Marty Rivers: Malta's Country Music Ambassador
- Noel Mifsud
- 11 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Few Maltese artists have devoted themselves to a single musical genre with the same passion and determination as Marty Rivers. In a country where pop, rock and folk have traditionally dominated the local music landscape, Rivers carved out a unique path by embracing country music, a genre deeply rooted in the traditions of the American South. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has become Malta's foremost country music artist, earning international recognition, recording in Nashville, topping country music charts around the world and proving that authentic country music knows no geographical boundaries.
Born Martin De Carlo into a musical family, Marty Rivers' love affair with music began during childhood. His earliest memories revolve around listening to his grandfather playing the guitar while spending hours exploring his father's record collection. Those formative years introduced him to the sounds and stories that would later define his own songwriting. While many young Maltese musicians of his generation gravitated towards contemporary pop and rock, Rivers found himself captivated by the storytelling, emotion and honesty of country music.
His talent became evident at an early age. At just thirteen years old he entered a local singing competition, choosing Conway Twitty's classic It's Only Make Believe as his song of choice. Competing against older and more experienced performers, Rivers emerged as the winner, a victory that convinced him he was destined for a career in music. Before long he had formed his first band and was performing regularly in clubs, bars and various venues around Malta.
Although country music remained his first love, Rivers spent many years broadening his musical experience by performing a variety of styles. This period proved invaluable in developing his versatility as both a singer and songwriter. Rather than simply imitating American country music, he gradually developed a style that blended traditional country storytelling with subtle European and Mediterranean influences, resulting in a distinctive sound that would become his trademark.
One of the most important relationships in his musical career began when he met lyricist Joe Spiteri. Their collaboration would evolve into one of the longest-standing songwriting partnerships in Maltese popular music. Rivers typically composed the music while Spiteri contributed many of the lyrics, creating songs that combined heartfelt narratives with memorable melodies. Virtually every major album released by Rivers has been the product of this successful partnership.
His breakthrough arrived with the release of his self-titled debut album Marty Rivers, generally recognised as the first album of entirely original country music to be produced in Malta. The record introduced listeners to Rivers' songwriting abilities and quickly attracted attention beyond the Maltese Islands. Songs such as Made in Mexico, Queen of My Heart, Sweet Country Music and The Lord Is Coming Soon received international radio airplay, while Queen of My Heart reached the number one position on a Swedish country music chart. The album demonstrated that an artist from Malta could produce authentic country music capable of competing on the international stage.
The success of his debut eventually opened doors that few Maltese musicians had previously experienced. During a visit to Nashville, Tennessee—the undisputed home of country music—Rivers performed at a Memorial Day festival organised by Charlie Ray. His performances attracted considerable interest from music industry professionals and eventually led to a recording contract with Alabama-based Western Star Records. The achievement marked a significant milestone, making him one of the very few Maltese artists to establish a meaningful presence within the American country music industry.
In 2008 Rivers released his second album, Out of the Blue, a project that elevated his international profile even further. Recorded in Nashville and produced by the highly respected Gary Carter, whose production credits include artists such as Randy Travis and Faith Hill, the album featured another collection of original songs written together with Joe Spiteri. Critics praised both the quality of the songwriting and the authentic Nashville production.
Several singles from Out of the Blue enjoyed remarkable success on international country music charts. Made in Mexico reached number one on J. Ramgatie's International Country Music Top 40, while Blinded became a Top 10 American Gospel chart hit. Another standout track, Call Colorado, was voted among the top songs during the 2008 Music Row Songwriters Festival in Nashville, providing further recognition for Rivers' songwriting abilities.
Faith has always played an important role in Rivers' music, and this became especially evident with his self-penned gospel composition The Lord Is Coming Soon. Originally appearing on his debut album, the song later climbed to number one on God's Country International Music Charts while simultaneously reaching number three on the American Gospel Music Charts. Few Maltese artists have enjoyed comparable success within the international gospel genre, making this one of the defining achievements of his career.
Recognition at home followed the growing list of international accomplishments. In 2011 Rivers received the International Achievement Award during the Go Malta Music Awards, honouring the success he had achieved while representing Malta abroad. The award acknowledged not only his chart performances but also his role as an ambassador for Maltese music within the global country music community.
That same year he released his third studio album, Midnight Sky, once again recorded in Nashville under the guidance of producer Gary Carter. The album featured twelve tracks, eleven of which were written by Rivers together with Joe Spiteri, and demonstrated the continued evolution of his songwriting. Even before its official release, the single Run Angel Run had entered the Hotdisc Country Music Top 40, while the title track went on to achieve considerable international success. Several songs from the album reached the summit of various European and international country music charts, further cementing Rivers' reputation among country music broadcasters worldwide.
The momentum continued as Midnight Sky reached number one on the European Country Top 100, while Mama You're The Lady topped the International Country Top 40. Another composition, The Power of Prayer, climbed to the top of the International Country Gospel Charts and reached number six on the American Country Gospel charts. During this period Rivers also ranked among the most-played country artists internationally on the Ramgatie Top 200, reflecting the widespread radio support his music enjoyed.
After taking several years away from the recording studio, Rivers returned with what many consider his most ambitious project to date. Released in 2019, Maltese Falcon featured fourteen original compositions co-written with Joe Spiteri and once again recorded in Nashville using many of the city's leading session musicians. The album reflected both his artistic maturity and his unwavering commitment to traditional country music while introducing fresh lyrical themes and polished production.
The first single, Why Don't You, immediately reached the number one position on the Ramgatie Top 40 Chart. Another highlight from the album, February of '59, later climbed to the top of the prestigious Hotdisc Top 40, becoming one of the biggest international successes of his career and receiving extensive airplay across country music radio stations worldwide.
In recent years Rivers has continued to write and record, releasing standalone singles including Lucky Me, featuring Marisa D'Amato, and Don't Ever Say Goodbye. Although the music industry has changed dramatically since he first began performing, Rivers has remained faithful to the authentic country sound that first inspired him as a young boy listening to his grandfather's guitar and his father's record collection.
Throughout his career Marty Rivers has performed not only throughout Malta but also across Europe and the United States, including appearances at respected country music festivals in Italy and performances in Nashville itself. His music consistently draws inspiration from legendary country artists such as Hank Williams, George Jones, Conway Twitty, Kris Kristofferson and John Prine, yet his songwriting possesses a character that is unmistakably his own.
Today Marty Rivers occupies a unique place in Maltese musical history. At a time when few local artists looked beyond the island's mainstream musical trends, he pursued an unwavering vision rooted in traditional country music and succeeded in earning respect from audiences, broadcasters and industry professionals around the world. Through his recordings, chart successes and enduring partnership with Joe Spiteri, he has become not only Malta's most successful country singer but also one of the country's most effective musical ambassadors, demonstrating that talent, authenticity and perseverance can bridge the distance between the Mediterranean and the heart of Nashville.
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