MOURNING RIVERA THROUGH HER MUSIC: Fans empty record-store shelves

THE WEEKEND DEATH of Mexican-American superstar singer Jenni Rivera triggered a buying surge Monday of her remaining CDs in local Latin-music stores.

"Basically we sold out of her music . . .as soon as the news spread that she was killed in a plane accident," said Cristina Gonzalez, owner of Centro Musical, a Spanish-music store at 5th Street and Lehigh Avenue.

The 43-year-old mother of five was headed to an appearance on "La Voz México," a reality music competition, on Sunday when her plane crashed in northern Mexico.

Rivera, 43, known for her powerful singing voice and soulful ballads, was nicknamed "La Diva de la Banda," or the diva of Banda music.

Although she mostly sang, Rivera and her children also starred in three reality shows on Telemundo's mun2 network.

"It's very, very sad to lose a great star, especially one that was up-and-coming in her own right," Gonzalez said. "She was in the middle of fixing everything and things were going finally in her direction - a good direction - and then she loses her life."

Rivera had overcome depression - including two suicide attempts - and abuse to launch her successful music career.

Only one or two of Rivera's records were left in stock at Discolandia Records, on 9th Street near Washington, in the Italian Market, according to owner Jose Coyomatz, adding that his customers were shocked by Rivera's death.

"She's a mother of five and she [was] a very busy woman, and what she was doing was what she loved to do: supporting her family," Gonzalez said.

"I think that's just commendable - for any woman that's able to make it out there in the world - to come from struggling times and then just make it by doing something that you love, which for her was music."