María started singing professionally in pubs from Caracas to the mid-'80s, then moved to the island of Aruba, and for almost three years, where she presented her "Sentimental Journey through Jazz” concert at the most exclusive International Hotels and Resorts on the island.

Returning to Caracas in the early 90's, she began to appear in the most important theaters there and other major cities of Venezuela, achieving recognition as one of the country’s most appreciated artists, successfully ending the tour with three consecutive days at full house at the magnificent “Sala Rios Reina” of “Teresa Carreño” Theater, later in the year of her return.

Her expression, dynamism, refinement and spontaneity to interpret in Spanish, English, French, Italian and Portuguese made her to be recognized as one of the most versatile voices in Latin America, according to the Venezuelan maestro and composer Aldemaro Romero. Her personal struggle through her songs for the protection of Environment, made her gain recognition as an ecologist and leader worthy of the coveted First Prize of her career, the William H. Phelps Award, in defense of the Environment in her native Venezuela.

Since 1990, María has recorded a total of 8 albums. Her first one, titled “Primogénito”, made her first hit on her musical career with "El Motorizado". Her second album “Manduco” produced in 1992 included hit single of the same name "Manduco”, which success changed definitely María’s career forever. “Manduco”, a rhythmic and contagious song that fuses the rich flavor of the American coast, hit the Number 1 spot on the "Billboard" Venezuelan charts and stayed strong on the Top 10 for almost a year, achieving an artistic consolidation that has prevailed in Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and Brazil where she’s known as the "Manduco” phenomenon.

In 1994, María Rivas made her third album “Mapalé” in an exclusive international record agreement with EMI, achieving a huge success with the love ballad "Como Lo Haces Tú" from prestigious Venezuelan songwriter Aldemaro Romero. From this album EMI London chooses two tracks written by María to be included in the "World Music" collection of the series “Hemisphere” distributed in over 60 countries worldwide.

In 1996, she made her fourth album titled “Muare”, where the artist offered a first-time and very unique Tribute to Jazz, converting traditional topics of Latin American from the 40’s, 50's and 60 ‘s into the exciting sound of Salsa with the arrangements of Venezuelan famed virtuoso Alberto Naranjo. María interpreted this singular compilation in both English and Spanish. “My record Muare is the exciting taste of the exotic mix of good whiskey with coconut water,” she says. From this superb album, came yet another smash hit song: "Swing with Son" written by the Latin music legend Billo Frómeta.

This latest musical material received the most favorable reviews in New York and Vienna. Colombia also celebrated her success when she was invited to the city of Medellín to interpret “Muare’ with the Big Band of Medellín, at the Annual Medellín Jazz Festival.

Then in 1998 came “Café Negrito” (her fifth record album) and according to María, “is a record that invites you to share the lightest antidepressant. It’s a romantic and delicious cup of coffee and its ritual.” The album’s repertoire includes stories from coffee farms and how love transcends at coffee shops as the most sincere expression of humor and love of the "Enchanted Trilogy" of being a Latin-American.

Throughout her career, María Rivas has received the most prestigious awards in Brazil and Venezuela. She has shared stage and performed with musicians like Pablo Milanés, Juan Luis Guerra, Paquito De Rivera, Brazil Zimbo Trio, Leila Pinheiro, Leny Andrade, Arturo Sandoval, Rubén Blades, The Venezuelan Symphonic Orchestra, La Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar, Carabobo Symphony Orchestra, the Maracaibo Symphony Orchestra, the National Philharmonic Orchestra and the Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho Orchestra with conductor Eduardo Marturet, Aldemaro Romero, Rodolfo Sanglinveni, Pablo Castellanos, Alfredo Rugeles. Currently, she is the official main vocalist of the “Big Band of the Venezuelan Symphony”.

Today, María Rivas represents the color of a unique musical movement due to the richness of its rhythms and message that she has taken to countries like Colombia, Brazil, Santo Domingo, Bolivia, Puerto Rico, and presented her show called “Venezuela, Races Braids” in Austria and Portugal. This proposal made 3 tours through 1998 until 2000 at Europe in the following countries: Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Portugal, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

In 2005, María Rivas, released a new album titled “Acuador” which includes unreleased tracks especially dedicated to Women, Love and Ecology. “Acuador” is a convergence of the worlds of Pop, Jazz, Rap and Hip Hop, being the latest trends where it adheres to an absolute expression of the poetic message from the soul of an inexhaustible Aquarian woman who loves and evidences God and the exercise of supreme love and inspiration.

In 2006, she got an interesting experience in Japan, a musical link through contemporary and Latin Jazz with Japanese musicians, creating an interesting assembly surrounded by freedom that gives her the inspiration for his recent material album in late 2008 called "Pepiada Queen". This work includes pop standards of Tango, Jazz and Classic Rock, leading to fusions with Latin rhythms with concept of World Music, created with the basic elements of a trio: acoustic piano, bass and the unique use of Japanese drums for its implementation, creating a distinct sound that travels through the Flamenco world and southern sounds becoming a highly original experimental stroke.

María Rivas is currently preparing another interesting production with her own lyrics in Spanish with subjects little known in the field of Jazz standards, which take a name inspired by the "Fauvism" of the paintings of "Picasso", that had inspired her and whose name will be "Picasseando". She is always seeking creative ways to demonstrate the freedom of Jazz as an element in the music and what the muse means.