bailador - Johnny Polanco
2001 - Mar Y Cielo - Sabor Boricua
2002 - Un Gran Dia En El Barrio - Spanish Harlem Orchestra (Grammy Nominated)
2002 - La Perfecta II - Eddie Palmieri
2002 - Un Congo Me Dio La Letra - Grupo Caribe
2003 - Ritmo Caliente - Eddie Palmieri & La Perfecta II
2004 - Palladium Big Three (Machito , Puente , Rodriguez)
2004 - Oasis - Ricky Gonzalez
2005 - Mi Ritmo Llego - George Delgado
2005 - El Avion De La Salsa - Jimmy Bosch
2005 - Entre Amigos - Johnny Pacheco
2005 - Ritmo De Vida - 3D
2005 - Una Noche Inolvidable - Lincoln Center Afro - Latin Jazz Orchestra (Grammy Nominated)
2006 - Dancemania - Isidro Infante
2006 - Tributo - Los Soneros De La Calle
2007 - Live At The Nuyorican Cafe 5 - Las Estrellas Del Comborican
2007 - Somos Caribeños - Grupo Caribe
2007 - El Godfather De La Slasa - Andy Montañez
2007 - From The Badlands - Papo Vazquez
2008 - Salseando - Descarga Boricua
2008 - Que Siga La Rumba - 3D
2008 - Salsa Mundial - Gerardo Rosales
2008 - Lo Que Traigo Yo - Willy Torres
2008 - Guasábara - Jose Lugo Orchestra